Research Projects

Find the projects you are interested in by using the filter (or search field) to select them by subject or person (or status).

Research Projects

Find the projects you are interested in by using the filter (or search field) to select them by subject or person (or status).

Towards Universal Health Coverage: Strengthening healthcare supply chains to mitigate the impact of epidemics - Phase 3


Prof. Dr. Maria Besiou (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

Today, health supply chains face new and unprecedented threats from global pandemic outbreaks that often occur in the world’s most vulnerable areas. One need not look far with the enormous impact the COVID-19 virus has had and is likely to continue to have.
Well-functioning country-wide supply chains are mission-critical in delivering the Universal Health Care (UHC) agenda and form the backbone of resilient health systems. In recent years, most African countries have integrated UHC as a goal in their national health strategies. While progress has been made, investments in the supply chains that sustainably underpin the principles of availability and choice to populations remains chronically weak, especially at the last mile. This study, funded by the UN World Food Program aims to develop a systems-inspired framework, capable of linking system actors and interventions to the health-related objectives for both UHC and pandemic preparedness and response and to understand resilience qualifiers to define leverage points as investment roadmap for stakeholders and disaggregate the connection between supply chain capacity strengthening and pandemic preparedness.

Digital Transformation, Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chains

Idea evaluation in open, "democratized" innovation


Prof. Dr. Christina Raasch (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

This research program focuses on the evaluation of ideas for new products or processes. While past research has mainly focused on idea creation, more recent research has recognized the importance of idea evaluation and selection in research and practice. Any mode of organizing for innovation can only succeed if ideas are effectively vetted such that ultimately the best ideas are selected for implementation. Being key to organizational performance, idea evaluation deserves a prominent role in economics and management research.

Digital Transformation

WASP - Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion


Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

This project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, is to investigate and promote the application of Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) technologies. It aims to promote the development and adoption of products, services and processes to accelerate a greening of the North Sea Region and to run WASP technology real life trials on sea going ships in operation, showcase proven concepts, market adoption, and thus support green(er) sea transport.

Sustainability, Maritime Logistics, Environment, Transport Logistics

Circular Reverse Supply Chains in Automotives (Ce:VersA)


Prof. Dr. Johannes Meuer (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

The project aims to build a European alliance for a more circular economy between automotive manufacturers, component manufacturers, and logistics companies. With its focus on joint reverse logistics, Ce:Versa offers great potential for reducing CO2 emissions along the value chain.

Creating Value, Environment, Sustainability, Transport Logistics, Supply Chains

The Green Shipping Project Governance and Innovation for a Sustainable Maritime Supply Chain


Prof. Dr. Michele Acciaro (Copenhagen Business School (CBS)), Michael Stein (Hapag-Lloyd Center for Shipping and Global Logistics (CSGL))

Sea transport is relatively under-investigated in the business management, political economy and global governance literatures. The Green Shipping research network aims to address this knowledge gap. The overall goal is to advance knowledge and understanding towards the progressive governance of sustainable maritime transport and the accelerating “green shipping” trend.

Creating Value, Environment, Maritime Logistics, Sustainability, Transport Logistics

CREAToR: Collection of raw materials, Removal of flAme reTardants and Reuse of secondary raw materials


Prof. Dr. Moritz Petersen (Kühne Logistics University - KLU), Prof. Dr. Moritz Petersen (Kühne Logistics University - KLU), Moritz Jäger-Roschko (Greenpeace Deutschland)

CREAToR (funded by the European Commissions EASME-Program) aims to contribute to a circular economy by removing hazardous, bromine-containing flame-retardants from waste streams. The project is set to implement ways to collect secondary raw materials, identify the presence of hazardous flame retardants, remove these contaminants from the materials and finally reuse the materials. While the project’s main focus is on developing and advancing process technology, logistics plays a major role for successfully collecting suitable amounts of waste. The project develops logistics concepts for CREAToR.

Creating Value, Environment, Sustainability, Logistics

Port Reform Toolkit (PRTK)


Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

The Port Reform Toolkit provides guidance to policymakers and practitioners on how to become more sustainable and promote environmental awareness in this sector of the shipping industry. This project, funded by the World Bank, serves as am input to review current developments in the ‘greening’ of a port and outline a road map and transferable methodology to identify and implement actions to improve the environmental performance of a port as an additional module input to the toolkit.

Sustainability, Maritime Logistics, Environment, Transport Logistics

Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR)


Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

The Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) analyzes how a country’s development goals can be achieved in the context of mitigating and/or adapting to climate change. This project, funded by the World Bank, is to prepare a standardized and transferable methodology and guidelines to identify, quantify, cost, and prioritize the mitigation and adaptation measures in a country’s port or ports as an input to a Country Climate and Development Report.

Sustainability, Maritime Logistics, Environment, Transport Logistics

Clean Cargo Initiative – Sustainability in the cargo shipping industry


Prof. Dr. Michele Acciaro (Copenhagen Business School (CBS)), Prof. Alan C. McKinnon, PhD (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

In cooperation with the Clean Cargo Initiative (CCI), this project advances sustainable operations in the maritime transportation sector. The CCI is the leading buyer-supplier forum and involves major brands, cargo carriers, and freight forwarders while reflecting around 80 percent of global container cargo capacity. The project promotes informational transparency and strives to reduce the sector’s environmental impact.

Sustainability, Maritime Logistics, Environment, Transport Logistics, Creating Value

Blockchain for the Circular Economy


Prof. Dr. Moritz Petersen (Kühne Logistics University - KLU), Prof. Dr. Moritz Petersen (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)

Only 6% of the materials processed worldwide are recycled. More recycling in material flows would not only be a great relief for the environment but also holds enormous savings potential for companies of all sizes, especially SMEs. Effective recycling of products and materials often fails due to insufficient availability of product information along the supply chain. This research project aims to design Blockchain-based digital twins that maps the product's composition and origin in detail and evaluate them concerning their applicability in supply chains for the circular economy. As a result, companies can assess the technical scope, ecological and economic effects, and strategic implications.

Sustainability, Digital Transformation, Environment