ABIS - The Academy of Business in Society

ABIS - The Academy of Business in Society is a global network of over 100 companies and academic institutions whose expertise, commitment and resources are leveraged to invest in a more sustainable future for business in society.

The ABIS secretariat supports its Partners and Members by providing access to the network's expertise, commitment and resources. ABIS leverages these in collaborative projects and events that empower change and deliver impact.

Our Mission

Our mission is to advance the role of business in society through research and education. Our ambition is to make a significant contribution to the debate and the practice involved in equipping current and future business leaders with the knowledge, skills and capabilities for the long-term success of business in society.

Our Story

ABIS (formerly known as EABIS) was founded in 2001 and launched at INSEAD in 2002 with the support of the leading Business Schools in Europe (INSEAD, IMD, London, ESADE, IESE, Copenhagen, Warwick, Vlerick, Ashridge, Cranfield, Bocconi) in partnership with IBM, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Shell.

This initiative was driven by a shared belief that challenges linked to globalization and sustainable development required new management skills, mindsets & capabilities.

In order to respond to this need and to support research to underpin better education and learning, ABIS developed a stronger role in the arena.

Our Track Record

Delivered 90+ knowledge development and learning initiatives
Secured EUR 11+ million in EU grants to fund 60% of Corporate Responsibility research projects funded to date
Invested EUR 2.5+ million in funding from ABIS' corporate founding partners and international foundations (UN Global Compact, Templeton, Roosevelt)
Co-creator and Steering Committee member of the UN Global Compact Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)
Co-developed with EFMD the Corporate Responsibility and ethics-related criteria in EQUIS, the world's leading business school accreditation standard.

Governance Team Vacancies

Recent news

15 Mar 2023 Call for Reviewers for the ABIS Special Issue on "Business principles for the stakeholder capitalism era” ABIS opens the Call for Reviewers to check and assess the papers that will compose the ABIS… 15 Mar 2023 Call for Papers for the ABIS Special Issue "Business principles for the stakeholder capitalism era" ABIS welcomes academic researchers and practitioners to submit papers and cases on Business… 30 Jan 2023 ABIS New Year´s message ABIS CEO Ivo Matser and the Chair of the Board of Directors Baback Yazdani offer reflections…

Event Spotlight

25 Apr 2023 Online Info Session - ABIS Sustainability Assessment The Info Session will showcase the actual status and useful information on the implementation of Sustainability Assessment in Higher Education Institutions. Testimonials and Q&A session will provide further practical and experiential information. 20 Apr 2023 Online - ZOOM Meetings Scenario Exploration System (SES) Taster - April 2023 Join us for a one hour taster session of the digital Scenario Exploration System (SES): a serious gaming tool that helps participants to engage in systemic thinking with a long-term perspective and to explore alternative sustainable futures. 3 Apr 2023 Online Scenario Building Workshop on Futures of Business Education The Scenario Building Workshop will guide participants through an in-depth experience in the pratical exploration, reflection and realisation of 4 different possible pathways of business education in 2050, concerning academia, business sector and society. The event will be the first release of an original ABIS tailored set of 4 scenarios, which participants can share feedback on and contribute to its development.