The Chair of Corporate Sustainability and the TUM SEED Center for Sustainable Energies, Entrepreneurship, and Development focus on advancing SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Their mission is to contribute to sustainable development through education and research at the intersection of sustainable energy and entrepreneurship in the Global South. For more information, visit www.seed.tum.de.
As part of this mission, the SEED Center is launching an exciting project study in collaboration with Customized Energy Solutions (CES), a multinational energy consultancy company engaged in promoting economic development of rural communities in Africa and India. CES collaborates with mini-grid developers to enhance the utilization of their mini grids through mapping, design, deployment and scale up of productive use of energy (PUE) technologies. It also works on developing PUE backed business models for long-term sustainability of mini grids in global south. As a strategic partner of the SEED Center, CES brings valuable expertise to this initiative.
The project study focuses on developing case studies for the SEED Living Labs, with particular emphasis on PUE strategies and sustainability planning for each lab. Students will work closely with CES experts, SEED Center project coordinators, and researchers.
The project aims to address the following key questions:
1. Lessons Learned: What are the main specific and common lessons from each Living Lab?
2. Challenges Identified: What specific and common challenges have the Living Labs faced?
3. Sustainability Planning: What steps are needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Living Labs after the SEED Center funding phase?
4. PUE Models: What are the most effective models for introducing PUE across the Living Labs? What are the pros and cons of different financial and business models?
5. Social Impact: What is the social impact of various PUE strategies?
Project Details
The SEED Living Labs Case Study and Sustainability Planning project study offers 6 positions for master’s students at TUM. Students will work in three teams of two contributing to the development of detailed case studies and sustainability plans for the SEED Center’s 8 Living Labs.
- 12 ECTS;
- 3 to 6 months starting from April 2025 (total of 360 hours; 9 full-time weeks or 18 part-time weeks)
- On-Site Fieldwork possible but not mandatory
We are seeking excellent and engaged master’s students from the TUM School of Management who meet the following criteria:
- Strong motivation and proactive engagement
- Interest in sustainable entrepreneurship, strategy and social impact
- Openness to cultural exchange and collaboration
To apply send a motivation letter and a short CV to Dr. Alessia Argiolas at alessia.argiolas(at)tum.de.