IIM Bangalore and Wipro Ltd. to jointly host research conference to advance global sustainability narratives  

 25 September, 2024, Bengaluru: The Supply Chain Management Centre (SCMC), a Centre of Excellence at IIM Bangalore, will host an International Sustainability Conference in collaboration with Wipro Ltd. from 24-26 April, 2025, at IIM Bangalore and the Kodathi Campus of Wipro Ltd. The conference invites conceptual, analytical, empirical, or experimental research on the theme of, ‘Advancing the Global Sustainability Narrative: Business, Policy, and Societal Imperatives’, with the abstract submission deadline on 15 October 2024. 

About the conference  

In today's rapidly changing world, addressing climate change, social inequality, and environmental degradation is no longer just a moral imperative; it is a business imperative. The IIMB International Conference on business and sustainability aims to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and academics to discuss strategies for integrating sustainability into supply chain management, promoting green finance, and driving policy innovations that enable sustainable ventures.   

The conference is expected to attract a diverse range of attendees, including faculty from B-Schools, sustainability executives and professionals, government officials, and researchers. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions and workshops, engage in networking activities, present the latest research, and learn from some of the most innovative and knowledgeable experts in the field. Participants will gain valuable insights into best practices, emerging trends, and collaborative approaches to advance sustainability goals.  

The Co-chairs for the conference include IIMB faculty members – Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson, Sustainability Taskforce, Production and Operations Management area; Prof.  Sourav Mukherji, OB&HRM area; Prof. P D Jose, Strategy area; and PS Narayan, Global Head of Sustainability, Wipro Ltd. 

To submit your abstract, click here. 

For conference details (registration fees and accommodation), click here.

Key Dates  

• Abstract Submission Deadline: October 15, 2024  

• Notification of Acceptance: November 15, 2024  

• Full Paper Submission Deadline (for accepted abstracts): January 31, 2025  

• Early Bird Registration Deadline: February 28, 2025  

• Final Registration Deadline: March 31, 2025  

Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers for inclusion in the conference proceedings.  All presenting authors must register for the conference by the final registration deadline to be included in the program. 

Conference Tracks  

The international conference invites academics and professionals to submit high-quality research and practical contributions that describe their original work in the field of sustainability. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:  

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation   

• Nature-based solutions for climate change  

• Business and policy responses to climate change  

• Climate risk assessment and management for businesses  

• Transition strategies for high-emission sectors  

• Clean tech innovations and their market potential  

• Digital & AI-driven solutions for sustainability challenges  

CSR, Stakeholder Engagement, and Competitive Advantage   

• CSR as a driver of innovation and new market opportunities  

• Employee engagement and retention through CSR programs  

• Measuring and communicating the business value of CSR  

• Stakeholder engagement and management  

• Collaborative CSR: partnering for greater impact  

 ESG Integration, Reporting, and Responsible Business Practices   

• The regulator and ESG reporting: global proliferation and implications for business  

• Measuring and communicating ESG impact  

• ESG data quality and standardization challenges  

 Green Finance and Sustainable Investing   

• Climate-related financial risks and disclosures  

• Impact investing and its role in sustainable ventures  

• Innovative green financial products and services  

• Carbon pricing mechanisms and their impact on industries  

• The role of green finance in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs)  

• Regulatory frameworks for promoting green finance in emerging markets  

• Green Finance and low carbon economies  

• Measuring and reporting on circular economy performance  

• ESG integration in investment and portfolio management  

Policy, Regulation, and Global Cooperation for Sustainability   

• Circular economy policies  

• Policy incentives for promoting sustainable entrepreneurship  

• Enabling policies for the transition to renewable energy ventures  

• Global cooperation and international partnerships in sustainability policy  

• Public-private partnerships in advancing sustainable development goals  

Sustainable Supply Chains and Operations Management   

• Circular economy practices in supply chains and operations  

• Role of technology in enhancing supply chain sustainability  

• Carbon footprint reduction strategies in global operations and supply chains  

• Impact of sustainable procurement in manufacturing and service sectors  

• Supply chain resilience and risk management   

• Measuring and reducing carbon footprint in transportation and warehousing  

• Supplier collaboration for sustainable product development  

• Ethical sourcing and labour practices in global supply chains  

• Block chains for supply chain transparency and traceability  

 Sustainability Strategy and Innovation   

• Long-term value creation through sustainable business models  

• Sustainability-driven innovation and product development  

• Sustainability as a driver for market differentiation and brand value  

• Green innovation ecosystems   

• Measuring the social and environmental impact of sustainable ventures  

• The role of government and incentives in scaling sustainable startups  

• ESG risk management  

• ESG factors and reporting standards and their impact on corporate performance  

Social Sustainability and Ethical Business   

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion   

• Community engagement and social impact measurement  

• Human rights due diligence and execution in business operations  

• Managing the social and environmental impacts   

Governance  

• Board governance  

• Responsible Tech - Data Privacy, AI    

• Codes of conduct  

• Transparency and accountability in business operations  

Technology for Sustainability   

• Digitalization and sustainable business models  

• Role of Technology in Enhancing Corporate Sustainability   

• Digital twins for sustainable operations management  

• IoT and big data analytics for environmental monitoring  

• Clean tech innovations   

• AI-driven solutions for sustainability challenges  

Valuation of ESG and non-financial value drivers  

• The shared value and multiple capitals framework: the quantification conundrum  

• What have been the methodological challenges and progress on ESG valuation e.g. the social cost of a company’s carbon footprint, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives  

• Does valuation of ESG have a correlation with the company’s market value? Are investors engaged with this issue?  

• The similarities and differences between ESG valuation and CSR impact valuation  

Conference Highlights  

- Keynote speeches from renowned experts in sustainable business practices, ESG investing, and policy innovation.  

- Brainstorming sessions and panel discussions on current challenges and opportunities in the sustainability landscape, including themes such as decarbonization, energy transition, climate finance, sustainable supply chains, business ventures, and policy making.  

- Opportunities to network with sustainability professionals, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries.  

- Peer group feedback on research ideas and proposals  

- Engaging discussions on the role of government policies in promoting sustainable business practices and investments. 

Submission Guidelines for Conference Track  

- The authors are requested to submit their extended abstracts (not exceeding 1,500 words) electronically in MS Word or PDF format with single line spacing, including the name, affiliation, mailing address, email address, and contact number of the author and contact information at: https://www.iimb.ac.in/Intl-sustainability-scm-conference/. In the case of multiple authors, the letter should indicate the author to whom correspondence should be addressed.  

- Extended abstracts can include case study discussions, research in progress, and full research projects.   

- Extended abstracts must include a clear indication of the purpose of the research, methodology, major results, implications, and key references.  

- Submitted abstracts will undergo peer review to check their suitability for the conference.  

- One of the authors of each accepted paper must register for the conference and agree to present the paper at the conference.  

 
Conference Coordinators  

Dr Aditya Gupta, COO, Supply Chain Management Centre, IIM Bangalore  

Dr Mohan Krishna, Manager-Research, Supply Chain Management Centre, IIM Bangalore  

Conference Advisory Committee   

Prof. Ananth Krishnamurthy, Decision Sciences area   

Prof. Tarun Jain, Production and Operations Management area 

Prof. Padmini Srinivasan, Finance & Accounting area

Contact Details  

For further information please email: scmc_sust.conf.2025@iimb.ac.in or call 080-26993553/54.