How can companies shape sustainable transformation in concrete terms? This question was the focus of the event "Wundertüte Nachhaltigkeit", which took place on 13 May 2025 at the Paderborn Research Center for Sustainable Economy (PARSEC) at Paderborn University. Around 50 participants from business, science and society took the opportunity to learn about new approaches, network and take away ideas for a sustainable future for their companies.
The event was organised by OWL Maschinenbau e. V. and BBNE Lobby, a project of the Chair of Business Education under the direction of Prof. Dr. Karina Kiepe. The BBNE Lobby project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Union as part of the "Sustainability at work - future-oriented training" programme.
Inspiring impulses - from future scenarios to professional sport
In addition to exciting strategy workshops, innovative training concepts and cooperation ideas, there were inspiring impulses from various experts in the field of sustainability. Jonas Günther, Senior Consultant at ScMI Scenario Management International AG, for example, showed how scenarios can be used as a strategic tool to prepare companies for future developments.
Another special item on the programme was the presentation by Maël Corboz, captain of Arminia Bielefeld and co-founder of elevengreen. He spoke about the role of sustainability in professional sport and explained how responsibility, role modelling and concrete options for action can be implemented in the sports sector.
Sustainable impetus for the region
In several parallel workshop rounds, the participants were able to try out practical methods and formats - from sustainable strategy development and future-orientated training models to the design of new forms of cooperation.
Prof. Dr. in. Karina Kiepe emphasised the importance of the exchange and was delighted with the success of the event: "A sustainable transformation is not a rigid concept, but a regulatory idea. Sustainable development can therefore not be shaped by science alone, but requires cooperation between science and practice. This is the only way to find solutions that address the specific needs of practitioners."
