Pioneering Sustainable Innovation for Business and Society
Over two decades of history: Established in 2003 in Zurich under the name "Stiftung für Nachhaltigkeit Zurich," dedicated to cultivating synergistic partnerships among academia, industry, and society to advance the cause of sustainable development.
Why Support
the Foundation
Pioneering measurable progress on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
With over 20 years of experience, the foundation has consistently contributed to this vision through numerous research projects, teaching courses, outreach activities, and publications. The foundation supports the Center for Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CCRS) at HEG-FR.
Building Bridges Between Business and Society
Professor Philipp Aerni and his team at CCRS conduct solution-oriented sustainability research, publishing key studies on business roles in combating poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In partnership with the private sector and civil society, they have developed practical tools for SMEs, like the 'esg2go' rating and reporting tool.
Supporting Visionary Leadership in Challenging Times
Professor Rico Baldegger, President of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Sustainability Foundation, has transformed the School of Management Fribourg into one of Switzerland's leading business schools focused on creating sustainable impact.
Team
Our Board of Trustees is comprised of a team of experts who are pioneers of innovation and sustainability.
President of the Board of Trustees
Rico Baldegger
Rico Baldegger is an accomplished entrepreneur and professor of Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Innovation at the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR), Switzerland. With a Master's in Business and Economics from the University of St. Gallen and a Ph.D. in SME and entrepreneurship from the University of Fribourg, he brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship and innovation. Professor Baldegger's extensive professional experience includes leadership roles in human resources, IT, and branding. He has founded several start-ups in Europe and the US and was the CEO of a management consultancy. Currently, he serves on several boards of directors and he is a prolific author with over a hundred publications, including several books. His latest book on the Future of Business Schools is a best-seller. His research focuses on entrepreneurs' innovation processes, the internationalization of start-ups and SMEs, new venture creation, and growth management. Professor Baldegger is known for his strategic thinking and ability to innovate within global contexts. He regularly delivers lectures and keynotes across Europe, the USA, Singapore, and Australia, sharing insights on strategic innovation and global business trends. He has spoken multiple times at the United Nations for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day, particularly addressing the connection between MSMEs and sustainability. His contributions underscore his commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide, emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking and innovation in achieving sustainable development goals. In addition to his other achievements, Professor Baldegger has successfully shepherded the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR) through the extensive accreditation process of AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).
Director of CCRS
Philipp Aerni
Prof. Dr. Philipp Aerni is the Director of the Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CCRS) and a Professor of Sustainability and Impact Entrepreneurship at the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR). He holds a Master's degree in Geography, minors in Environmental Science and Economics from the University of Zurich, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from ETH Zurich. Before joining CCRS, Dr. Aerni was a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, ETH Zurich, the University of Bern, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In addition to his role at CCRS, Philipp Aerni is a senior lecturer at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. He is actively involved in several other capacities, including serving as a member of the Jury for the Swiss Family Business Award, the Forum Genetic Research (SCNAT), and Liberethica, a platform on ethics, business, and religion. As an interdisciplinary social scientist, he focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation as driving forces for inclusive and sustainable change.
Vice president
Beat Vonlanthen
Beat Vonlanthen holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Fribourg and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1986 to 2004, he worked in the Swiss federal administration, eventually becoming vice-director of the State Secretariat for Education and Research. In 2004, he was elected to the government of the canton of Fribourg. Initially overseeing the Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure department, he assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2006, a role he held until 2016. He served as president of the Fribourg cantonal government in 2010 and 2014 and was President of the Inter-cantonal Conference of Energy Ministers from 2010 to 2015. From 2015 to 2019, Beat Vonlanthen represented the canton of Fribourg in the federal parliament (Council of States [Senat]). He is the president of various economic federations, including Swiss Medtech and CHOCOSUISSE. Since 2017, he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Fribourg School of Management.
Previous Finance Director at Large Swiss Bank
Alexander Kaiser
Entrepreneurial personality with activities in financial services, industrial minerals, IT and consulting activities in the services sector, i.e. services management/education management. Disciplinary focus on strategy, corporate finance/M&A and business development - Different non-executive board memberships in Asset/Investment Management and commercial real estate in Australia and Switzerland. Industry Fellow teaching PG Corporate Finance/Entrepreneurial Finance at Swinburne and UAS Western Switzerland. Previously: business oriented Finance Director at large Swiss bank, proven track record in financial management (corporate finance, M&A, strategy, performance management) and lead of large corporate projects. In-depth knowledge (20 years+ experience) of the banking sector (wealth management, investment products, equity research, COO/CFO role)
Co-founder and co-CEO of Seedstars
Alisee de Tonnac
Alisee de Tonnac, is the co-founder and co-CEO of Seedstars, a Swiss investment holding on a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging and frontier markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Alisee sits on several boards of companies and foundations and is also a member of the Swiss Innovation Council. She was nominated as a Social Entrepreneur Forbes 30 under 30, an Innovation Fellow of Wired UK, one of Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space, and one of the 29 Powerful Women by Refinery29.
Head of Industry Liaison and R&D
Jürgen Fritz
Prof. Dr. Ing. Jürgen Fritz is Head of Industry Liaison and R&D and a Member of the Management Board of the School of Management of Fribourg (HEG-FR), Switzerland. He has more than 15 years of international leadership experience in the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, and pharmaceutical industries, working in organizations ranging from start-ups to multi-national corporations. His responsibilities included developing highly innovative sensors, ensuring customer quality in a plant for mechanical and electronic products, managing the quality of a business unit for combustion engines, developing and deploying quality standards worldwide, and undergoing organizational transformations. He has published several articles or books and shares his knowledge during international conferences
Research
Foundation Published Research & Publications
Peer Reviewed Journals Cakir, I. Aerni, P., Bergman, M. M., Cakir, B. (2023) esg2go: A Method to Reduce Bias, Improve Coherence, and Increase Practicality of ESG Rating and Reporting. Sustainability 15 (24), 16872. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416872 Aerni P (2023) COP-27: A great opportunity to address the double crisis of food security and climate change–and for the EU to re-align its farm-to-fork strategy. Frontiers in Environmental Economics. 1:1082869. https://doi.org/10.3389/frevc.2022.1082869 Aerni, P. (2021) ‘Decentralized economic ecosystems in Switzerland and their contribution to inclusive and sustainable change’. Sustainability 13(8), 4181. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084181
Books Aerni. P, Stavridou, M., and Schluep I. (eds) (2021) ‘Transitioning to Decent Work and Economic Growth’. MPDI Book Series on Transitioning toward Sustainability (available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/edition/3919) Aerni, P. (2018) ‘Global Business in Local Culture: The impact of embedded Multinational Enterprises’. SpringerBriefs in Economics. Springer, Heidelberg Aerni, P. (2015) ‘The Sustainable Provision of Environmental Services: from Regulation to Innovation’ Springer Series on CSR, Ethics and Governance. Springer, Heidelberg. NZZ, 15.04.2024. Lokales Unternehmertum mobilisieren. Meinungen und Debatte, S.18. https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/problem-der-verbandelung-von-forschung-und-praxis-in-der-entwicklungszusammenarbeit-ld.1824587 NZZ, 27.10.2023. Gentechnik – Schluss mit alten Grabenkämpfen. Gastkommentar mit Michael Kock. Meinungen und Debatte, S. 17. https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/gen-editierung-warum-wir-alte-grabenkaempfe-ueberwinden-muessen-nahrungsmittel-ld.1753958 Watson, 02.10.2022. Tragödie am Horn von Afrika – und was die Schweiz damit zu tun hat. Analyse. https://www.watson.ch/international/analyse/828780844-krieg-in-aethiopien-und-was-die-schweiz-damit-zu-tun-hat Weltwoche, 22.06.2022. Romantik triff auf Realität in der Landwirtschaft. Grüne Weltwoche. https://weltwoche.ch/story/romantik-trifft-auf-realitaet/ NZZ am Sonntag, 22.05.2022. Firmen pflegen neue eine Bürokratie des Guten. Externer Standpunkt. https://magazin.nzz.ch/nzz-am-sonntag/meinungen/firmen-pflegen-neu-eine-buerokratie-des-guten-statt-zu-investieren-ld.1685265 Republik, 25.04.2022. Aufgrund der angespannten Situation. Interview mit Philipp Albrecht (https://www.republik.ch/2022/04/25/aufgrund-der-angespannten-situation) NZZ, 05.03.2022. Russland aufgeben oder treu bleiben? Was Firmen nun bedenken müssen. Interview mit Christoph Eis-genring (https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/geschaeften-mit-russland-was-meint-die-wirtschaftsethik-ld.1672579) NZZ, 26.12.2021. Das Problem der Verklärung der Unabhängigkeit der Universität. Gastkommentar (https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/das-problem-mit-der-verklaerung-der-unabhaengigkeit-der-universitaet-ld.1661602) NZZ, 27.08.2021. Mit stereotypem Denken in der Diskussion um den Stadt-Land-Graben verkennt man die komplexe Reali-tät'. Gastkommentar, S. 21. https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/stereotypisches-denken-in-der-diskussion-um-den-stadt-land-graben-verkennt-die-komplexe-realitaet-ld.1638949
Foundation Affiliations & Scientific Collaborations Member of the External Working ‘Vision for Swiss Foreign Policy 2028’, Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (2018-19) Member of the ESG Advisory Board of Chain IQ (since 2022) Member of the Board of the Swiss Think Tank ‘Liberethica’ (since 2021) Member of the Expert Council of Inrate (Sustainability Rating of Companies), since 2016 Member of the Advisory Board of ‘Reatch’, a national student organization, since 2017 Member of Forum Genforschung (Swiss National Academy of Sciences), since 2017 Jury Member of the Swiss Family Business Award sponsored by Swiss Economic Forum since 2014 Member of the Steering Committee of the Swiss National Research Programme (NRP 84) on Plant Breeding Innovation Member of the Review Panel of the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (2018-19) Reviewer of ERC Grant Proposal (2023) Reviewer of the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR 2019) Reviewer for more than 35 Journals listed in the Web of Science
Research Grants & Donations Secured Third-Party Funding for Research Over the last Years - Raised over 6 million USD 2023 Swiss National Science Foundation within SNF/Sinergia ‘Trust Cost of Food’ 2021 Private Donation to support research on the causes of failed development projects 2021 Private Donation à fonds perdu to support CCRS as a bridge-building institute 2020 esg2go project enabled through donations by UBS, CS, and Zurich Insurance 2020 DEZA Project on Capacity Development in Tropical Agriculture 2020 Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse ‘Measuring contributions of MNEs to UN SDG8 2020 Donation à fonds perdu to support CCRS as a bridge-building institute 2019 Stocktaking of ESG Rating Tools funded bySwiss Federal Office of the Environment 2018 Private Donation à fonds perdu 2016 Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS Grant) on Food Price Volatility 2016 Swiss National Science Foundation ‘Novima Project’ within NRP 69 on“Healthy Nutrition” 2015 Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse Project on Local Embeddedness of MNEs 2014 Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse Project on Food Price Volatility