Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg

Research & Development

“Innovation in green technologies and SDG technology transfer are key to successfully mastering the challenges of the future. By using artificial intelligence in a human-centred way and a new management & leadership approach with the IMLead® Heptathlon concept, new solutions can be created to slow down climate change and raise living standards in emerging countries.”

— Bertram Lohmüller

Focus Areas

Our Research Areas

Our research sits at the intersection of green technology, sustainable management, and international development — with a consistent focus on the Global South and emerging markets.

Area 01

SDG Technology Transfer

Success factors and best practice examples for the establishment of local value chains based on green energy and green hydrogen in the Global South.

Area 02

Kinshasa Process

Scientific partner for the SDG certification programme “Kinshasa Process” — certifying raw materials, green materials, and services using blockchain technologies. The model is based on the Kimberley Process for diamond certification.

Area 03

GreenMLA®

Scientific SDG-ESG benchmarking using the GreenMLA® Green Management and Leadership Assessment to evaluate the sustainability of products, services, and processes in anonymous comparative benchmarking.

Area 04

IMLead® Heptathlon

Research across the seven fields of the IMLead® Integrated Management and Leadership concept — identifying the main drivers for leadership, SDG technology transfer, green transformation, and the human-centred use of artificial intelligence.

Area 05

Hidden CTO

Research into the emerging role of Hidden Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) in green technology transfer and digital transformation — surfacing a subterranean organisational role that shapes how companies initiate and manage technology-driven change.

Academic Output

Articles & Scientific Studies

Peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference papers authored and co-authored by EABW researchers.

2023

Lohmüller B., Petrikhin A.

Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework Conditions for the Bi-lateral Battery Green Special Economic Zone between DR Congo and Zambia as a Model for Green Special Economic Zones in Africa

UNECA – United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, March 2023

2022

Lohmüller B.

Green Metropolises & Green Economic Zones: A New Approach for Establishing Green Economic Ecosystems in the African Continent

In: Nooke N., Kraus C., Wolf N. (Eds.) — Cities, Not Camps. InnoVatio Publishing Zürich, ISBN: 978-3-906501-33-8, pp. 57–69

2019

Lohmüller B., Petrikhin A.

Hidden Chief Technology Officers (Hidden CTOs) and Their Organisational Roles

Journal of Industrial Integration and Management: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 04, No. 03, September 2019

2019

Lohmüller B.

Framework for Integrated Ideas and Innovation Management

In: Englert E., Ternès A. — Nachhaltiges Management. Springer Verlag, ISBN 978-3-662-57692-2, pp. 211–231

2018

Lohmüller B., Petrikhin A., Wagemann N.

Hidden Chief Technology Officers: The Surfacing of a Subterranean Organisational Role

Triple Helix — A Journal of University-Industry-Government Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer Open, ISSN: 2197-1927

2018

Lohmüller B. (scientific responsibility), Leeke A., Schimansky-Geyer G.

Management Skills in Practice in German Companies

Compendium (104 pages) in German, English, and Russian. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Bonn, June 2018

2018

Lohmüller B., Petrikhin A.

How to Identify a Hidden CTO? Roles, Functions and Core Activities of Technology Executives in the Initiation Phase of R&D Projects

25th International Product Development Management Conference, Porto, June 2018. ISSN: 1998-7374

Scientific Responsibility: Bertram Lohmüller

Completed Research Projects

A selection of externally funded research and development projects completed by the Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg.

2017 2019

Research Presence in Andhra Pradesh, South India

Establishment of a transnational research and development presence for green technologies in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Funded by: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research

2015 2018

Polyculture Astacus Astacus

Investigation of a new biotechnology business model for the polyculture of Astacus astacus (European crayfish) with Coregonus wartmanni (Lake Constance whitefish) — researching biological feasibility and commercial viability of the production model.

Funded by: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research

2015 2017

Intelligent Biomass Utilisation along the Danube

Formation of an R&D network with German, Hungarian, Slovakian, and Romanian partners under the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy funding programme — International Cooperation in Education and Research, Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe Region.

Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

2016 2017

Circular Economy of Used Pallets — Recycling & Upcycling

Formation of an R&D network with German, Slovenian, Croatian, and Austrian partners focused on recycling and upcycling used pallets within a circular economy framework.

Funded by: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research

1998 2011

International Best Factory Awards & Best Service Awards

Scientific benchmarking measuring the overall performance of German companies across more than 200 Key Performance Indicators. Conducted in cooperation with Cranfield University School of Management.

Funded by: Cranfield University School of Management

2001 2007

Innovation Clusters — WIR Neckar-Alb & Learning Region Neckar-Alb

Development of two innovation clusters to strengthen the innovative capacity of medium-sized companies — including new training programmes, self-assessment tools, and consulting and coaching services. International partners included institutes, universities, and associations in Finland, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Spain.

Funded by: European Commission — one of six best practice projects across Europe |  German Federal Ministry for Education and Research — national best practice