On 12 June 2025, the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Gdańsk hosted a training session entitled ‘Sustainable business and ESG in small and medium-sized enterprises’, organised by the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk in cooperation with the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce and Univentum Labs, a special purpose vehicle of the University of Gdańsk.
The participants were welcomed by Sylwia Mrozowska, PhD, DSc, Professor at the University of Gdańsk. The Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development and President of Univentum Labs emphasised the importance of education and cooperation between the science and business sectors in the green transition process, as well as the growing role of ESG in business development.
The training was conducted by Helena Okuniewska, an expert in green finance, environmental protection and the implementation of ESG principles in the SME sector. During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to learn what sustainable development is in practice, how it affects the competitiveness of companies and how to start implementing ESG principles in order to meet the expectations of the market, investors and customers.
The workshop programme included a discussion of the links between the SME business model and sustainable development goals, an analysis of the profitability of implementing ESG principles, and practical guidance on regulations and available forms of support.