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Shaping Transformation: ESG Business Model Innovation – Enabling Business Leaders and Consultants to Facilitate Business Model Innovation in View of ESG Requirements 

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Impact Morning: "Impact investing cannot be done without real ESG"
Impact Morning: "Impact investing cannot be done without real ESG"

Blog by the "Business Model Innovation project team":


How can companies deeply embed environmental and social responsibility (ESG) into their business models? We offer an insight into our Erasmus+ project and demonstrate how we are equipping leaders and consultants for tomorrow’s sustainable economy. 


At the center of our work is the project "ESG Business Model Innovation – Enabling Business Leaders and Consultants to Facilitate Business Model Innovation in View of ESG Requirements by Means of Capacity Building". At a time when sustainability is becoming an economic necessity, we support companies in actively shaping this change. 

What is the project about? 

Many companies are faced with the challenge of using new ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) guidelines not only as a bureaucratic burden, but as a real opportunity. Our goal is to enable middle and upper management as well as consultants (internal and external) to further develop business models in an innovative and value-based manner through targeted capacity building. 

What are the project deliverables? 

We are developing a hands-on educational package for direct transfer into everyday working life: 

📘 Comprehensive Handbook: A Guide to ESG Business Model Innovation  

🎙️ Podcast series: Four episodes that present complex ESG topics in an easy-to-understand way 

💻 Webinar series: Three specialized webinars (approx. 45 min. each) that provide actionable insights for implementation 

🌐 Project website: As a one-stop shop for all materials and updates. 

What have we achieved so far? Practical testing & global exchange 

In addition to the content development for our handbook, a practice-oriented training curriculum and the creation of the first two webinars, our focus has recently been on intensive practical testing and professional exchange in different contexts: 

Vienna, Austria (01/2025): In cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna, we conducted a pilot course. The focus was on the alignment of ESG criteria with strategic corporate management. 

Marienkroon, Netherlands (06/2025): At the local education center there, we were able to focus on the ethical dimension. Here, it was tested how managers authentically integrate social responsibility and good corporate governance into business models and corporate culture. 

Budapest, Hungary (01/2026): We used the "IMPACT MORNING – Impact & ESG" conference as another milestone. Here, we presented our approaches to Values-Based ESG Business Model Innovation in front of around 50 international experts. A detailed follow-up report can be found in the news article on the Starkmacher Impact homepage. 

In addition, our project has already had an impact beyond European borders: We were able to successfully present and discuss our approaches and training methods in various communication formats and trainings within Europe and even in Africa. This global exchange shows that the need for value-oriented business models is a global concern. 

Outlook: When will the materials be ready? 

The project will run until 30 September 2026, and the entire education package will be freely available on our website just in time for the end of the project. The project will conclude with a final event (dissemination meeting) on 18 September 2026 in Mannheim, where we will present an overview of the results. 

Who is behind it? 

This project is a European co-creation of four partners: 

Let's stay in touch! 

Visit our project homepage for more information: 🔗 Our project homepage 


Your ESG Business Model Innovation project team 

 
 
 

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