Focus Topic Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A group of people is sitting around a table and discussing.
© Getty Images/SolStock

Innovation and Entrepreneurship - we encounter these buzzwords every day in the media, in politics or in our everyday work. But what do they actually mean?

Innovations are complex renewals that are accompanied by technical, social and economic change. Entrepreneurship means implementing these new, innovative ideas creatively and entrepreneurially. It combines creativity with economic thinking and acting. The two concepts go hand in hand.

With our Focus Topic Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we look in particular at social innovations - i.e. projects, start-ups and companies that tackle social challenges with fresh ideas and new solutions. We would like to provide information on the topic, present concrete projects by Germany alumni and provide valuable know-how and exchange on the topic through digital events and trainings.

All Content

Found 16 results.

  • SDG Ziel 12: Nachhaltige/r Konsum und Produktion
    [Translate to Englisch:]
    [Translate to Englisch:] © [Translate to Englisch:]
    [Translate to Englisch:] © [Translate to Englisch:]

    Tourism – fair and sustainable

    Tourism that in particular enables people in the region to benefit can contribute to sustainable development. And the guests also benefit from fair travel.

  • © [Translate to Englisch:] Gettyimages / jacoblund
    © [Translate to Englisch:] Gettyimages / jacoblund

    Advancing social sustainability together

    Dialogue for sustainable development: Alumniportal Deutschland organises online conference on social entrepreneurship.

  • Picture of the street sign "Hollywood Boulevard", blue sky and palm trees in the background
    © Getty Images/TheCrimsonRibbon
    © Getty Images/TheCrimsonRibbon

    A career abroad: ‘Pack your bags!’

    From bottom of the food chain to executive and co-founder of a major video games company: how help from the DAAD enabled Ortwin Sam Freyermuth to make it to the top.

  • PhD with entrepreneurial potential: participants in the ‘From PhD to Innovator’ workshop talk about their experiences.
    © Young Entrepreneurs in Science
    © Young Entrepreneurs in Science

    Tools for researchers interested in starting a business

    There are many hurdles on the path from abstract idea to tangible product development. Entrepreneurial workshops like those run by the DAAD and the Falling Walls Foundation can give academics the necessary tools to overcome these challenges, and to awaken their inherent entrepreneurial potential. Three participants in the ‘From PhD to Innovator’ workshop talk about their experiences.

  • SDG Ziel 2: Kein Hunger
    © Gettyimages / Gorlov
    © Gettyimages / Gorlov

    Community Challenge 2022

    This social innovation challenge of the community of Germany alumni aims at tapping the vast resource of knowledge of the members and supporting the development of ideas with a positive impact on society and environment.  The challenge for 2022 related to SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” formulated by community members is "Can your idea contribute to ecofriendly intensifications of agricultural systems?"

  • Uganda can offer a wide range of delicious fruit and vegetables, but also popular varieties of coffee and tea.
    © Getty Images/FrankvandenBergh
    © Getty Images/FrankvandenBergh

    Jobs and opportunities for young people

    Avocados, pineapples, mangoes and passion fruit: Uganda can offer a wide range of delicious fruit and vegetables, but also popular varieties of coffee and tea. Gyaviira Kaleebu sees huge potential in Uganda’s fertile soils and wants to use agricultural processing factories to improve the economic situation in his country.

  • © DAAD/Martin Magunia
    © DAAD/Martin Magunia

    The untapped potential of doctoral theses

    Developing visionary solutions: ‘From PhD to Innovator’ was the title of the workshop in which DAAD alumni and scholarship holders had the opportunity to dive into the topic of entrepreneurship in May. A cooperation between the DAAD, the Falling Walls Foundation and the Young Entrepreneurs.

  • Confident African woman
    © Getty Images/FG Trade
    © Getty Images/FG Trade

    How can women in Africa be empowered?

    Sarah Owusuah wants African women to have better chances for their lives. She fights for better education opportunities for girls - and helps women to open up their own business. 

  • [Translate to Englisch:] Vortrag im Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship
    [Translate to Englisch:] Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship © [Translate to Englisch:] Nicola Riva
    [Translate to Englisch:] Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship © [Translate to Englisch:] Nicola Riva

    A matter of attitude

    Entrepreneurial skills are becoming ever more important at higher education institutions. Aspiring and innovative entrepreneurs are not merely the object of research in this respect, but also the explicit target of academic start-up counselling and support. Never before has the step from studies to entrepreneurship been so easy – at least in some towns and cities.

  • Sustainable urban development includes not only ecological aspects, but also social aspects.
    © Sven Brandelius
    © Sven Brandelius

    Art in public areas: participation and sustainability

    How can we get citizens to participate in the sustainable development of their living environment? Carly Schmitt, Alumna of the German Chancellor Fellowship, involves them in art projects.

  • SDG Ziel 12: Nachhaltige/r Konsum und Produktion
    SDG Ziel 16: Frieden, Gerechtigkeit und starke Institutionen
    SDG Ziel 9: Industrie, Innovation und Infrastruktur
    [Translate to Englisch:] Social Entrepreneurship
    © [Translate to Englisch:] Alumniportal Deutschland
    © [Translate to Englisch:] Alumniportal Deutschland

    Social Entrepreneurship

    Infographic

    The world is facing enormous social and environmental challenges, of which climate change, poverty and mass migration are just a few examples. This is precisely where social entrepreneurship comes in. In this inforgraphic, we explain exactly how it works.

  • SDG Ziel 9: Industrie, Innovation und Infrastruktur
    Male hand places a cube with a lightbulb symbol on top of a stack of five wooden cubes with heads and cogs
    © Getty Images7jittawit.21
    © Getty Images7jittawit.21

    Round-up Talk: Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship

    In our round-up talk, five international experts who deal with the topic of social innovation and entrepreneurship in very different ways answer five questions on the topic. They also give tips for people who also want to convert their innovative ideas into concrete solutions and social and sustainable business concepts.