European School of Sustainability Science and Research

What European School of Sustainability Science and Research does

The European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR) is an inter-university consortium founded in October 2018 and hosted by Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) at Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany. It coordinates sustainability science teaching and research across European universities through a freemium membership model: Regular Membership is free and provides access to network communications, member meetings chaired by Prof. Dr. (mult.) Dr. h.c. (mult.) Walter Leal, and institutional news sharing; Premium Membership is a paid subscription that adds benefits such as waived project preparation costs, professional advice, member-only discounts, and priority partner status. The consortium's product surface spans recurring online event series (Hamburg Sustainability Sessions, World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day), four thematic networks (European Alliance for Sustainability Research, Ukraine Nature Network, World PhD Students and Postdoc Sustainability Network, and the European Sustainable Development Competences Network), doctoral training programmes including the Cooperative Doctoral Programme with Manchester Metropolitan University and Central and Eastern European Doctoral Fellowships (1,350 euros/month for 6-12 months), and a portfolio of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications.

The underlying technology is a lightweight research-coordination platform built on the WordPress/CMS website at esssr.eu, supplemented by Microsoft Forms for registrations and newsletter capture, Matomo for analytics, Google reCAPTCHA for spam control, and calendar feeds (Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, Outlook Live) for event distribution. There is no proprietary software product; the core "platform" is the consortium's network itself, which links 80+ member institutions and an international twin programme, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP). The organization's go-to-market is community-led: it grows through university membership applications, network events, conferences, symposia (e.g., the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030 in Manaus, Brazil, in 2025), and collaborative research projects funded primarily through European programmes such as Horizon Europe and Interreg. Direct monetization is narrow: premium membership fees, selective event registration fees (e.g., Euro 250 for international delegates), and doctoral programme fees routed through partner universities. Since its 2019 operational set-up, ESSSR has coordinated research projects with a cumulative volume exceeding Euro 20 million, published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, and earned recognition as a European Sustainability Network by the European University Association.

Name

European School of Sustainability Science and Research

Legal name

Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW Hamburg)

Website

https://esssr.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR) is an inter-university consortium of 80+ European universities, hosted by HAW Hamburg, that coordinates sustainability science teaching, joint research projects, doctoral training, and academic publications via a freemium membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Research Consortium / Higher Education Research Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability, Energy & Environmental (ESG/LEED) Certifications (EDAAANAO), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Sustainability research consortium
• Inter-university research network
• Higher education collaboration
• Academic membership consortium
• Sustainability science events

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Regular membership is free of charge. Premium Membership offers advantages including no project preparation costs, professional advice, increased visibility, and priority partner status.
2. Event Registration Fees: Some events charge registration fees. For example, the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030 charged Euro 250 for international delegates and R$ 560 for Brazilian delegates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESSSR operates an inter-university consortium that coordinates sustainability science teaching and research across European universities through free Regular and paid Premium memberships. It delivers recurring online event series (Hamburg Sustainability Sessions, World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day), thematic networks (Ukraine Nature Network, World PhD Students and Postdoc Sustainability Network, European Sustainable Development Competences Network, European Alliance for Sustainability Research), cooperative doctoral training programmes and CEE doctoral fellowships, and a portfolio of peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Product overview

ESSSR operates as an inter-university consortium providing a coordinated framework for sustainability science teaching and research at European universities. The organization offers two membership tiers (Regular and Premium) that serve as the foundation for accessing the consortium's services. The product portfolio includes recurring online event series (Hamburg Sustainability Sessions, World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day), thematic networks (Ukraine Nature Network, World PhD Students and Postdoc Sustainability Network, European Sustainable Development Competences Network, European Alliance for Sustainability Research), doctoral training programmes (Cooperative Doctoral Programme with Manchester Metropolitan University, fellowships for CEE doctoral students), and scientific publications. The consortium leverages digital platforms for online delivery and coordinates research projects with a volume exceeding Euro 20 million since 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESSSR Regular Membership
• ESSSR Premium Membership
• Hamburg Sustainability Sessions
• World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day (WSDTID)
• 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030
• ESSSR Cooperative Doctoral Programme on Sustainable Development Research (CDPhD-SD)
• Manchester Metropolitan University PhD Programmes (Standard PhD and PhD by Published Works)
• ESSSR Doctoral Fellowships for Central and Eastern European Countries
• European Alliance for Sustainability Research (EASR)
• European Sustainable Development Competences Network (ESD-CN)
• World PhD Students and Postdoc Sustainability Network
• Ukraine Nature Network
• ESSSR Scientific Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• Over Euro 20 million in research projects secured since 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, key and core.

