BeAT – Professional Development and Training CenterHow can companies implement decarbonization in their day-to-day operations? What support do they need to become more climate-friendly, energy-efficient, and sustainable? These questions were the focus of a workshop organized by the DekaRB project, which took place on June 30, 2026, at Tridelta Campus Hermsdorf e.V. Together with entrepreneurs from the campus network, the DekaRB team discussed the project’s findings to date, current challenges, and potential support options for business operations.
From research findings to practical support
So far in the project, DekaRB has conducted numerous interviews with experts from academia, politics, and the energy sector. In addition, companies in the three focus regions were surveyed about barriers to implementing decarbonization measures. The workshop in Hermsdorf provided an opportunity to reflect on these findings together with companies from another study region. The focus was on how knowledge, funding information, and practical support can be presented in a way that is truly helpful in day-to-day business operations.
Sustainability is becoming an ongoing operational task
A central topic of the discussion was the growing demands posed by new sustainability regulations. Many companies are increasingly confronted with documentation, reporting, and certification requirements. Suppliers, in particular, often have to provide relevant evidence at the request of their customers. The participants made it clear: These tasks now tie up considerable human resources. At the same time, it is not always easy for companies to quickly find relevant information, funding opportunities, or points of contact. The transfer of knowledge between academia and industry also often takes time. This is precisely where DekaRB comes in: The project aims to provide guidance, consolidate knowledge, and offer practical support to companies on their path to decarbonization.
New ideas for better knowledge transfer
Discussions with the participants yielded several concrete proposals on how companies can be better supported in the future. Among other things, a regular newsletter was suggested that would provide concise information on current funding opportunities, project results, and relevant developments. Another key focus was the idea of a knowledge and networking platform. There, expertise within the campus could be made visible and accessible to member companies. Companies could, for example, exchange information on certifications, regulatory requirements, or technical solutions and learn from one another. For such a platform to be successful, participants believe it requires clear structures, reliable information, and high data security.
This gave rise to the idea of a location-based navigation system that could, in the future, help make knowledge, support services, and suitable contacts related to energy, decarbonization, and transformation easier to find. The basic idea: Companies should be able to identify more quickly who in the network has experience with which topic and where concrete help is available. One possible approach would be a digital structure with topic areas, subcategories, and subject matter experts—similar to a practical knowledge portal or “digital Wikipedia” for transformation issues at the site—in other words: Who can I easily contact regarding a specific topic? Such a navigation system could consolidate existing knowledge within the campus network, facilitate knowledge exchange, and help companies move more quickly from information to implementation.
In addition, the idea of so-called “transformation guides” was developed. These are designated points of contact from member companies who contribute their expertise on specific topics to the network. They could serve as the first point of contact, help contextualize questions, share experiences, and, if necessary, refer individuals to other experts. This would make existing know-how within the network more visible and accessible. There was agreement that the topics of sustainability, decarbonization, and environmental protection should be even more firmly anchored in the Campus network in the future. As a possible next step, the establishment of a working group was therefore proposed. This group could develop additional support services—in collaboration with the DekaRB project team—promote exchange among companies, and further flesh out the ideas generated during the workshop.
Shaping transformation together
The workshop demonstrated that decarbonization is not merely a technical challenge. It requires knowledge, guidance, dialogue, and sustainable networks. Direct dialogue with companies is therefore crucial for developing support services that are truly applicable to everyday business operations. The results of the workshop will now be incorporated into the ongoing work of the DekaRB project, particularly in the development and testing of the measures mentioned. The goal is to work together with industry to chart concrete paths toward a climate-friendly and sustainable industrial transformation.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants for the engaged discussion and valuable insights!
Were you unable to attend? We’d still love to hear your opinion!
Share your perspective in our survey.
Would you like to evaluate the measures presented, contribute your own ideas, or get in touch with the DekaRB team? Through our short survey, you can share your feedback with us and help shape the future design of our support services. Take the survey:
https://umfrage.uni-jena.de/?r=survey/index&sid=695449&lang=de