Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation
The Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation (SET) research and knowledge transfer project addresses issues relating to digitalisation and sustainability, particularly in the Global South. HIIG supports the Federal Ministry for Economic Developments (BMZ) Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) as a scientific partner, tasked with conceptualising and organising participatory events and academic outputs. Through the integration of relevant stakeholders, local requirements were identified to develop future-oriented and sustainable contextual approaches in eight countries. With a particular focus on the topics of sustainable entrepreneurship, digital technologies for climate protection and gig economy, HIIG collaborated with local researchers, practitioners and policy makers to build application-oriented expertise, identify best practices and develop concrete recommendations.
The results are made available to a diverse audience through various formats, such as studies, policy briefs, blog posts and podcasts. The exchange of knowledge and the strengthening of cooperation between different countries is intended to support sustainable digitalisation that is appropriate to local conditions. Various best-practice cases are displayed in a database to make them accessible for a broader audience, spanning various sectors and localities.
Project activities and outputs by country
Sustainable entrepreneurship could play an important role tackling key issues such as climate change and economic development in Benin. Therefore we explored the potentials and challenges of sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West Africa through an academic study accompanied by a local multi-stakeholder dialogue and a public event.
Fabian Stephany, Dr.Associated Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Georg von Richthofen, Dr.Senior Researcher & Project Lead: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Mina Ji Young StrianStudent Assistant: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation and Women* In Tech
Paul VilchezAssociated Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Gesellschaft
Stephan Bohn, Dr.Senior Researcher & Project Lead: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
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Ann-Kristin ZiesemerFormer Student Assistant: Science Communication -
Christian GrauvogelFormer Head of Dialogue & Knowledge Transfer | Project Coordinator SET -
Katja DerichsFormer Student Assistant: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society -
Marie BlümlFormer Researcher: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation -
Melanie ChanFormer Student Assistant: Science Communication
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Moritz TimmFormer Researcher & Project Coordinator
Working paper
Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Promoting gender inclusivity in the gig economy in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7572535 Publication details
Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Mainstreaming gig work in the labour laws in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7572506 Publication details
Babo, S. R. S., & Odame, A. (2023). Where have all the women gone? The gender gap in Ghana’s gig economy. HIIG Discussion Paper Series, 2023(2). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7913207 Publication details
Vilchez, P. (2023). Venturing on a double trend. Digital startups for climate action in Mexico. HIIG Discussion Paper Series, 2023(3). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7915646 Publication details
Other publications
Hemsteede, R., & Pokharel, P. (2023). Preparing, Responding or Restoring – How Technology is Currently Used in Relation to Climate Change and Rainforest Protection in Indonesia. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Ado, A. (2023). L’Entrepreneuriat Numérique Durable au Bénin: Opportunités, Défis et Stratégies. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Akaki, P. P., Aleem, A., Burlinghaus, E., Carmona, A. S., Cervera, R., Cardozo, J. I., Vilchez, P., Pheakdey, D. V., von Richthofen, G. (2023). Digital Entrepreneurship in Vietnam’s Green Tech Sector. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Stapel, P., Fenzlein, H., Köpper, J., & Wiese, M. (2023). Sustainable Spatial Transformation of the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. Towards a hub for innovation, economic development and digital transformation. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Regulation of digital platforms for a socially-just gig economy in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Bohn, S. (2023). Saving orangutan habitats – digital technology and rainforest protection in Indonesia. encore. Publication details
Cervera, R., Vilchez, P., & von Richthofen, G. (2023). Digital entrepreneurship for climate in Mexico. An analysis of challenges and implications. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Lectures and presentations
The impact of digitalisation on citiesPlacemaking Week Europe. Placemaking Europe. Teucro, Pontevedra, Spain: 30.09.2022
Christian Grauvogel
How to build a database (?)HIIG Lunch Talks (Session: HIIG Lunch Talk). Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Berlin, Germany: 20.04.2022
Moritz Timm
Panels
Physical places for digital innovationPlacemaking Week Europe 2022. Placemaking Europe. Campás, Pontevedra, Spain: 28.09.2022
Christian Grauvogel
How to Transition Temporary Use into Long-Term DevelopmentPlacemaking Week Europe 2022. Placemaking Europe. Museo, Pontevedra, Spain: 28.09.2022
Christian Grauvogel
Moderation of workshops and panels
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial intelligence and sustainability. Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Digital Transformation Center Mexico. Hotel Novit, Mexico City, Mexico: 14.02.2023 Further informationChristian Grauvogel, Sarah Spitz
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate. Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Digital Transformation Center Mexico. Hotel Novit, Mexico City, Mexico: 13.02.2023Christian Grauvogel, Sarah Spitz
