SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University hosted its Alumni Conference on April 10th and April 11, 2025.
Over the course of two dynamic days, 25 scholars gathered to present their cutting-edge research at a multidisciplinary conference that brought together academics from the fields of sociology, law, anthropology, management, organization studies and law and economics. The event served as a vibrant platform for dialogue and collaboration, drawing an engaged audience of scholars with diverse perspectives on pressing global challenges.
The conference covered a wide array of topics centered around sustainability, gender in organizations, leadership, and the ethical dimensions of innovation. A recurring theme was the urgent need to align innovation with ethical and sustainable practices—particularly in sectors undergoing regulatory and structural transformation.
Among the presenters was Vishv Priya Kohli from Copenhagen Business School (CBS), who shared insights from her ongoing research under the Horizon Europe HEPHAESTUS project. Her presentation, titled “Ethical and Sustainable Innovation in the Craft Sector in the EU: Changes in Regulation and Impact in Practice”, examined how recent changes in geographical indication (GI) regulation could influence the craft sector across the European Union.
Vishv Priya Kohli highlighted the potential for these regulatory shifts to foster greater sustainability and ethical innovation, while also exploring their real-world implications for local artisans and small enterprises.
This event was a productive and engaging interdisciplinary exchange and critical reflection, reinforcing the value of collaborative scholarship in addressing complex societal issues. As the discussions demonstrated, innovation does not exist in a vacuum; it is shaped by legal frameworks, cultural contexts, and ethical imperatives.
This conference was a testament to the power of academic dialogue in pushing the boundaries of knowledge and practice.