This network has been prompted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with the aim of undertaking and stimulating new research that helps to make supply chains more sustainable and to screen the best international research on this topic and make it accessible for policymakers and other societal stakeholders.   

For this purpose, BMZ has commissioned the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) and Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) to establish a network of internationally leading scholars to produce a series of research papers, conferences, policy dialogues, podcasts, a blog, an annual report as well as a dedicated website. 

The launch event will be opened by State Secretary Norbert Barthle, BMZ, and include a panel discussion among leading international supply chain researchers, a discussion on the pros and cons of due diligence laws holding companies accountable for their suppliers as well as selection of topical academic presentations.