IU Beyond: The Dialogue - The Future of Technology and Sustainability

• "It's easy to talk about sustainability. But achieving it requires hard work and coordination", Dr Stephanie Metzner, market sales leader at IBM DACH.
• "We have optimised the linear economy over decades. Now we need to utilise technologies to keep products in circulation for longer", Christian Adler, founder and CEO of LoopID.
• "For us at IU, the focus is on the social area without neglecting the other areas. Each organisation must make its own individual contribution", says Dr Sven Schütt, CEO of IU Group and IU International University of Applied Sciences.
   

Erfurt, Germany, 2 October 2024. As part of the event series "IU Beyond: The Dialogue", a lively discussion entitled "Technology meets Sustainability" took place on 10 September 2024. With over 300 registrations, the event met with great interest. In an interactive round, renowned experts and the audience contributed their perspectives on the topics of sustainability and technology.

Anne Gfrerer, professor of business informatics at IU International University of Applied Sciences and moderator of the virtual event, opened the panel discussion with the question: "What is most important to you when it comes to sustainability and technology?" Three leading minds from different industries then gave the following impulses.

Dr Stephanie Metzner, market sales leader at IBM DACH, emphasised: "It's easy to talk about sustainability. However, achieving it requires hard work and coordination. With the right combination of strategy, culture and technology, companies can not only make a significant contribution to improving the future of our planet, but also position themselves for better business success in the years to come."

Christian Adler, founder and managing director of LoopID, added: "We will not manage the transformation to a circular economy without the comprehensive use of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence. We have optimised the linear economy over decades. Now we need to use technologies to keep products in the cycle for longer."

For Dr Sven Schütt, CEO of IU Group and IU International University of Applied Sciences, one thing is clear: "Sustainability must start as part of a company's mission. In this way, companies can not only create social value, but also be economically successful and remain attractive to employees. In the age of AI, we can create social impact and added value for customers in an unprecedented way."

Experts emphasise the close interlinking of ESG factors for sustainable success

The audience was interactively involved in the discussion via Mentimeter. A majority of participants stated that sustainability is on the CEO agenda of their companies. The second most frequently mentioned response was that many companies already have a defined sustainability strategy, while the least frequently mentioned response was the use of AI to realise sustainability goals within the company. At the same time, students were also asked a question via Mentimeter – an interacive presentation software: "Do young digital talents value sustainability when choosing an employer?" The majority of students agreed with this.

In the ensuing discussion, the moderator asked all three experts to give their personal assessment of which of the three ESG factors (environmental, social, governance) was most important to them and why.

Schütt replied: "I think it depends very much on the individual organisation and it is difficult to give an overarching answer. For us at IU, the focus is on the social area, without neglecting the other areas. Each organisation has to make its own individual contribution."

Metzner emphasised that none of the three levels should be viewed independently: "For me, all three belong together and are important components. Everything that affects our future and has an impact on the environment makes the environmental aspect particularly relevant. For example, how can technologies be utilised to reduce resource consumption and emissions? From a corporate perspective, it's about ensuring long-term ecological and economic sustainability."

Adler also emphasised the inseparability of the three ESG areas: "We would not be successful if the other two areas were not also successful - they are interlinked, they are inseparable. Today, sustainability is mainly perceived as an environmental issue, but financial sustainability is also essential. Only profitable economic and environmental sustainability will work, and it's the same with ESG issues - they only work together as a whole."

The event not only offered insights into current challenges, but also concrete approaches on how technology and sustainability can be driven forward together in companies.

For all those who were unable to attend in person, the recording of the online event is available here.

The next edition of "IU Beyond: The Dialogue" is already being planned and promises further forward-looking discussions.

Environmental, Social and Governance at IU

Sustainability and social responsibility are core values of IU Group (IUG) and its educational institutions, including IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU). As a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and its university initiative Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), IU is committed to the highest sustainability standards for the benefit of all stakeholders. IU's approach to sustainability is defined by the key principles of these two initiatives and clearly demonstrates how education and responsibility are intertwined.

You can find more information about sustainability at IU Group here.

The IU Group's ESG report is available for download here.