Digitalisation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship
How can the digital world of work in the global South be shaped sustainably? What role does fairness play in regulation and the exchange between different interest groups? "Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship" identifies approaches to solutions for the challenges of (de)regulation in order to enable a socially just gig economy. Together with local partners, the following stakeholder levels are involved on site in several countries: Employees, platform operators and policy makers. The research project is part of the research group Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and global digital Transformation.
Research formats & knowledge transfer
Based on the results of a Research Sprint and a related study, multi-stakeholder dialogues and public events will be held in cooperation with Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in selected countries. In this way, knowledge networks are strengthened locally and expanded by linking them with other international partners. In addition, local specifics, opportunities and risks are recorded and taken into account.
Multi-Stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa
6th July 2022
The MSD offers the opportunity to discuss the challenges for sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa in general. The goal is to develop best practices to address these challenges.
Panel discussion: AI for Social Good?
7th July 2022
In this public event, panellists will discuss the opportunities and risks of applying Artificial Intelligence in sustainable entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa.
NoC study presentation: Promoting Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Francophone West and Central Africa
November 2022
Research on challenges to sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin with a focus on developing strategies for entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital Entrepreneurship
6th July 2022
The MSD offers the opportunity to discuss the challenges for sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa in general. The goal is to develop best practices to address these challenges.
Public Event: Digital Entrepreneurship
7th July 2022
In this public event, panellists will discuss the opportunities and risks of applying Artificial Intelligence in sustainable entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa.
The DTCs Niger and Cameroon are involved in the formats. DTC officials from the two countries will participate in the Benin events.
NoC study presentation: Promoting Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Francophone West and Central Africa
November 2022
Research on challenges to sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin with a focus on developing strategies for entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges.
Research sprint: Sustainable digital economies
31st May - 17th July
During the six weeks of the Research Sprint, the interdisciplinary researchers will explore questions such as how platform work can be shaped sustainably in Africa and what role fairness plays in regulation and exchange between different stakeholders.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Work organisation of the future
25th July 2022
The MSD will present the results of the research sprint to stakeholders. The aim is to discuss these findings and possible conclusions for the online labor market in sub-Saharan Africa using Ghana and Kenya as case studies.
Public Event: The future of online labour markets and regulation of the platform economy
26th 2022
A panel discussion on how to create marketable and sustainable labor conditions for workers on online platforms that take worker protections and participation in the global labor market into account.
Study presentation: Polarisation of remote work
January 2023
The study results aim to show how online work can be redesigned in a sustainable and inclusive way. The focus lies on the specific requirements of the economies in Ghana and Kenya.
Research Sprint: Sustainable digital economies
31st May - 17th July 2022
During the six weeks of the Research Sprint, the interdisciplinary researchers will explore questions such as how platform work can be shaped sustainably in Africa and what role fairness plays in regulation and exchange between different stakeholders.
Multi-Stakeholder dialogue & Panel discussion: Towards a Fairer Online Platform Economy in Kenya
9th November 2022
This event is dedicated to exploring pathways for a sustainable regulation of online labour markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The MSD will be initiated by a presentation of current research findings. The panel discussion will discuss how to shape sustainable regulation of Kenya’s online labour markets.
NoC study presentation: Regulation of digital platforms for a socially-just gig economy in Kenya
9th November 2022
Together with the findings of the Research Sprint and the MSD, the study results are intended to identify regional best practices and guide future regulations for the platform economy in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa.
Event: Gig Economy – Platform Perspective
March/April 2023
Multi-Stakeholder-Dialogue: Pathways towards the Adoption of AI in Morocco
January 2023
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: AI in the Workplace
January 2023
Event: Adopting AI
March 2023
Research Sprint: Green Technology, Entrepreneurship & Climate
October - November 2022
The goal of the research sprint is to help promote green technology startups and incubators in Vietnam specifically and in the global south more generally. Therefore, the research sprint focuses on exploring the reasons behind two persistent challenges in the Vietnamese green technology ecosystem: the shortage of aspiring entrepreneurs and the lack of investments.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate
13th February 2023
This MSD will explore the potential of digital entrepreneurship in Mexico in order to mitigate climate change. The dialogue will bring together key stakeholders from Mexico’s green digital technology to take a closer look at the challenges that sustainable entrepreneurs face and pathways to overcome those challenges.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability
14th February 2023
This MSD will explore the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance sustainability goals in Mexico. The dialogue will especially focus on the promises and perils of applying AI to tackle climate change and other sustainability challenges such as the loss of biodiversity.
Ann-Kristin ZiesemerStudent Assistant: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Christian GrauvogelHead of Dialogue & Knowledge Transfer | Project Coordinator SET
Fabian Stephany, Dr.Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Georg von Richthofen, Dr.Senior Researcher & Project Lead: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Marie BlümlResearcher: Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship & Climate
Mina Ji Young StrianStudent Assistant: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation
Moritz TimmResearcher & Project Coordinator
Organisation of events
Panel discussion: Workers’ Rights and Platforms’ Responsibility – Towards a Fairer Online Platform Economy in Kenya09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm
Panel discussion: The future of online labour markets and regulation of the platform economy26.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Governing a polarised market – Policies towards fairer online gig-work25.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International)
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel
Panel discussion: AI for Social Good? Chances And Risks Of Applying AI In Sustainable Entrepreneurship07.07.2022. Palais des Congrès, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa06.07.2022. Golden Tulip Hotel, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Research sprint: Sustainable Digital EconomiesFrom 31.05.2022 to 27.07.2022. online, Accra, Ghana (International)
Katja Derichs, Ann-Kristin Ziesemer, Fabian Braesemann, Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm
Funding & duration
"Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship" is part of the overarching project in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). HIIG supports the BMZ's Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) as a scientific partner and carries out exchange and research formats in partner countries.
November 2021 – May 2023
Funded by the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
