Dynamic Sustainability Lab

What Dynamic Sustainability Lab does

Dynamic Sustainability Lab is a non-partisan research institute and think tank based at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, launched in Fall 2021. It conducts interdisciplinary scientific research on the risks, opportunities, and unintended consequences of energy, climate, and sustainability transitions, serving government agencies, corporations, and NGOs. The lab operates five interconnected research streams: Biobased and Nature-Based Transitions, Institutional Transitions, Energy and Technology Transitions, Resiliency of Cities, and AI-Driven Supply Chain Transparency.

The lab is led by Founder and Faculty Director Dr. Jay Golden, the inaugural Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance at Syracuse University. Its underlying methodology is the 'Dynamic Sustainability' framework coined by Dr. Golden, which integrates qualitative and quantitative scientific approaches across markets, policy, and national security. Research outputs include annual reports, technical bulletins, peer-reviewed publications, and policy guidance, supported by a team of 11-50 staff and faculty plus a pipeline of 100+ student research fellows drawn from across Syracuse University departments.

The lab's revenue model is grant-funded and partnership-driven. Funding flows through sponsored research projects with federal agencies (U.S. EPA, USDA, NYSERDA), Fortune 500 enterprises (Walmart, BASF, Dow, Lockheed Martin), professional services firms (KPMG, Deloitte), and major foundations (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts). Dr. Golden has personally secured more than $100 million in research funding across his career. The organization has no traditional pricing model; it operates as a university research center funded through collaborative research partnerships and sponsored projects.

Name

Dynamic Sustainability Lab

Legal name

Dynamic Sustainability Lab

Website

https://dynamicslab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dynamic Sustainability Lab is a non-partisan research institute at Syracuse University conducting interdisciplinary research on energy, climate, and sustainability transitions for government agencies, Fortune 500 corporations, and NGOs through grant-funded collaborative partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Plan Development & Implementation Roadmapping (EUABAKAB), Energy & Water Efficiency Programs (Corporate Resource Management) (EUAHAJAG), Climate Risk Reporting & Disclosure Analytics (TCFD/ISSB, EU Taxonomy, CSRD, NAIC) (EUABALAG), Climate Target-Setting, Transition Planning & Performance Management Platforms (EUABAEAF)

Keywords

• Sustainability research services
• Climate transition analysis
• Supply chain transparency
• Energy policy research
• Resiliency research

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Sponsored Projects: The lab generates revenue through research grants, sponsored projects, and collaborative partnerships with industry, government, and NGOs. Dr. Golden has secured more than $100 million in research funding over his career.
2. Strategic Research Partnerships: Collaborative engagements with corporations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations for applied research on sustainability transitions, providing unique insights and mitigation strategies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dynamic Sustainability Lab delivers interdisciplinary scientific research and policy analysis on energy, climate, and sustainability transitions for government agencies, corporations, and NGOs. Its offerings span five research areas covering biobased transitions, institutional transitions, energy and technology transitions, resiliency of cities, and AI-driven supply chain transparency. Revenue is generated through research grants, sponsored projects, and strategic research partnerships rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

