Supporting business transformation

Steinbeis experts in Rostock help SMEs to internationalize their business, initiate projects and take the first steps toward sustainability

As a member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), over the last three years the Steinbeis Research Center Technology Management Northeast has been helping SMEs to make their business more sustainable and resilient. Some 30 businesses in the region have used the Steinbeis experts’ services during this time. A sustainability check developed by the EEN network analyzes four areas: economic, environmental and social sustainability, and the organization of sustainability management.

The check comprises 17 sets of questions that Steinbeis consultants Dr. Antje Hiller and Heike Fulbrecht work through with company representatives. The answers provide the basis for subsequent feedback sessions. The face-to-face discussions shed light on where the company is heading, what its priorities are and which actions can be recommended on this basis.

The Recommendations from Steinbeis consultants recommendations provide senior executives and sustainability officers with valuable input for implementing their next short-, medium- and long-term actions. And the checks are often also the start of a longer-term partnership. According to Carl Eugen Jahke, Managing Director of Tlaxcalli GmbH, for example, “The Enterprise Europe Network has become a valued partner for us as we work towards building a more sustainable and international business”.

Getting ready for the new EU reporting requirements

As well as helping businesses to analyze their current sustainability activities, the checks also help them prepare for the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The Steinbeis consultants also recommend using the checklist for the German Sustainibility code. It comprises 20 questions about indicators relating to strategy, process management, and environmental and social aspects. Businesses wanting a certified sustainability assessment will encounter significant variation with regard to the cost and the standards used by different providers. It is thus important for them to think carefully about how much it is worth spending on this. In any case, there are some key numbers that companies should already be thinking about achieving. In the feedback sessions that form part of the sustainability checks, the Steinbeis consultants also provide advice on useful carbon accounting tools.

One of the most important questions for SMEs is how they can finance measures to make their business more sustainable. Both the Federal Government and the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania offer funding for investments in more sustainable production and energy efficiency advice, as well as for employee retention and training measures. The Steinbeis experts can provide helpful funding overviews and put businesses in touch with the relevant parties.

As well as consultants within the region who can be accessed thanks to the Steinbeis experts’ long-term involvement in the EEN network, the right consultants for a given topic can also be found through the Steinbeis Network and international EEN partners. Managing Director of geopredict GmbH, Frank Lemke, says working with the Steinbeis experts has been a very positive experience: “The business coach gave very detailed and informative answers to our unresolved questions, providing a fresh perspective on the issues. If I were to describe the coaching in just a few words, I’d say it was excellent, helpful, competent and professional. We’re really glad we went with this provider”.

The funding advice and sustainability checks will continue to be available in 2025.


Support for businesses throughout Europe

The international Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) has been helping companies find appropriate business opportunities, access markets and finance projects for over 15 years. The Steinbeis Research Center Technology Management Northeast has been a partner in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania consortium ever since it was established. As a senior consultant, its chief areas of responsibility are EU funding, finance and project matching between the region’s SMEs and research institutions and potential applicants. Reliable partners for your specific needs can be found thanks to a network that spans the whole of the EU and beyond – the team works closely with EEN partners in over 60 countries.

Further information:
https://enterprise-europe-mv.de/dienstleistungen/eu-foerderung
https://enterprise-europe-mv.de/dienstleistungen/nachhaltigkeit

Contact

Dr. Antje Hiller (author)
Project Assistant
Steinbeis Research Center Technology Management Northeast (Rostock)
www.steinbeis-nordost.de

Heike Fulbrecht (author)
Project Assistant
Steinbeis Research Center Technology Management Northeast (Rostock)
www.steinbeis-nordost.de

227256-40