Sustainable Finance Lab

Purpose and goal:

The purpose of the project is to create a more sustainable world through the transformative powers of the financial system that avoids to ´do harm´, and instead ´does good´. The overarching ambition is to foster real change and progress in how financial markets, in Sweden and beyond, engage with and facilitate social and environmental sustainability.

The goal is to enhance financial market actors’ abilities to reduce harm, while bolstering innovative solutions to steer economies towards sustainability. Expected results and effects:

Sustainable Finance Lab is a consortium of 6 universities / research institutes that contribute with leading sustainability researchers who team up with financial market actors to create an international leading competence center for sustainable financial markets in Sweden and the world. SFL focuses; 1) Scientifically based impact evaluation; 2) Innovation about risk and opportunities; 3) Sustainability standards and policies; and 4) Transformation, technology, and innovation. Expected effects are that the financial system contributes towards increased sustainability.

Approach and implementation:

The Sustainable Finance Lab has developed an interdisciplinary research agenda for transformative change based on four key sustainability challenges and a center structure to promote the interdisciplinary nature needed to address the sustainability challenges, including a network of financial and non-financial partners with whom they can collaborate on research; develop business and test innovations. The activities range from research and test bed pilots with industry, to training and conferences.