Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology

This course focuses on the foundational elements of sustainable supply chain management, emphasizing responsible procurement practices, logistics optimization, and efficient supply chain coordination. 

Participants will learn strategies for minimizing environmental impact while maximizing efficiency, including ethical sourcing, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing supply chain resilience.

The course equips participants with practical tools to manage complex supply chains sustainably while addressing global challenges and regulatory requirements.

This course covers sustainable practices in both manufacturing and service operations, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact across the production process and service delivery. 

Topics include green manufacturing techniques, lean production methods, and integrating sustainability into service design.

Participants will explore strategies to create more resource-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly operational models, ensuring businesses can meet sustainability goals while maintaining high performance and quality.

This course explores the intersection of finance, sustainability, and social impact.

Participants will learn how capital can be deployed to generate both financial returns and positive environmental or social outcomes and understand the general role of financial markets in driving sustainable development.

Key components of the impact investing ecosystem, from investors and intermediaries to the sectors and capital structures that drive positive change are examined.

The class will explore different investment approaches and vehicles as well as the unique risk-return dynamics of impact investments compared to traditional finance and learn strategies for risk mitigation.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of ESG risk analysis and responsible corporate governance in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Participants will explore risk-based ESG compliance frameworks, scenario modeling, and the role of governance in sustainability transformation.

The course covers key regulations including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).

The class will also examine market failures and regulatory interventions, gaining insights into the strategic implications and opportunities for businesses navigating the sustainability transition.

This course offers a comprehensive overview of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) auditing standards and best practices in the EU and Germany.

Participants will explore third-party ESG certification and the application of AI in ESG verification and fraud detection.

The course delves into key legislative procedures, corporate reporting requirements, and the evolving landscape of Non-Financial Reporting in the EU.

Through real-world case studies, participants will tackle practical challenges and develop effective solutions to meet ESG compliance obligations.

In the management of sustainability, accounting plays a crucial role to enable decision makers to include sustainability impacts into their decision making. Many organizations are thus redesigning their accounting systems to include sustainability-related information. Further, over the last years, the public awareness of tax evasion practices has continuously increased. While these practices may be legal, a strong social norm is emerging that views avoiding tax payments as socially irresponsible. Instead of making large donations, many argue, companies should start by paying their taxes.

In this course, participants will learn the basic concepts and theories related to socially responsible accounting and taxation, discuss the role that accounting and taxation play in the area of social responsibility and sustainability, and reflect on how the field of accounting and taxation may develop in the upcoming years given the increasing role of sustainability.

Following the "what can‘t be measured can‘t be managed" logic, organizations have increasingly introduced scientific methods of impact measurement to make their sustainability-related impacts transparent and comparable. Some organizations have further started to assign monetary values to these impacts. This practice is referred to as valuation.

In this course, participants will gain insights into the state of the art of method development for impact measurement and valuation, discuss how introducing these methods affects the organizational structures and processes, and engage in a critical discussion about benefits and potential difficulties of impact measurement and valuation.

This course explores how AI, IoT, and big data are transforming sustainability efforts across sectors.

Participants will learn how advanced technologies drive resource efficiency, enable predictive climate risk assessment, and support the development of smart, sustainable infrastructure.

Case studies will highlight real-world applications, from AI-powered waste reduction to IoT-enabled smart cities.

This course examines how blockchain technology is driving innovation in ESG reporting, supply chain transparency, and sustainable finance. Participants will explore applications such as tokenized carbon credits, decentralized green finance platforms, and blockchain-enabled circular economy models.

Emphasis is placed on real-world use cases and the potential of distributed systems to enhance accountability and impact.

This course explores the principles and business applications of the circular economy, emphasizing resource efficiency and sustainable production.

Participants will examine cutting-edge technologies such as bio-based, nano, and self-healing materials, 3D printing, and zero-waste systems like industrial symbiosis.

Through case studies and tools like "Circelligence," participants will learn to evaluate circularity in business contexts and develop strategies to transition from linear to regenerative models, addressing materials, energy, and water use holistically.

This course explores the cutting-edge innovations shaping the global energy transition, with a focus on solar, wind, green hydrogen, and bioenergy.

Participants will gain a solid understanding of the principles behind Germany’s “Energiewende” and the transformative shift in energy production and distribution.

Key topics include AI-driven energy efficiency, blockchain-based decentralized energy markets, and advanced renewable power generation technologies.

The course also offers insights into emerging solutions such as smart meters, hydrogen, e-fuels, and ESCO business models, preparing participants to navigate and lead in the evolving energy landscape.

This course examines innovative approaches to sustainable water management, including AI and IoT-powered conservation technologies, desalination, wastewater reuse, and circular water strategies.

Participants will explore climate adaptation and water resilience frameworks while developing the ability to assess water quality, identify pollutants, and understand their environmental impacts.

The course also covers key principles of water and wastewater treatment, helping participants choose suitable treatment methods.

In addition, a critical look at the social and political dimensions of water conflicts worldwide is provided.

This course explores the challenges and opportunities of climate change and decarbonization in the corporate sector.

Participants will gain a foundational understanding of climate science and carbon regulation, while examining real-world corporate decarbonization strategies and emerging climate technologies.

The course equips participants to critically assess net-zero claims, explore cost-effective pathways to emissions reduction, and navigate the evolving landscape of climate-related risks and innovations.

This course equips participants with practical tools and frameworks to craft effective business strategies and conduct robust market analyses.

Through interactive workshops and case studies, participants will explore strategic planning models, competitive positioning, market segmentation, and trend forecasting.

The course blends analytical thinking with real-world applications, enabling participants to identify growth opportunities, assess market dynamics, and develop data-driven strategies for sustainable competitive advantage.

This course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to lead sustainable transformation within organizations.

It covers key strategies for green business transitions, change management in the context of digital and sustainability shifts, and the role of cross-sector collaboration for impactful change.

Participants will explore foundational theories of organizational change, discuss the implications of sustainability initiatives on employees and structures, and gain practical insights into methods for engaging stakeholders and managing transformation effectively.

This course empowers participants to drive customer-focused innovation using design thinking principles.

Through hands-on exploration of prototyping, iteration, and MVP development, participants will develop practical solutions aligned with real user needs.

The course also integrates insights from behavioral economics and consumer psychology to enhance understanding of customer behavior and guide impactful business transformation.

This course guides participants through the end-to-end process of building compelling business cases to support strategic decision-making.

From identifying opportunities and assessing risks to structuring financial analyses and communicating value, participants will gain hands-on experience in developing persuasive, data-driven proposals.

The course combines analytical tools with storytelling techniques to help participants create business cases that resonate with stakeholders and drive results.

This course explores the next frontier of business innovation, focusing on emerging models such as the platform economy, gig economy, and digital ecosystems.

Participants will dive into the latest trends in subscription models, AI-driven marketplaces, and Web3 innovations.

The course also examines hyper-personalization and the AI-powered consumer journey, providing insights into how businesses can leverage these technologies to create dynamic, future-proof ventures.