International seminar on sustainable business models in manufacturing
KTH researcher Antonio Maffei was one of the keynote speakers at the II International scientific-practical conference “The Paradigm of sustainable economic development in the context of global change: challenges, consequences, opportunities”, held in April 8, 2024 at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
In the seminar,”Sustainable Business Models for New Production Automation,” Antonio Maffei discussed how business models have evolved alongside manufacturing technology. Maffei emphasized the complexity of modern business models, describing them as dynamic ”sponges” synthesizing various theories without optimization. He highlighted the challenges of researching business models due to unpredictable future states, advocating for a new epistemology considering biases and unknowns.
Maffei explored Business Model Innovation (BMI) as crucial for adapting to changing environments in manufacturing, where there’s tension between research applicability and multidisciplinary research efforts. He discussed technological maturity versus business model formalization, invention and innovation processes, and the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on labor and capital.
The presentation introduced sustainable business model archetypes, including technological, social, and organizational strategies aiming to maximize material and energy efficiency, create value from waste, deliver functionalities rather than ownership, and develop scale solutions. Maffei concluded that aligning technological advancements with sustainable practices through innovative business models can drive growth beneficial to society and the environment.
The conference was hosted by the Higher School of Economic and Business, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