• European North-American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-organizer of Hamburg Sustainability Session #12 alongside ESSSR, HAW Hamburg, and IUSDRP.
• University Nilton Lins (Brazil)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Host venue for the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030 in Manaus, Brazil. One of the co-organizers of the symposium alongside ESSSR, IUSDRP, ICCIRP, and other institutions.
• Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in organizing the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030 and collaborative research initiatives. Also partner in the World PhD Students Sustainability Network.
• Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborating organization for the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030. Professor Ubirata Tortato serves as Brazil contact.
• German-Brazilian Science and Technology Network (GERBRAS-SCIENCENET)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organizer of the 2nd Symposium Amazon 2030, facilitating German-Brazilian scientific collaboration.
• Ukraine Nature NetworkkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Network established by ESSSR to address environmental issues in Ukraine, especially in the context of war. Supported by German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU) funding. Focuses on water, soil, forests, and waste management.
• RCE Hamburg and RegionsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborates with ESSSR on the Hamburg Sustainability Sessions events. RCE (Regional Centre of Expertise) on Education for Sustainable Development.
• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019HAW Hamburg is the host institution of ESSSR. The Research and Transfer Centre 'Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management' at HAW Hamburg provides the infrastructure and administrative support for ESSSR operations. Prof. Dr. Walter Leal serves as Head of the centre and ESSSR Chairman.
• Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019IUSDRP is the international twin of ESSSR and its sister programme. Both organizations collaborate on publications, events, and research projects. IUSDRP is described as the world's largest network of universities working on sustainable development research.
• International Journal of Sustainability in Higher EducationkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019The journal serves as the official cooperation partner for ESSSR. The journal focuses on sustainability at universities and is edited by Prof. Walter Leal, ESSSR's Chairman.
• European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Organizes the World PhD Students and Postdoc Sustainability Network. Chair is Professor Walter Leal. Supported by interdisciplinary and multinational team.
• European Alliance for Sustainability Research (EASR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018An ESSSR initiative launched in 2018 to accelerate SDG implementation in Europe. Membership encompasses 60+ universities. Expected to mobilize Euro 20 million in projects for 2021-2028.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP): IUSDRP is described as ESSSR's international twin and sister programme, collaborating on publications, events, and research projects. IUSDRP is positioned as the world's largest network of universities working on sustainable development research, making it the closest direct comparator in mission and structure.
• COPERNICUS Alliance: COPERNICUS Alliance is a European network of higher education institutions committed to sustainable development, similar in mission to ESSSR. Both focus on coordinating sustainability research and education across European universities, making it a direct functional peer.
• International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS): ISDRS is a global network of researchers working on sustainable development, organized around conferences and publications. It overlaps directly with ESSSR's mission of coordinating sustainability research and providing a venue for academic collaboration and publishing.

Emerging players

• Climate-KIC: Climate-KIC is a European knowledge and innovation community focused on climate innovation, backed by EIT. It is comparable as a European sustainability-focused, multi-institutional collaboration, but with a more entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented mandate rather than pure academic research coordination.

Regional players

• Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU): APRU is a network of leading research universities in the Pacific Rim that runs sustainability programs (e.g., APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes). It is comparable as a regionally focused, university-led sustainability research network, but serves Asia-Pacific rather than Europe.
• Global Universities Partnership for Environment and Sustainability (GUPES): GUPES is a UNEP-led partnership of universities worldwide focused on environment and sustainability. It is comparable as a global sustainability research/education network but is anchored to UNEP rather than independent European universities.

Broad incumbents

• UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN): SDSN is a much larger UN-backed network mobilizing global scientific and technological expertise for sustainable development. It is comparable as a university-affiliated sustainability research network with global reach, though it operates at a far larger scale and broader remit than ESSSR.
• International Association of Universities (IAU): IAU is a UNESCO-affiliated association of higher education institutions worldwide. Comparable as a global higher-education coordination body addressing sustainability in higher education, including through initiatives like the IAU Global Cluster on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development.
• European University Association (EUA): EUA is the representative body of over 850 European universities and is the body that formally recognized ESSSR in its study on greening in European higher education. It is comparable as a Europe-wide academic coordination entity, though it operates as an advocacy and policy association rather than a research consortium.

Others

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): WBCSD is a CEO-led organization of over 200 businesses working on sustainable development. It is thematically adjacent rather than directly comparable: WBCSD serves corporate members on sustainability strategy and ESG while ESSSR serves universities on sustainability research and education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/companhia-suzano-de-papel-e-celulose

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European School of Sustainability Science and Research