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Our topic areas

A good life for all and a thriving economy within planetary boundaries – there is a better way than today. At the IÖW, we specialize in identifying solutions, pathways, and visions for a sustainable future. Our work focuses on the following key areas:

Companies and value creation

Dr. Christian Lautermann | Patrick Schöpflin

What is the purpose of companies and value creation? Our understanding at the IÖW is that their purpose is to benefit society and contribute to sustainable development. > more

Alternative economies

Dr. Christian Lautermann | Jonas Pentzien

The IÖW supports the development, consolidation, and scaling of alternative economies. In our projects, we work closely with pioneers in this field and critically and constructively examine both their potential and limitations. > more

Policy and governance

Dr. Florian Kern | Helen Sharp

In close dialogue with stakeholders from politics, business and civil society, the IÖW develops system, orientation and decision-making knowledge in order to support the readjustment of existing governance structures. > more

Energy transition

Dr. Astrid Aretz | Dr. Steven Salecki | Dr. Julika Weiß

The IÖW investigates how new technologies can accelerate the transformation in the heating, electricity and mobility sectors and which social framework conditions support sustainable development. > more

Climate mitigation and adaptation

Prof. Dr. Bernd Hirschl | Dr. Esther Hoffmann

The IÖW develops, analyzes and evaluates political strategies and instruments as well as concepts and concrete measures for climate mitigation and adaptation and examines corresponding technologies. > more

Lifestyles and consumption

Dr. Vivian Frick | Dr. Julia Fülling 

The IÖW investigates how lifestyles and consumption practices can be made more sustainable to enable a good life for all without overburdening the environment. > more

Nature and ecosystems

Dr. Alexandra Dehnhardt | Prof. Dr. Jesko Hirschfeld

As an important contribution to a transformative change, we at the IÖW are working on making the values of nature and ecosystems visible so that they are taken into account in political and social decisions to a greater extent than before. > more

Cities and regions

Dr. Alexandra Dehnhardt | Johannes Rupp

We view urban and rural areas as interdependent systems that act in partnership. Together with practitioners, we develop target images of green, equitable, health-promoting and cycle-oriented cities and regions. > more

Digital transformation

Hannes Bluhm | Jonas Pentzien

Our research at the IÖW spans topics such as commons-oriented approaches in the platform economy, digital technologies for nature-based climate protection in municipalities, and the development of a digital, decentralized energy system of the future. > more

Innovation and technology

Dr. Florian Kern | Dr. Sabine Hielscher

We draw on methodologies from technology analysis, technology assessment, and transformation and innovation research to explore the technical, social, economic, and ecological opportunities and risks associated with innovations. > more