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During the Dies Natalis on November 20, 2018, Peter Bakker – President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) – urged the business community to take on a leading role and secure a sustainable future for all. He believes we are entering a period of unprecedented transformation. On January 18, 2019, Nyenrode hosted a conference that fit in perfectly with this topic: 'Corporate responsibility in relation to climate change'. International firms, investment managers, insurers, human rights organizations and climate groups came together to address the key question: how can my business take responsibility for future generations?

'The role businesses play and the responsibilities they have in the story of climate change and human rights has two sides. There are ethical and legal aspects, but the subjects offer many chances as well.' Jan van de Venis, lawyer and owner of JustLaw, states. He is a coordinator and keynote speaker for the ‘Corporate responsibility in relation to climate change’ conference that will be held on January 18 at Nyenrode Business University.

Capitalism and market forces have brought us great prosperity and progress. However, our current corporate governance system has compromised the stability and future of our society, explains Prof. Dr. Leen Paape in his speech. Our economy should not just be about profit and shareholder value, but about creating sustainable value, for everyone. According to Paape, it's time to broaden our view and redefine corporate governance. He calls upon society to relinquish the dominant logic and introduce system thinking, to define the long term and look for ways to allow companies to further take their place in society and strive for sustainable value creation.

As a part of Nyenrode Corporate Governance Institutes strategic focus on 'Making Markets Fit for Purpose', Nyenrode Business Universiteit and NewForesight Consultancy facilitated an author workshop to write a book on 'Changing the Game: How to Achieve Sustainable Market Transformation'.

The outcomes of research on innovation in family businesses debunk the myth that family businesses are not innovative. This is according to the research report by Prof. Dr. Roberto Flören, professor of family businesses at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, in collaboration with ING and NPM Capital. Family business owners are more supportive of innovation policy than owners of non-family businesses. At the same time, the study shows that when more financial resources are available, nearly one-third of family businesses will be more innovative. Family businesses are therefore on par with other types of businesses when it comes to innovation.