Sustainability in Research & Development
Certificate Course - Management & Leadership - MM_MBA.8
| Date | Nov 29 - Dec 3, 2027 |
| Duration | 5 days |
| Location | On campus - Karlsruhe |
| Language | English |
| ECTS | 3 |
| Cost | 2,550 € |
| Focus areas | Corporate Innovation · Sustainability · Circular Economy |
Fundamentals
Understand why continuous innovation is essential, how corporate R&D is managed, and the principles of sustainability and the circular economy.
Technology
Use innovation funnels, portfolios, technology roadmaps, design thinking and life cycle assessment to structure and evaluate R&D decisions.
Applications
Develop an actionable internal innovation proposal and weigh technical, economic, environmental and social aspects using industry cases.
What You'll Explore
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Understand why continuous innovation is essential for competitiveness and long-term business value.
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Compare approaches to managing corporate R&D and innovation, including their advantages and limitations.
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Use the innovation funnel, innovation portfolio management and technology roadmapping across different innovation horizons.
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Apply design thinking and other structured innovation methods through interactive exercises and industrial case studies.
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Examine how culture, leadership and collaboration influence innovation and how to overcome organizational barriers.
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Explore the dimensions of sustainability and the principles of the circular economy, including cradle-to-cradle and cradle-to-gate concepts.
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Learn the fundamentals of life cycle assessment, sustainability indicators, certification frameworks and ESG-related assessment approaches.
Your Key Takeaways
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Explain and compare corporate innovation approaches and apply funnels, portfolios and roadmaps to structure R&D activities.
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Identify cultural and organizational barriers to innovation and formulate practical responses.
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Develop and communicate an actionable internal proposal to advance an innovation within a company.
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Apply sustainability principles, circular economy concepts and basic life cycle assessment methods to industrial R&D challenges.
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Integrate technical, economic, environmental and social considerations into sustainable innovation decisions.
Taught by Recognized Experts in Innovation and Sustainability
Benefit from the knowledge of leading specialists with extensive experience in research and industry. Their deep expertise guarantees a course of outstanding academic and practical quality.
Dr. Max Riedel
Dr. Max Riedel is Head of the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT, where he connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and ZEISS experts to transform ideas into market-ready innovations. His team develops technical demonstrators and feasibility studies with a focus on micro- and nano-structured devices, sensor systems, and photonic technologies for life science applications. He is a strong advocate of interdisciplinary collaboration and open innovation. With experience in industry–university partnerships at Siemens and the European Quantum Flagship, he bridges science and industry. Max holds a PhD in experimental quantum physics from LMU Munich and a MSc in Physics from the University of Texas.
Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Ott
Akad. Dir. Sascha Ott is a research and innovation leader at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specializing in mobility transformation and advanced drivetrain systems. His work focuses on innovation strategies for mobility research, energy-efficient propulsion technologies, and sustainable vehicle systems. Key topics include tribological systems such as brakes and clutches, particulate emission reduction, and the development of innovative drive concepts for future mobility scenarios. He also leads innovation projects that bridge research and industry, supporting technology transfer and transformation in the automotive sector. In addition, he is actively involved in teaching, executive education, and the development of new product and innovation methodologies.
Who Should Attend
This course is particularly beneficial for professionals in the following fields:
- R&D and Innovation Professionals: Innovation managers, R&D managers and technology scouts who plan, evaluate and prioritize innovation projects.
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Sustainability Professionals: Sustainability managers and specialists who want to integrate circular economy and life cycle thinking into research and development.
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Engineering and Technical Professionals: Engineers, product developers and technical specialists working on sustainable products, processes and technologies.
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Corporate Strategy and Transformation Professionals: Managers and consultants responsible for innovation strategy, sustainability strategy and organizational change.
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Early-Career Professionals and Researchers: Graduates, PhD candidates and academic staff in engineering, science, business or related fields seeking to strengthen their competencies in sustainable innovation.