Corporate governance

Governance processes determine the superordinate framework in a research organisation. In order to integrate sustainability into the organisation, the management level bears the responsibility for the establishment of an integrative strategy planning and a participative organisational development. Additional tasks are the advancement of a compliance culture as well as the strengthening of knowledge transfer and interaction with society.

Research

With the purpose to integrate sustainability into research in the sense of assuming societal responsibility, three complementary fields of action have been defined. The culture of scientific integrity to ensure good scientific practice forms the basis, “societal responsibility in research” goes beyond this and aims at the systematic reflection of societal responsibility in the research process. This characterises the research process, it defines the “how” of research.

The field of action “contributions to solve societal challenges” is a matter of “what” in research, i.e. the theme-focused contributions of science.

Human resources

The fields of action in the functional area human resources particularly address the responsibility of the research organisation as an employer to its employees and therefore put a focus on the social goals of sustainable development. Its precondition is a professional human resources management with enough resources to strategically plan and implement human resources management activities. Activities in this field include among others the support of the personnel in their career development, a responsible handling of fixed-term employees, equal opportunities and the appreciation of diversity, health-preserving working conditions and competence development for sustainable and responsible action.

Buildings and infrastructures

Following the principles of sustainable development, the field of action buildings and infrastructures covers planning, construction and operating of infrastructures. The goal is a needs-oriented provision of a future-oriented work environment in full observance of its responsibility towards environment and society. This includes the realization of technical and functional requirements, and themes such as user satisfaction, energy and resource efficiency, economy, and design and urban development quality. The fields of action in this area are linked to the life cycle of buildings and infrastructures: from planning and structural design, construction and upgrading, operation and management up to dismantling and disposal.

Supporting processes

The field of action supporting processes encompass the procurement processes and the work-related mobility of research organisations and its indirect impacts on environment and society. The purchase of products and services as well as the mobility needs of the employees should be accomplished in an environmentally friendly and a socially acceptable manner.