In her award-winning paper, “Catalysts of Change: A Systems Perspective on Environmental Innovation Potential in Climate-Tech Collaborations,” Isabel Schöberl, together with her co-authors, examines how collaboration systems influence the innovation capacity of climate-tech companies. The study is based on a comprehensive dataset of approximately 2,500 European companies covering the period from 2000 to 2023.
The findings clearly demonstrate the pivotal role of collaboration in driving sustainable innovation: companies that are more deeply embedded in collaboration networks exhibit higher Environmental Innovation Potential (EIP)—a forward-looking metric that combines emission reduction potential with innovation activity. In particular, collaborations between public and private actors, such as partnerships with universities or government institutions, are associated with higher levels of environmental innovation potential. Furthermore, the study shows that existing partnerships tend to attract additional cross-sector collaborations, thereby creating a self-reinforcing dynamic.
The award highlights the high relevance and quality of research conducted at TUM Campus Straubing and illustrates how rigorous scientific analysis can contribute to advancing the transition toward a climate-friendly economy.