| Willy Brandt School of Public Policy

MPP Project Group Presents Ideas on a Sustainable and Regenerative Economy to Federal Ministry and BMW Foundation

On January 27th, students from the Project Group, Incentivizing Social Entrepreneurship, had the privilege of visiting the Berlin offices of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the BMW Foundation. However, more than that, students from the group presented and provided their research and strategies for aiding Germany in transitioning into energy independence and a regenerative economy.

group photo
visiting the Berlin offices of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)

The day of the presentation, which was the product of a semester’s worth of work and collaboration, began with meeting the client – Simon Vaut. Simon Vaut is a civil servant in the department “Economic Stabilization and Energy Security," within the BMWK, and volunteer for the BMW Foundation’s “Responsible Leaders Network.” It was through him that the Project Group was able to have a personalized tour through the offices of the BMWK – where economic and energy ministers are so often welcomed – and a meeting with Elisabeth Kaiser, a Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschland (SPD) member of the Bundestag that represents the Thuringian Gera – Greiz – Altenburger Land electoral district, at the Paul-Löbe-Haus. Throug the meeting with Elizabeth Kaiser, the Project Group was able to have a better and more intimate understanding of her work – specifically within her committee, which is focused on combating extremism within Germany – through an insightful Q&A.

The culmination of the trip was the presentation of the Project Group’s findings and recommendations at the BMW Foundation to one of the Foundation’s Leadership Team executives, Sandra Ortiz Diaz – among others. The trip proved to be invaluable and hopefully a great starting point for the Office of the Federal President of Germany, with support from the BMW Foundation, to embark on PROJECT FUTURE, a 5-year initiative designed to accelerate Germany’s transition towards energy independence and a regenerative economy – an economic system designed to positively contribute to society.

Author of the article: Owen Grieves, second-year student at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy.

More links

Back