Research - 08.05.2026 - 16:01
The University of St.Gallen (HSG) honours outstanding research annually with the HSG Impact Award. The award recognises HSG researchers whose projects make a notable contribution to society.
In 2026 a total of three projects were recognised. "Swiss circular economy of skills and competencies" by Dr Andreas Janson, Dr. Roman Rietsche, Prof. Dr Bernadette Dilger, Prof. Dr Ivo Blohm and Prof. Dr Jan Marco Leimeister; the research project “AI-based nutritional assessment of malnourished patients in care facilities” by Prof. Dr Dietmar Grichnik and Dr Robert Schreiber; and the project “The 60% Potential – Using marketing to win over mainstream consumers for sustainable consumption” by Prof. Dr Johanna Gollnhofer.
The jury, comprising practitioners and university staff, assessed applications from a wide range of disciplines within HSG research. The prizes will be officially awarded during Dies academicus on Friday, 8 May 2026.
In the face of skills shortages, digitalisation, and rapid changes in competencies, the Innosuisse flagship project “Swiss circular economy of skills and competencies” by Dr Andreas Janson, Dr Roman Rietsche, Prof. Dr Bernadette Dilger, Prof. Dr Ivo Blohm, and Prof. Dr Jan Marco Leimeister creates a much-needed link between educational provision and labour market demand. At its heart is a scientifically grounded competency model that systematically links skills, tasks, and requirements, thereby establishing for the first time a common “language” for companies, education providers, and the workforce.
Building on this, AI-supported competence profiles enable a holistic mapping of qualifications – from formal qualifications to informally acquired skills. Through intelligent recommendation systems, users receive personalised further training and career suggestions that clearly show which steps lead to their target position. In collaboration with the industry partner Work-ID, a new digital skills ID is being established for Switzerland. It allows individual profiles to be matched against thousands of job vacancies. It helps companies to identify and close skills gaps in a targeted manner. Through close cooperation with partners from business and education, the project is already having a broad impact and is regarded as a pioneering model for sustainable, future-oriented skills development.
Through the Innosuisse innovation project “AI-based nutritional assessment of malnourished patients in care facilities”, the Institute for Technology Management, together with the start-up ALPINA+SANA, has developed a solution to combat malnutrition in the healthcare sector.
Around 20–30 per cent of hospital patients are affected – with significant health consequences and costs exceeding 500 million Swiss francs annually in Switzerland alone. The interdisciplinary research team at the Healthspan Lab at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) is addressing this issue by combining artificial intelligence with technology to create an automated system that accurately tracks food intake in real time.
With an accuracy of around 90 per cent – even for complex meals – the technology enables the early detection of malnutrition while simultaneously reducing the workload for nursing staff by eliminating the need for manual documentation.
Initial practical trials at Winterthur Cantonal Hospital demonstrate significant potential: thousands of working hours can be saved, additional revenue generated, and treatment costs significantly reduced. In parallel, ALPINA+SANA is developing patient-centred medical food products that increase acceptance among those affected. The project is receiving interest from the healthcare sector: over 50 hospitals are already considering its introduction. Thus, the initiative by Prof. Dr Dietmar Grichnik and Dr Robert Schreiber not only makes an important contribution to increasing efficiency in the healthcare system but also improves the quality of life of an ageing population.
Based on several years of research, the book “The 60% Potential – Using marketing to win over mainstream consumers for sustainable consumption” by Prof. Dr. Johanna Gollnhofer, now available in English, presents a powerful concept for promoting sustainable consumption.
The focus is no longer solely on a small, already convinced target group, but on the broad middle of society – that “60% potential” which has been largely overlooked. The approach offers companies, public institutions and organisations concrete strategies for making sustainable products and behaviours suitable for the mass market.
Since its publication in 2024, the book has received a wide response in business, the media and politics, has been published internationally and was recognised as one of the most important business books of 2025. The practical impact is already clearly visible: companies such as Vattenfall are using the concept to realign their sustainability communications, while Beiersdorf has incorporated it into its management training. Public bodies such as the City of Oldenburg are also adopting the approach to encourage citizens more effectively to adopt climate-friendly behaviour. In this way, “The 60% Potential” makes a key contribution to translating scientific findings into concrete measures and driving sustainable change across society.
