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  • Collaboration with UCLouvain to advance efforts towards a circular economy through the creation of a new PhD focused on key impact indicators in the circular economy field and the creation of a circular economy barometer
  • Partnership with Vlerick Business School to create the Centre for Sustainable Finance. Inaugural research project will focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in measuring scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Transitioning to a more sustainable world will require further investment in world-class research and academic economic thinking
  • New academic partnerships complement CANDRIAM’s existing collaborations with some of the world’s leading academic institutions including: the London School of Economics (LSE), Imperial College London, Kedge Business School and Libera Universita Maria Ss. Assunta (LUMSA).

3 December 2020 – CANDRIAM, a global sustainable and multi-asset focused investment manager, is pleased to announce two new partnerships with UCLouvain and Vlerick Business School. This reflects CANDRIAM’s ongoing commitment to collaborate with the world’s leading academic institutions to advance the investment industry’s efforts towards a sustainable and inclusive climate recovery.

Partnering to advance academic efforts towards a circular economy

CANDRIAM has partnered with UCLouvain to further develop the Chair in Regenerative Economics by expanding teaching and research on the circular economy. The world is currently only 8.6% circular, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available for investors.[1] Resource depletion and inefficient waste management are among the key concerns due to their significant and costly effect on the economy, society and ecosystem.

The partnership, led by Louvain Management School Professor, Yves de Rongé, with Wim Van Hyfte, Global Head of ESG Investments and Research at CANDRIAM, will prioritise several projects including:

  • Developing a PhD focused on key impact indicators within the circular economy;
  • Developing a circular economy barometer, with the aim of measuring corporate progress;
  • Developing an in-depth analysis of different sectors to identify circular practices of companies and measurements of circularity; and
  • Developing circular economy reports and collaborating with the CANDRIAM environmental advisory board.

Yves de Rongé, Professor responsible for the Regenerative Economics chair at UCLouvain commented: “As we move towards a regenerative and circular economy, I am delighted to announce our new partnership with CANDRIAM. By identifying the best circularity practices developed by companies and expanding indicators and measures of circularity performance, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of a circular economy for companies, investors and policymakers.”

 Collaborating on Big Data and sustainable finance

CANDRIAM has also joined forces with Vlerick Business School to create the Centre for Sustainable Finance. Professor David Veredas will direct the Centre in Brussels as part of a new three-year partnership. CANDRIAM will support and participate in the Centre’s academic research to help the industry gain a deeper understanding of sustainable finance. The first academic research project will focus on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in measuring Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from global economic business activities. The project will aim to map the linkages of scope 3 emissions, leading to a more accurate, consistent and transparent public reporting of corporate value chain emissions.

Scope 3 emissions include all indirect emissions, both upstream and downstream, that occur in the value chain of a company. Emissions along the value chain often contribute most significantly to a company’s greenhouse gas footprint, so it is important that businesses proactively collect and measure their Scope 3 emissions. Assessing Scope 3 emissions can also help organisations identify potential energy risks and reveal opportunities to improve supply chain performance.

Professor David Veredas from Vlerick Business School commented: “This partnership is very exciting to us. Sustainability is going to define our society and economy during the next decades. Fundamental political decisions will be taken, like those that are required to implement the EU Green Deal. Yet, many questions remain open that can only be answered with rigorous academic research. That is what we will do with the support of CANDRIAM, a world leader in sustainable investments.”

 Commenting on the new partnerships, Wim Van Hyfte, Ph.D., Global Head of ESG Investments and Research, CANDRIAM, said: “As we strive to promote a net-zero carbon and more circular economy, it is vital that we support world-class research and foster new academic economic thinking to support our transition towards a more sustainable world. CANDRIAM is proud to announce two new partnerships with UCLouvain and Vlerick Business School and we look forward to collaborating with these prestigious institutions.”

 These new academic partnerships complement CANDRIAM’s existing collaborations with leading academic institutions including: