The Center for Sustainable Economic and Corporate Policy at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences aims to increase the research output of the Department of Economics and to sharpen its profile in research and teaching. The ZNWU focuses on business and economic research, in particular on issues relating to social developments and the interplay between social and organization-specific transformation processes, as cooperation between business and society is crucial to overcoming ecological and social challenges.
Events and news
Climate Protection in Hospitals
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klüh from ZNWU was featured on Hessenschau, highlighting how hospitals can contribute to climate protection through energy efficiency, organizational change, and sustainable practices while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care.
The segment shows how sustainability transitions in healthcare can create both environmental and societal value, aligning closely with ZNWU’s research focus on transformation processes in public institutions.
For further information, click here .
What can the market do? What can planning do?
From March 4–6, 2026, the conference “Sustainability – What Can the Market Do? What Can Planning Do?” will take place in Tutzing. The focus will be on new ways of combining market mechanisms and democratic planning to effectively shape major transformation processes such as climate protection, the energy transition, and industrial policy. The conference brings together perspectives from academia and practice and invites critical discussion on future-oriented economic coordination.
Click here to learn more.
Collapse of the world order
On February 11, 2026 (7–9 p.m.), our ZNWU member, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klüh, will moderate the book presentation and discussion “The Collapse of the World Order: The Ignorance of the West and the Rise of the Global South” with the author, Dr. Patrick Kaczmarczyk.
An engaging debate on global power shifts and international cooperation. For more information and tickets, click here.
📍 Event Announcement | Haus am Dom, Frankfurt
ZNWU at Sustainability Day 2025
On November 24, 2025, Sustainability Day will take place under the motto “Discovering Social Sustainability.” ZNWU will also be represented with a workshop led by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klüh and Sonja Kleinod, focusing on climate-adapted economic and social policies.
For more information, click here.
Business in dialogue on: sustainable development
The research seminar of the Center for Sustainable Economic and Corporate Policy (SECP) takes place every semester. External or internal scientists report on their latest research results. Students are invited as well. Registration is not required.
When: Thursdays 12:15 to 1:45 pm
Where : Hybrid
House of Energy, Holzhofallee 38 / Room 105 or via BigBlueButton
Click here to know more.
Lecture Series: Economic Activity Oriented Towards the Common Good
The University of Cologne and ZNWU are jointly hosting a lecture series exploring innovative business models that connect the common good, sustainability, and resilience. The sessions highlight new perspectives on how cooperative approaches can support sustainable economic development.
🗓 November 5, 2025 – January 14, 2026 |📍 University of Cologne
For a detailed report, click here .
Cooperations
Publications
Locating infrastructural agency: Computer protocols at the finance/security nexus
In the new publication by Moritz Hütten (h_da) and Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn (University of Groningen), they explore the question of whether or not blockchain protocols should be considered in security research.
Find out more here .
New Article: transformative public management training
Public administrations are a key player in the socio-ecological and digital transformation. A public management degree program that focuses on transformative skills for acting under uncertainty.
Find out more here .
Research
Call for Papers: Sustainability – What can the market do? What can planning do?
In times of climate crisis, geopolitical shifts, and technological upheaval, the boundaries between market coordination and democratic planning are becoming increasingly blurred. This conference invites contributions that explore hybrid governance models, ecological economic planning, and the role of digital tools in shaping sustainable transformations.
Researchers and practitioners from economics, social sciences, and related disciplines are invited to submit papers that address how collective goals can be achieved in complex transformation processes. Further information
Economy and climate protection: contrast or opportunity?
Is a sustainable economy even possible? Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klüh, Professor of Economics with a focus on macroeconomics and economic policy, and spokesperson for the Center for Sustainable Economic and Corporate Policy at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, deals with these and many other questions.
Find out more here .