The Hoffmann Centre for Global Sustainability (HCGS) marks its first year as it rapidly established itself as a leading hub for sustainability research, policy engagement, and international convening in Geneva and beyond.
Formally launched on 23 September 2024 at a high-profile public event featuring André Hoffmann, HCGS Co-Directors Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Dominic Rohner, and Geneva Graduate Institute Director Marie-Laure Salles, the Centre has since expanded far beyond its original ambitions. In November 2024, Ioana Popp was appointed Managing Director, helping lead the Centre’s operational and strategic development.
Over the course of its first full year, HCGS strengthened the Graduate Institute’s role within the global sustainability ecosystem by building partnerships across academia, finance, policy, and international organisations. The Centre’s Advisory Board — chaired by André Hoffmann and composed of 12 senior international figures — held its inaugural meeting in March 2025, while the integration of the former Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES) portfolio further consolidated the Centre’s interdisciplinary foundation.
Highlights from the Hoffmann Centre’s first full year include the launch of the HCGS–CEPR Annual Flagship Conference alongside Building Bridges during Geneva Sustainability Week, strategic collaborations with organisations including WWF, the Villars Institute, and the World Economic Forum, and the support of 14 active research projects backed by CHF 7.9 million in funding.
The Centre also launched the Hoffmann Advanced Research Seminar Series and Fellows Programme, expanded its international visibility through major media coverage and public engagement, and rapidly grew a loyal global community across events, newsletters, and digital platforms.
Looking ahead, the Annual Report outlines several strategic priorities for the next phase of the Centre’s development, including deepening global partnerships, strengthening policy relevance through trusted dialogue formats, expanding its role within the Léman sustainability ecosystem, and increasing international outreach through participation in high-level global forums.
By combining rigorous scholarship with policy engagement, trusted convening power, and global partnerships, the Hoffmann Centre aims to continue positioning the Geneva Graduate Institute at the forefront of sustainability research and practice.
Review these and other highlights in the 2025 Annual Report.