Vereinigung für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung e.V.

The Vereinigung für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (VÖW) is an inter- and transdisciplinary network that was founded in 1985 by Reinhard Pfriem and numerous supporters. As a non-profit association, the VÖW focuses on issues of sustainable development and its practical implementation.

The VÖW advocates for the ecological transformation of the economy and the development of a transdisciplinary sustainability science. The focus is on sustainable economic practices and the contributions that businesses, politics, and universities can make. The VÖW promotes the exchange between science, politics, and practice through working groups, the VÖW list server, and various events.

• Events: The VÖW organizes a variety of events, such as seminars, conferences, summer schools, and autumn academies that address topics like sustainable land use, renewable energies, and ecological trade union policy.
• Publications: The VÖW, in collaboration with the Institute for Ecological Economic Research (IÖW), publishes the journal "Ökologisches Wirtschaften," which is considered the first scientific Open Access journal on sustainable economics in the German language.
• Network and Collaborations: The network offers diverse contact opportunities between science, politics, and practice and works closely with other organizations and networks, such as the Industrial Ecology Network.

In recent decades, the VÖW has been committed to sustainable development through numerous initiatives and projects. These include:

• Research and Teaching: The VÖW supports research and teaching in the field of ecological economics and sustainability.
• Practical Implementation: Through working groups and events, the practical implementation of sustainable concepts in politics, businesses, and NGOs is promoted.
• International Collaborations: The VÖW is involved in international conferences and networks, such as the International Society for Ecological Economics and the Degrowth Conference.
• Mentoring and Education: The VÖW mentoring cycle and summer schools provide young researchers with the opportunity to further their education in the areas of sustainable development and ecological economic research.

The VÖW remains active in promoting sustainable development. Current projects include the organization of events such as the conference "Grown Up – Economizing as if there were a Tomorrow" and the autumn academy on ecological trade union policy. The board, which is confirmed annually by the general assembly, consists of experienced experts such as Prof. Dr. Bernd Siebenhüner, Dr. Alexandra Palzkill, and Hans Haake, who advocate for the internationalization and opening of the field of socio-ecological research.

The VÖW remains a central actor in the field of sustainable development and ecological economic research by continuously providing impulses for a future-oriented economic approach.

• 1 - https://www.voew.de
• 2 - https://www.voew.de/ueber-die-voew/
• 3 - https://www.borderstep.de/network/vereinigung-fuer-oekologische-wirtschaftsforschung/
• 4 - https://www.voew.de/meilensteine/
• 5 - https://www.voew.de/vorstand/