SOI-115 Technology and Innovation in Business Sustainability

The idea that a business becoming more responsible and sustainable might
result into lower profits is quickly becoming obsolete.
This course will show students how both new and established companies can
develop innovative business models and use new technologies to build
competitive advantages, as they become more sustainable, resilient and
ultimately, successful.

Companies can build competitive advantages and resilience by developing
more sustainable business models (e.g. the sharing economy) and using new
technologies (e.g. internet of things or AI).
We will have an overview of what sustainability in business means and
entails, analyse and debate more in depth a couple of sectors, and work in
groups to explore business opportunities in sustainability.
The course will have In this 6 modules and a short individual post
assignment:
 Introduction: sustainability in business
 Analysis of an example sector (1): mobility
 Regulation, technology and the responsible consumer
 Analysis of an example sector (2): health
 Team work:
 Choose and analyse sector
 Groups presentations:
 Identify and describe a sustainable startup business opportunity
driven by technology

 Post assignment: individual work

Lectures, cases, class debate, teamwork and group presentations.
Students will form groups and analyse and present a sector and a startup
business opportunity driven by technology

 https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/climate-change-sustainability/overview
 https://www.wbcsd.org/
 https://www.wri.org/business
 “Cradle to cradle: remaking the way we make things”
 “Blue Economy 3.0: The Marriage of Science, Innovation and
entrepreneurship creates a New Business Model that Transforms
Society”
 “Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism”
 “Biomimicri: innovation inspired by nature”
 “Strategy for Sustainability: A Business Manifesto”
 “The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses
Will Win”
 “Collaborative consumption: what is mine is yours”
 “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse
Global Warming”