Wuppertal Event

An international event that markedthe official launch of the CATALYST Platform, a continuing education initiative for sustainable transformation.

The CATALYST platform presentation outlined an ambitious European continuing education initiative designed to bridge the “intention-action gap” in sustainable transformation. Acknowledging that over 70% of organizational transformation initiatives fail primarily due to a critical lack of skills and resources, the project unites 16 partners across five European countries—including Germany, Greece, North Macedonia, Austria, and Portugal.The initiative establishes Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to empower businesses and individuals alike, responding to a massive five-year rising trend in organizational interest toward adopting sustainability practices.

The evening opened with a keynote by Dr. Phoebe Koundouri (Athens University) on systems approaches to sustainability education, followed by the official CATALYST launch presentation by Victoria Funk (CSCP). The programme showcased the platform’s offerings — around 70 online courses across systemic, organisational, and personal levels, plus resources, services, and networking opportunities — along with CATALYST’s special offers: nine specialisation programmes (entrepreneurship, leadership, HR, finance, marketing, circular economy, and more), business pilot projects bridging theory and practice, and the CATALYST Network built on the CO-IN© collaboration model connecting industry, academia, and government.

To effectively translate knowledge into action, the platform offers a comprehensive multi-level curriculum comprising roughly 70 online courses that target personal, organizational, and systemic change. These range from teaching strategy development and operational management to fostering personal resilience and unpacking alternative economic models. Beyond educational coursework, CATALYST provides specialized resources such as tools, guidelines, and templates, alongside active support systems like coaching and expert consultations. Moving toward its conclusion in May 2026, the project emphasizes building an interconnected European network where business partners and platform members can collaborate, share content, and co-create solutions for real-world challenges.

The evening included interactive booths on specialisation programs, pilot project support, network activities, and SEED17.Academy, closing with networking and an invitation to sign up for the platform or become a business partner.