“So, as in politics, so in business, I am concerned with an ethos of responsibility that convincingly combines economic strategies and ethical judgment. This new paradigm of business ethics becomes concrete in that it examines economic action – for all the legitimacy of profit – to see whether it violates higher goods or values. Specifically, whether it is socially acceptable, environmentally acceptable, and sustainable.”
Hans Küng in the foreword to “Anständig wirtschaften – Warum Ökonomie Moral braucht” (Doing Business Decently – Why Economics Needs Morals)
The Global Ethic Institute at the University of Tübingen, together with selected partners, annually organize the Global Ethic Pitch Day, which brings together start-up companies, ethics and potential investors.
The goal is to promote ethically plausible, but also economically viable business models, combined with providing a framework for viable and sustainable innovations. Support is provided for start-ups that already assume responsibility in their business model: Ethics by Design.
In this context, it is particularly important that the start-ups introduce a value orientation as part of their DNA in a resource-creating and benefit-creating manner. This must be proven in a market-oriented way by describable indicators, applied standards, guidelines and practices.
Part of the Global Ethic Pitch Day is the awarding of a prize for an “ethically sustainable business model” to one or more startups worthy of support.
