IMD is pleased to announce that the elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization will provide CHF 3 million to create a Chair for Social Innovation.

elea Foundation is very grateful to its Founder and Chairman, Peter Wuffli, who makes the installation of this Chair possible through an additional funding commitment for this particular purpose.

Challenges for capitalism have never been higher. Pressure is now on businesses to rethink their role in our societal context. They are more and more expected to provide clear benefits to society and contribute to tackling global challenges. Investors and professionals increasingly want to employ their capital and skills to serve a meaningful purpose.

Businesses must address these demands responsibly in all aspects of their operations as governments or Civil Society Organizations are no longer seen as the only actors that can tackle social problems. Market-based solutions are gaining traction and the corporate world needs to become a key driver of these shifts.

This new professorship at IMD, funded by the elea Chair for social innovation, will strengthen IMD’s teaching and research on social innovation and will explore business’s changing role in society.

“We are extremely grateful to the elea Foundation for its contribution to IMD’s expertise in social innovation. As a leading business school, we have to be exemplary in this field and deliver impactful knowledge to position business as a force for shared prosperity in society,” said IMD President Dominique Turpin.

Peter A. Wuffli, PhD, Founder and Chairman of the elea Foundation, said: “By creating the elea Chair for social innovation at IMD, we wish to support IMD’s professional and impact-oriented research as well as contribute to identifying social innovations all over the world. We want to gain meaningful insights in order to disseminate relevant new knowledge to future social innovators.”

IMD has begun the recruitment process to engage the elea Foundation Professor for Social Innovation. The new faculty member will have a background that shows a track record of reconciling capitalism with engagement and responsibility.

elea Foundation exists to fight absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means, capitalizing on the benefits and opportunities of globalization. As a professional and active investment manager, elea Foundation creates measurable, lasting impact. It strives to be the partner of choice for social entrepreneurs and philanthropic investors, and to provide an attractive platform for ambitious, talented professionals. elea Foundation aspires to be a role model organization with charisma in the field of entrepreneurial philanthropy.

Peter Wuffli is also the Chairman of the Foundation and Supervisory Board at IMD, the Chairman of Partners Group and former Group CEO of UBS.

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