Highlighted Projects

At IMD, Prof. Goutam Challagalla explores the reasons that drive some companies to adopt a defensive lens in their strategy while some others take a more offensive approach towards sustainability. He examines the implications of these strategic choices for building organisational capabilities and seeks to reflect on which stance should be adopted. 

Led by Dr. Nicola Banwell, research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research in Ethics (CIRE) at UNIL, this research explores the normative frameworks of collectives engaged in sustainability action. Focusing on case studies in Switzerland, it examines how members of these collectives understand sustainability, the normative motivations and values driving their actions, and the valuable lessons that can inform future initiatives.

At EPFL, Prof. Jeffrey Huang leads a transdisciplinary consortium called the “Blue City Project”, which aims to create an Urban Digital Twin of Lausanne to balance decarbonisation, livability, and biodiversity. It shows an interconnected network of flows (goods, waste, mobility, nature, etc.). This open platform leverages AI and deep learning to support data-driven decisions for sustainable and resilient urban planning. The project also seeks to position Switzerland as a leader in innovative city planning by fostering startups and industry advancements.

UNIL Prof. Dominique Barjolle is the principal investigator for the True Cost of Food project, an interdisciplinary initiative led by a consortium of Swiss academic institutions, to which Laurence Jeangros and Veronica Petrencu from the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S) - UNIL, and other collaborators from Unisanté and EPFL also contribute. The project aims to quantify the hidden costs (externalities) of the Swiss food system. Through a participatory process, it also seeks to identify, in collaboration with various stakeholders, the levers for transitioning to a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and fair food system.

'Future Back' is the name of an approach developed by Thomas Malnight at IMD for shaping strategies, which Knut Haanaes is currently working on. The logic of this tool encourages business leaders to imagine a desirable endpoint and then build the steps to get there from the present, without worrying about day-to-day concerns. This tool is valuable for sustainability as it highlights areas where innovation and collaboration might be necessary, even when solutions do not yet exist.

Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, assist. Prof. at EPFL, launched an initiative that is also a kind of challenge, titled 'A Global Moratorium on New Construction', because she believes it is urgent to question current development protocols. Roundtables and events are organised to promote exchanges between architects, planners, activists, and others, with the aim of discussing the impacts of new buildings (e.g. extractivism, inequalities) and exploring avenues for action.

At IMD, Prof. Karl Schmedders explores the pressing global sustainability challenges and the necessity for collective action. He emphasises that collaboration, cutting across industries and borders, is essential for effective solutions. How can businesses, governments, and communities work together to achieve a sustainable future?

At the University of Lausanne, the researcher Julie Grieshaber conducts, together with Prof. Martin Müller and Elia Cairoli, a project called “Culture for the Planet”. This project seeks to develop frameworks and tools to accompany the cultural sector towards more ambitious and more systematic actions for sustainability.

Boris Thurm, scientific collaborator at EPFL and at the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S), works to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of a transition towards a more circular economy. A systemic model is used to simulate the impacts of behavioural and technological changes on various indicators, as GHG emissions, material extraction or jobs.

Prof. Thierry Largey and research associate Valérie Dupont unveil that current efforts lack a unified protected area network. But there is hope: the federal legal framework, although imperfect, includes numerous basis and legal instruments on which the Confederation and the cantons could rely to establish a functioning ecological network. Action is now needed.

Discover how IMD Prof. Julia Binder's tackles the critical need for businesses to understand "How" to implement business transformation towards sustainability amidst pressing environmental and social challenges. It explores various strategies for organizational change, aiming to guide companies in aligning with sustainability principles, thereby ensuring their success in a changing world.

At the Structural Xploration Lab, EPFL Professor Corentin Fivet and team are exploring the potential of circular structural design in the construction industry. They are investigating how structural design can incorporate circular economy principles by reusing components, as well as transforming the traditional approach of minimising materials.

In the E4S Sustainable Finance Regulation Series, research associates Florence Hugard and Alisa Gessler, together with their team, unravel the pivotal role of corporate disclosures in sustainable finance. Discover how global regulations, from the EU's comprehensive rules to evolving US and Swiss frameworks, are shaping a transparent and sustainable financial landscape. 

In his research, Prof. Florian Hoos investigates the forthcoming global transition to mandatory sustainability reporting alongside financial standards, marking a historic shift. It explores challenges, governance strategies for ESG dimensions, and the leverage of this shift for competitive advantage through new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and enhanced performance measurement.

EPFL Prof. Christoph Bachofen and team are researching how tree transpiration and shading can mitigate urban heat islands, which pose serious health risks during heatwaves. By measuring tree sap flow and canopy microclimate in urban areas like Geneva and the EPFL, they aim to understand how different tree species can cool urban environments, informing city planners on effective mitigation strategies.

UNIL Professor Antoine Guisan and his team are at the forefront of environmental innovation, meticulously mapping the geographical distribution of over 10,000 species. These predictions serve as a powerful instrument in the proactive strategy to safeguard our biodiversity and ecosystems.

Workplace stress is increasingly pervasive, and its consequences have detrimental effects for individuals, organizations, and broader societies. IMD Professor Alyson Meister and Researcher Nele Dael explore the experience of overwhelm at work, and surface how it impacts employee performance, well-being, and relationships, as well as what can be done to prevent it.

Crafted by EPFL Professor Karen Scrivener, the LC3 technology aims to transform the concrete industry. It offers a more affordable and less capital-intensive approach, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40%. This technology marks a significant stride towards a greener, more sustainable industry.