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital technology for rainforest protection. Digital Transformation Center Indonesia. Ayana Midplaza, Jakarta, Indonesia: 13.12.2022 Further informationChristian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities of Green Entrepreneurship for Climate Change in VietnamGreen Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE). EuroCham Vietnam. THISO SkyHall, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: 30.11.2022
Christian Grauvogel
Green technologies: Opportunities and challenges for sustainable digitalisation working for climate. Goethe-Institut Hanoi. Goethe-Institut Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam: 25.11.2022 Further informationChristian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya. Digital Transformation Center Kenya. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya: 09.11.2022Fabian Stephany
Public presentation: Study on the sustainable spatial transformation of the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. Digital Transformation Center Kosovo. Innovation and Training Park (ITP), Prizren, Kosovo: 05.10.2022 Further informationChristian Grauvogel
Multi Stakeholder Dialogue: Policies towards fairer online gig work. Digital Transformation Center Ghana. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana: 25.07.2022Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable and adaptable transformation of the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. Digital Transformation Center Kosovo. Innovation and Training Park (ITP), Prizren, Kosovo: 01.06.2022Christian Grauvogel
Organisation of events
Online Roundtable Discussion: How can we accelerate the production and adoption of e-government services in Morocco?17.03.2023. Online, Rabat, Morocco. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Morocco (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany
Online Roundtable Discussion: How can we accelerate the production and adoption of e-government services in Morocco?From 17.03.2023 to 17.03.2023. Online, Rabat, Morocco (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial intelligence and sustainability14.02.2023. Hotel Novit, Mexico City, Mexico. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Mexico (International)
Paul Vilchez, Sarah Spitz, Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate13.02.2023. Hotel Novit, Mexico City, Mexico. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Mexico (International) Further information
Paul Vilchez, Sarah Spitz, Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital technology for rainforest protection13.12.2022. Ayana Midplaza, Jakarta, Indonesien. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Indonesia (International)
Stephan Bohn, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Panel discussion: Digital technology for rainforest protection13.12.2022. Ayana Midplaza, Jakarta, Indonesia. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Indonesia (International)
Stephan Bohn, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities of Green Entrepreneurship for Climate Change in VietnamGreen Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE). 30.11.2022. THISO SkyHall, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (International)
Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Panel discussion: Green Technology, Entrepreneurship & ClimateGreen Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE). 30.11.2022. THISO SkyHall, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (International)
Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Green technologies: Opportunities and challenges for sustainable digitalisation working for climate25.11.2022. Goethe-Institut Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam (International)
Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Panel discussion: Workers’ Rights and Platforms’ Responsibility – Towards a Fairer Online Platform Economy in Kenya09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm
Multi-stakeholder-dialogue: Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International)
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm
Research sprint: Green Technology, Entrepreneurship & ClimateFrom 11.10.2022 to 30.11.2022. online, Hanoi, Vietnam. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Vietnam (International)
Melanie Chan, Katja Derichs, Ann-Kristin Ziesemer, Georg von Richthofen, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Public presentation: Study on the sustainable spatial transformation of the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren05.10.2022. Innovation and Training Park (ITP), Prizren, Kosovo. Co-Organised by: Octagon Architekturkollektiv, Digital Transformation Center Kosovo (International) Further information
Christian Grauvogel
Between Benin & Berlin: Research & Impact at the Intersection of Sustainability & DigitalizationBits & Bäume. Die Konferenz für Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit. 01.10.2022. TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen
Panel discussion: The future of online labour markets and regulation of the platform economy26.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Governing a polarised market – Policies towards fairer online gig-work25.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International)
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel
Panel discussion: AI for Social Good? Chances And Risks Of Applying AI In Sustainable Entrepreneurship07.07.2022. Palais des Congrès, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa06.07.2022. Golden Tulip Hotel, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Meeting: Ethics of digitalisation, African sovereignty and the role of journalismFrom 23.06.2022 to 24.06.2022. Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany (International)
Moritz Timm
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable and adaptable transformation of the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren01.06.2022. Innovation and Training Park (ITP), Prizren, Kosovo. Co-Organised by: Octagon Architekturkollektiv, Digital Transformation Center Kosovo (International)
Christian Grauvogel
Research sprint: Sustainable Digital EconomiesFrom 31.05.2022 to 27.07.2022. online, Accra, Ghana. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Ghana (International)
Katja Derichs, Ann-Kristin Ziesemer, Fabian Braesemann, Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Funding & duration
November 2021 – April 2023
Funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