The Dynamic Sustainability Lab is a non-partisan research think tank launched in fall 2021 at Syracuse University. It is not a product company but rather produces research reports, technical bulletins, and policy guidance. The lab's offerings consist of five interconnected research areas: (1) Biobased & Nature-Based Transitions Research, (2) Institutional Transitions Research, (3) Energy & Technology Transitions Research, (4) Resiliency of Cities Research, and (5) AI-Driven Supply Chain Transparency Research. These research streams provide interdisciplinary scientific analysis for public and private sector decision-makers on energy, climate, and sustainability transitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biobased & Nature-Based Transitions Research Research services analyzing opportunities in agriculture, agricultural wastes, and forestry to develop value-added feedstocks for chemicals, fuels, plastics, energy, and consumer products. Includes work with global insurance and finance sectors on monitoring and financing bioeconomy transitions. Targeted at government agencies, industry partners, and financial institutions.
• Institutional Transitions Research Research quantifying transition risks and unintended consequences of institutional transitions, including national security, supply chains, finance, and trade implications for industry and government.
• Energy & Technology Transitions Research Research spanning electricity, critical minerals, and carbon capture, addressing system demands for supply chains and implications to markets, jobs, national security, and the environment.
• Resiliency of Cities Research Research creating strategies to mitigate operational and economic risks for communities facing extreme weather events, with focus on government and business continuity and state/local budget implications.
• AI-Driven Supply Chain Transparency Research Research developing AI approaches to address forced labor in global supply chains, providing transparency for sustainability reporting needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Green chemistry-marketed personal care and household products grew 12.6 times faster than conventional counterparts from 2015 to 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement in corporate sustainability research and initiatives. Dr. Golden has worked with Walmart on sustainability and supply chain transparency matters through The Sustainability Consortium.
• Best BuycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sustainability engagement and collaboration on responsible business practices.
• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with leading chemical company on sustainability research and innovation.
• DuPontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sustainability research partnership with major materials science company.
• DowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability research collaboration with major chemicals and materials company.
• 3McoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sustainability engagement and research collaboration.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability and national security research engagement.
• Thomson ReuterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with Thomson Reuters on Gen Z purchasing power and ethical labor practices in supply chains, including a 2025 study on modern slavery.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Golden served on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the EPA from 2017-2024. Engaged in research supporting EPA objectives on sustainability.
• United Nations Environment ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on global sustainability initiatives and research.
• U.S. Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research partnership on biobased products industry economic analysis and agricultural sustainability.
• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development and sustainability projects collaboration.
• Chinese Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration on sustainability research.
• The Sustainability ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Dr. Golden, this academic-industry-government partnership on Corporate Sustainability has 150+ member organizations including leading manufacturers, retailers, and brands.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services engagement on sustainability research and analysis.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services collaboration on sustainability and climate risk analysis.
• Duke UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Golden previously served as Faculty Chair of Business & Environment Program and Director of Duke Center for Sustainability and Commerce at Duke University.
• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Golden was one of the first faculty members in the School of Sustainability at ASU where he founded and directed the National Center of Excellence on SMART Innovations.
• NYSERDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York State Energy Research and Development Authority partnership on resiliency research, including the NYSERDA Resiliency Final Report and student research fellows.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global nonprofit running the world's largest environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. Overlaps significantly with DSL's work on climate transition risk, supply chain transparency, and corporate ESG reporting methodologies. Operates at much larger scale as a de facto disclosure standard-setter.
• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent nonprofit focused on transforming global energy systems and addressing climate change through market-based analysis and engagement. Overlaps with DSL's Energy & Technology Transitions research and corporate sustainability work, but operates as a much larger, more established think tank with broader program scope.
• ICF International: Global consulting and digital services firm with a dedicated climate, energy, and sustainability practice advising federal agencies and corporations. Overlaps with DSL's Energy & Technology Transitions and Resiliency of Cities research, particularly in serving US federal clients with policy and program analysis.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization producing independent analysis on climate, energy, water, and sustainability transitions for governments and corporations. Highly comparable mission to DSL — providing interdisciplinary research to public and private sector decision-makers — but at materially larger scale, longer operating history, and broader permanent staff.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit consulting network working with businesses on sustainability strategy, supply chain transparency, and human rights — closely mirroring DSL's Corporate/Industry partner segment and ESG/sustainability research agenda. Larger scale and longer history, with a global member network.
• Boston Consulting Group — Climate & Sustainability Practice: Major management consultancy with a significant climate and sustainability practice serving Fortune 500 companies on net-zero strategy, climate risk, and transition planning. Competes with DSL for corporate partner attention and ESG research dollars but operates at vastly larger scale.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global advisory firm specializing in environmental, health, safety, and sustainability consulting for corporations. Comparable in delivering sustainability and transition risk research to enterprise clients and governments, but operates as a much larger commercial consultancy with a global delivery footprint.

Direct peers

• RAND Corporation: Independent, university-affiliated nonprofit research institution conducting interdisciplinary analysis for governments and NGOs on energy, environment, climate, and national security. Direct functional analogue to DSL as an academic-affiliated interdisciplinary research organization producing policy-relevant work for federal clients.
• The Sustainability Consortium: Academic-industry-government partnership on corporate sustainability co-founded by Dr. Golden, with 150+ member organizations spanning manufacturers, retailers, and brands. The most directly comparable organization given its overlapping mission, member base (Walmart, BASF, etc.), and shared leadership lineage with DSL.

Others

• KPMG Sustainability Services: Big Four professional services firm with a substantial sustainability and climate practice already partnered with DSL. Functions as both a peer (competing for corporate ESG research budgets) and a partner, making it a meaningfully comparable research buyer and consultancy in the sustainability services market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DynamicSustainabilityLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dynamic-sustainability-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/dynamicslabsu
• Xx.com/dynamicslabsu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dynamic Sustainability Lab