The Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW) is a Berlin-based, non-profit research institute working on sustainability, economic policy and environmental transformation. Founded in 1985, it has built a profile as an applied research organisation that connects ecological questions with economic and social policy. Its stated aim is to develop strategies for “sustainable economic activity” that support a good life while preserving natural resources.
The institute is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and works across a broad set of themes: companies and value creation, alternative economies, policy and governance, energy transition, climate protection and adaptation, lifestyles and consumption, nature and ecosystems, cities and regions, digital transformation, and innovation and technologies. Its work is interdisciplinary and often transdisciplinary, bringing together researchers from different fields and collaborating with partners in science, business, civil society, politics and public administration.
IÖW’s activities include research projects, policy-oriented studies, and advisory work. It regularly develops recommendations aimed at political decision-makers, including members of the German Bundestag, federal ministries and agencies. The institute also carries out commissioned research for public institutions, companies, associations and foundations, and participates in European Union and UNEP-related projects.
Among its better-known long-running activities is the sustainability ranking of German corporate reports, which the institute has conducted since 2005. Recent work highlighted on its website includes the ProSuffizienz project on photovoltaic households and sufficiency in the energy transition, and a study on regional value creation from renewable energy expansion.