News
Current news about the institute, our research, teaching and executive education.
New Publication – Swiss Private Banks in the Age of AI
23. June 2026Our team of the Competence Center Mergers & Acquisitions contributed to a Deep Dive as Part of KPMG’s Private Banking Study 2026. Click to read the key takeaways, executive summary and access the full report.
Join the IFB-HSG team as a Research Associate in Strategic Management (PhD position)
23. June 2026At the Institute of Management & Strategy (IFB-HSG), you will contribute to research on topics such as growth strategies, geopolitics & corporate strategy, alliances & ecosystems, and AI in strategy, while also supporting teaching, executive education and academic publishing. 👉 More information and application: https://lnkd.in/dXFuHrGK
Kick-Off: New Center for Geopolitics and Corporate Strategy
11. June 2026The new Center for Geopolitics & Corporate Strategy at the University of St.Gallen will officially launch with a kick-off event on 24 September 2026. The Center brings together interdisciplinary expertise to help organizations better understand geopolitical developments and develop strategic responses to global challenges.
Prof. Lechner on the Podcast “Unruhige Zeiten”
5. June 2026How can leaders navigate uncertain times?
In the latest episode of the Unruhige Zeiten podcast, Prof. Dr. Christoph Lechner, Professor of Strategic Management at IFB-HSG, discusses the impact of geopolitical developments on businesses and the challenges facing leaders in an increasingly complex world. Tune in now
What Customer Workarounds Can Reveal About Your Business Model
21. May 2026Just published in Harvard Business Review: “What Customer Workarounds Can Reveal About Your Business Model”.
Most companies treat customer workarounds (e.g. account sharing, employees expensing tools their company doesn’t offer) as product feedback or compliance issues. We argue they’re something more useful: prototypes of business models that companies haven’t built yet. By the time a workaround exists, customers have already done the job. They’ve identified a gap in the way they can access, use, and pay for what you offer. They’ve demonstrated demand. And they’ve proven willingness to pay – this time in effort and time instead of money. The resulting monetization gap has a name: the Business Model Void. Spotting one is hard. Closing it before someone else does is harder. Read the full article here.
Global deal, local identity: the Aromat debate
16. April 2026A recently agreed deal between Unilever and McCormick is drawing attention beyond the M&A community.
The transaction — covering Unilever’s food business, including Knorr and Aromat— has also sparked debate in Switzerland about the future of a deeply embedded consumer brand.
Both Tages-Anzeiger and 20 Minuten featured perspectives from Xena Welch Guerra and Tomi Laamanen on the structural complexity of such transactions.
Integrated global brands like Knorr are embedded in tightly coupled production, supply chain, and IP systems, making the separation of individual brands challenging in practice.
At the same time, the case highlights how global M&A decisions can trigger strong local reactions. Aromat, produced in Thayngen, is widely perceived as part of Swiss culinary identity.
👉 Read the coverage here:
https://lnkd.in/dyKi23bV
https://lnkd.in/djmZq8ph
Introducing the Next-Generation of Business Model Innovation
2. April 2026The third edition of the Business Model Navigator, published in 2025, introduces 66 business model patterns, fresh global case examples, and a strong focus on AI-driven business model innovation. It also features a new chapter on business model testing and reveals previously hidden success factors. Business models tell the story of how organizations create and capture value – an essential capability in today’s dynamic economy.
Digital and Collaborative Innovation for Net Zero
1. April 2026Three recent publications by Prof. Ann-Kristin Zobel and colleagues examine how digital and collaborative innovation contribute to the transition to net-zero emissions, highlighting the role of digital technologies, the importance of cross-firm collaboration, and the power of virtual formats as key enablers of progress in the ‘race to net zero’.
HSG Impact Award for the Circular Lab
5. December 2025In 2025, the Circular Lab received the HSG Impact Award at the Dies Academicus of the University of St. Gallen, recognizing its societal impact in circular economy research. The interdisciplinary team, including Karolin Frankenberger, Anna Sophia Burch, Andrei Ciortea, and Simon Mayer, develops practical circular solutions across agriculture and food systems. Founded in 2023, the initiative connects academia and industry across the region. Addressing Switzerland’s 7% circularity rate (Circularity Gap Report 2024), the Circular Lab advances transdisciplinary, practice-oriented approaches with partners including FREITAG. Watch the video and explore how the Circular Lab collaborates with industry partners to drive circular innovation.
New book published: Der Circular Economy Navigator
15. November 2025In autumn 2025, the book “Der Circular Economy Navigator” by Dr. Fabian Takacs, Richard Stechow, and Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger, was published by the renowned Hanser Verlag. The book is based on more than five years of intensive research on circular-economy business models and ecosystems. It provides a scientifically grounded yet highly practical guide for companies seeking to transition from linear to circular business models, combining theoretical foundations with numerous real-world case examples. Spanning over 400 pages, the book illustrates how organizations can shape the necessary transformation at societal, organizational, and individual levels in order to operate in more ecologically stable and economically resilient ways. As such, it offers a central set of tools for all those seeking to develop circular ecosystems and successfully implement sustainable innovations.
Engaging young minds at the Kinder-Uni
1. November 2025At the University of St.Gallen Children’s University, Karolin Frankenberger once again curated the unique excitement of engaging young minds and witnessing how curiosity can ignite a passion for learning. In this recent session, participants were introduced to the concept of a business model and explored how it applies to FC St. Gallen 1879. By connecting football with strategy and innovation, the session offered an inspiring and accessible way for children to understand complex ideas. The afternoon was marked by enthusiasm, energy, and a shared sense of discovery.
Zurich Insurance Group launches AI Lab together with the Institute of Management & Strategy and ETH Zurich
29. October 2025With the newly established Zurich AI Lab, Zurich Insurance Group is launching a joint initiative with the Institute of Management & Strategy (IOMS-HSG) and ETH Zurich’s Agentic Systems Lab. The aim is to reshape the insurance industry through artificial intelligence (AI) and accelerate the development of scalable AI solutions.