Research
Research is one of the core activities at the University of St. Gallen. Our staff conducts research and publishes academic articles that address diverse subject areas – responsibility and sustainability is among them.
Research is one of the core activities at the University of St. Gallen. Our staff conducts research and publishes academic articles that address diverse subject areas – responsibility and sustainability is among them.
A variety of HSG institutes and centers conduct research in the area of responsibility and sustainability. Together they shed light on sustainable development from different perspectives. In total, 16 institutes, centres, competence centres, and departments have a dedicated focus on sustainability topics. Further, more than half of all HSG institutes, centres, and departments integrate sustainability topics in their teaching and research activities.
Institute for the Economy and the Environment (IWOE)
The Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWÖ-HSG), part of one of the leading European business schools, is a source of rigorous and relevant research on the topics of business sustainability and renewable energy management. Our focus is on educating tomorrow’s leaders and inspiring innovative solutions for sustainability challenges in business and the society. The institute addresses topics like climate change, corporate sustainability, renewable energy and environmental governance through award-winning research and teaching, as well as impactful executive education and engagement with the wider public. Founded in 1992, IWÖ-HSG was the first institute of its kind in Europe, and has been a focal point of thought leadership and entrepreneurial talent engaging in the design of business solutions to global sustainability challenges.
Institute for Business Ethics (IWE)
Economics revolves around questions of good economics, which are ultimately questions of good actions and good rules. While it is important to understand how the economy functions, this alone is insufficient for most individuals, organizations, or states. In addition to a comprehensive understanding of the “how,” we also need normative judgments that fall within the realm of philosophy and ethics. Business ethics operates at the intersection of ethics and economics and addresses a wide range of topics. These include the justification of ethical norms, the mechanisms for implementing and complying with ethical norms in economic and organizational contexts, and the exploration of people’s “moral gut feelings” in various cultural settings.
Institute of Responsible Innovation (IRI)
The Institute of Responsible Innovation at the University of St.Gallen is a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to responsible innovation, social entrepreneurship, and grand challenges. We contribute to solving responsibly wicked problems related to innovation and entrepreneurship for a better future for humanity. We do this by engaging in research, teaching, and practice that are responsible not only for different stakeholder groups today, but also for the future generations to come.
We take the principles of responsible innovation as (1) leveraging scientific research and technological development for humanity and (2) in doing so, taking into account the social, ethical, cultural, and economic impact of innovation.
St. Gallen Institute of Management in Latin America (GIMLA)
In 2018, the University inaugurated the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Latin America (GIMLA) at the heart of Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, Brazil. In 2022 the institute expanded to Medellin, Colombia.
The Institute is mandated to foster and strengthen academic partnerships via bilateral and multilateral teaching agreements and research projects, and it also contributes to the formation of high-quality professionals via executive education. Committed to produce real social impact, the Institute works in close relationship with local University partners, the HSG Alumni community and practice.
Institute for International Management and Diversity Management (IIDM)
Established in 2013, the Research Institute for International Management (FIM) is a leading institute dedicated to providing cutting-edge research, project work, and educational programs that address the complex challenges of today’s business world. Over the years, FIM has expanded its activities significantly, with the Competence Center for Diversity and Inclusion becoming the single biggest centre at FIM.
From 1 January 2025, the former Research Institute for International Management (FIM-HSG) will adopt a new name: Institute for International Management and Diversity Management (IIDM-HSG).
The name change reflects the expanded strategic focus of the institute. In addition to the important field of international management, the IIDM will increasingly focus on the promotion of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities. This move underlines the growing importance of these issues in business and society.
Center for Health Care (CHC)
The Center for Health Care addresses the problem that in the public discussion there is a high sensitivity for the manifold problems and issues of the health care system. However, the public discussion is often characterised by interest-driven individual contributions by the respective actors. This results in fragmented perspectives and symptom treatments instead of fundamental innovations. Efforts to develop an overarching all-party perspective are hardly discernible.
The work of the Center for Health Care therefore focuses on an integrative approach to current problems. Our aim is to deal with the upcoming controversial development challenges in a constructive, all-participatory and transdisciplinary way, i.e. with systematic reference to political, legal, economic, technological, medical, nursing, therapeutic and ethical aspects, perspectives and processes.
Center for Leadership and Values in Society (CLSV)
The Center for Leadership and Values in Society (CLVS-HSG) is focused “Public Value Management”: determining the Public Value of corporations, public administrations and non-governmental organizations. Headed by Timo Meynhardt, the CLVS provides a theoretical framework that addresses important questions about the common good within the scientific community as well as in management practice.
One of the CLVS’s most influential projects is the Public Value Atlas Switzerland (GemeinwohlAtlas), an online platform presenting data from a large-scale online survey of the public value of Switzerland’s biggest and most important organisations. The study was replicated in Germany in 2015 (Public Value Atlas for Germany). Together with iF Design, the CLVS organises the iF PUBLIC VALUE AWARD, awarded yearly to projects and products that break new ground and have a positive impact on regional and global societies.
On the level of competence centres and departments, the following HSG entities have a dedicated focus on sustainability-topics:
in 2021 and 2022 (selection)
Authors | Title | Journal |
---|---|---|
Bertini, M. | Buehler, S. | Halbheer, D. | Lehmann, D.R. | Carbon Footprinting and Pricing Under Climate Concerns | Journal of Marketing |
Colas, M. | Findeisen, S. | Sachs, D. | Optimal Need-Based Financial Aid | Journal of Political Economy |
Chatterjee, I. | Cornelissen, J. | Wincent, J. | Social entrepreneurship and values work: The role of practices in shaping values and negotiating change | Journal of Business Venturing |
Kunze, F. | Böhm, S.A. | Bruch, H. | It matters how old we feel in organizations: Testing a multilevel model of organizational subjective-age diversity on employee outcomes | Journal of Organizational Behavior |
Palmié, M. | Böhm, J. | Lekkas, C.-K. | Parida,V. | Wincent, J. |Gassmann, O. | Circular business model implementation: Design choices, orchestration strategies, and transition pathways for resource-sharing solutions | Journal of Cleaner Production |
The University of St.Gallen (HSG) subscribes to several data providers offering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data packages. In addition, HSG offers support to researchers who wish to use these databases through the Search and Find Desk (located in the main library) and the IT departments. The Search & Find desk assists with information on how to locate and retrieve desired data while the IT department offers technical support e.g., problems with user accounts. HSG researchers also have the privilege to look out for periodic webinars e.g., from S&P and Refinitiv where they can consult experts from these data vendors.