Support Systems for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Transformation

Shift Publications

On this page you will find the results and recommendations for action of the SHiFT project.

Summary of Results  and Recommendations from Shift

  • Summary of results and recommendations from the Eco-Innovera project SHIFT: FREE DOWNLOAD

Good Practice collection University Support for Sustainable Entrepreneurship

  • Fichter, K., Geier, J., Tiemann, I. (2016). Good practice collection – University support for sustainable entrepreneurship. Berlin, Helsinki, Linköping: SHIFT: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Presidio Graduate School San Francisco, California, USA: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Chalmers University of Technology Gothenburg, Sweden: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) Germany: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) Finland: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Leuphana University of Lüneburg Germany: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: University of Manchester England, UK: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Santa Clara University California, USA: FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Good Practice: Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB California, USA: FREE DOWNLOAD

Publications

  • Klofsten, M., Norrman, C., Cadorin, E. & Löfsten, H. (2020). Support and development of small and new firms in rural areas: A case study of three regional initiatives. SN Applied Sciences, 2(1). FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Klofsten, M., Lundmark, E., Wennberg, K. & Bank, N. (2020). Incubator specialization and size: Divergent paths towards operational scale. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 151, 119821: LINK
  • Fichter, K. & Tiemann, I. (2018). Factors influencing university support for sustainable entrepreneurship: Insights from explorative case studies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 512–524. LINK
  • Kanda, W., Hjelm, O., Clausen, J. & Bienkowska, D. (2018). Roles of intermediaries in supporting eco-innovation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 1006–1016. LINK
  • Tiemann, I., Fichter, K. & Geier, J. (2018). University Support Systems for Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Insights from Explorative Case Studies. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 10(1), 83-110. LINK
  • Bank, N., Fichter, K., & Klofsten, M. (2017). Sustainability-profiled incubators and securing the inflow of tenants – The case of Green Garage Berlin. Journal of Cleaner Production, 157, 76–83. LINK
  • Bergset, L., Darrall, A. & Fichter, K. (2017). The financing of sustainable entrepreneurship – a survey of green start-ups in Germany. Presented at the XXVIII ISPIM Innovation Conference – Composing the Innovation Symphony. Vienna, Austria. LINK
  • Bank, N. & Kanda, W. (2016). Tenant recruitment and support processes in sustainability profiled business incubators. Industry & Higher Education, 30(4), 267–277. LINK
  • Fichter, K., Fuad‐Luke, A., Hjelm, O., Klofsten, M., Backman, M., Bergset, L., Bienkowska, D., Clausen,  J., Geier, J., Hirscher, A.L., Kanda, W. & Kuisma, M. (2016). SHIFTing the Support of Entrepreneurship in  Eco‐Innovation. Work Package 9 – Final report of the Eco‐Innovera project SHIFT. Berlin, Helsinki,  Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Bergset, L. & Fichter, K. (2016). Final Report on the Role of Investors, Financial Institutions and Public Funding Programmes. Work Package 6. Berlin: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • ​Fuad-Luke, A., Backman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016). The Role of Design Service Providers (DSPs). Workpackage 5. Berlin, Helsinki, Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Kuisma, M. & Fuad-Luke, A. (2016). The roles of interagents and unusual collaboration in supporting sustainable start-ups and eco-SMEs – literature and findings. Work Package 7. Helsinki, Porto: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Kanda, W., Hjelm, O. & Clausen, J. (2016). The Role of Business Development Organizations in Supporting Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Eco‐innovation. Work Package 4. Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Klofsten, M., Bank, N. & Bienkowska, D. (2016). The Role of Incubators in Supporting Sustainable Entrepreneurship. Work Package 3. Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • ​Fichter, K., Fuad-Luke, A., Hjelm, O., Klofsten, M., Backman, M., Bergset, L., Bienkowska, D., Clausen, J., Geier, J., Hirscher, A.L., Kanda, W. & Kuisma, M. (2016). SHIFTing the Support of Entrepreneurship in Eco-Innovation. Summary of results and recommendations from the Eco-Innovera project SHIFT. Berlin, Helsinki, Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Fichter, K., Fuad-Luke, A., Hjelm, O., Klofsten, M., Backman, M., Bergset, L., Bienkowska, D., Clausen, J., Geier, J., Hirscher, A.L., Kanda, W. & Kuisma, M. (2016). Redesigning the Support System for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Work Package 8. Berlin, Helsinki, Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Geier, J. & Fichter, K. (2015). Good Practice Examples: Activities in Sustainable Entrepreneurship at Universities in Finland, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Berlin, Helsinki, Linköping: SHIFT consortium. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Clausen, J., Kanda, W. & Bergset, L. (2015). Öko-Effizienz und Öko-Innovationen  in der Wirtschaftsförderung im Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. Arbeitspaket 4: Wirtschaftsförderung und Clusterinitiativen. Berlin, Linköping: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Bergset, L. (2014). Financing innovation in sustainable start-ups – an exploration of financial access, challenges and opportunities, paper presented at The XXV ISPIM Conference – Innovation for Sustainable Economy & Society, Dublin, Ireland on 8-11 June 2014. LINK
  • Kanda, W., Hjelm, O. & Bienkowska, D. (2014). Boosting eco-innovation: The role of public support organizations, paper presented at The XXV ISPIM Conference – Innovation for Sustainable Economy & Society, Dublin, Ireland on 8-11 June 2014. LINK
  • Kanda, W. & Hjelm, O. (2014). An approach for analyzing public support systems for eco-innovations: Lessons from two German and Swedish regions, paper presented at 18th Annual Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Conference, Oldenburg, Germany on 13-14 November. LINK
  • Fichter, K., Fuad-Luke, A., Klofsten, M., Bergset, L., Bienkowska, D., Clausen, J., Geier, J., Hjelm, O., Kanda, W., Kuisma, M. & Cabrera Viancha, P. (2013). Support Systems for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Transformation (SHIFT). Work Package 1. Berlin, Linköping, Aalto: SHIFT. FREE DOWNLOAD

Practical Material For Support System Actors

  • ​Fuad-Luke, A., Bäckman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016).  Design Acupuncture – Booklet. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • Fuad-Luke, A., Bäckman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016).  Design Acupuncture – Design Cards. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • ​Fuad-Luke, A., Bäckman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016).  Design Acupuncture – Needs Wheel. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • ​Fuad-Luke, A., Bäckman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016).  Support System Acupuncture – Alterable Needs Wheel. FREE DOWNLOAD
  • ​Fuad-Luke, A., Bäckman, M. & Hirscher, A.L. (2016).  Support System Acupuncture – Alterable Cards. FREE DOWNLOAD

Shift Flyer

  • Eco-Innovation for a Green Economy: The SHIFT Project: FREE DOWNLOAD

Your Contacts

Prof. Dr. Klaus Fichter
  • Founder and Director
  • +49 30 306 45 100-0

Borderstep News

Call for Papers: EURAM 2026 05.11.2025

Contributions can now be submitted for the EURAM 2026 track “Innovation for Sustainability, Circularity, and Green Tech,” led by Borderstep Director Prof. Klaus Fichter. The track focuses on sustainability-oriented innovation, circular economy, and green technologies. More

Green Startup Report 2025 now available in English 03.11.2025

The latest study on Germany’s green start-up landscape is now available in English. The next edition has already been announced and will be published in spring 2026. More

Data Center Number of the Week 22.10.2025

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