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Department of Finance Initiative in Sustainable Finance

Building on a Strong Foundation

Founded on a rich history of contributions to banking, finance, and insurance, the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich (UZH) is a leading hub for advancing knowledge and practice in sustainable finance.

Building on this tradition, the Department launched the Initiative in Sustainable Finance in 2024 – a commitment to research, education, and dialogue at the intersection of finance, society, and the environment.

We are convinced that finance plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our economy and our planet. This is why we:

  • Conduct cutting-edge research on sustainability in financial markets
  • Host events that bring together academics, practitioners, and policymakers
  • Bridge research and practice by working closely with industry and society
  • Educate students and professionals to integrate sustainability into decision-making

This initiative is grounded in strong foundations:

  • The Center of Competence for Sustainable Finance (CCSF), launched in 2020, united scholars across finance, law, informatics, geography, and beyond, strengthening interdisciplinarity and aligning research with UZH’s sustainability mission. Since January 2025, CCSF has evolved into the UZH Competence Center of Sustainability: Finance, Law, Sciences, and the Humanities, hosted by the Faculty of Law.
    Website: https://www.sustainablefinance.uzh.ch/en.html
  • The Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP): Emerging from the 2015 Impact Investing for the Next Generation Program at Harvard, the Center was founded at UZH in 2017 and established branches in Singapore and the US. Building on these achievements, the CSP has become a global platform as of August 2025.
    Website: https://www.csp.uzh.ch/en.html

Earlier centers hosted by the Department of Finance – including the Center for Responsibility in Finance, the Center for Financial Networks and Sustainability, and the Center for Microfinance – paved the way for today’s sustainable finance focus, embedding responsibility and sustainability in teaching and research since the 2008 financial crisis.

Center for Financial Networks and Sustainability (active 2016 – 2023)
Center for Responsibility in Finance (active 2011 – 2023)
Center for Microfinance (founded 2009 - today part of CCSF)

Through this long-standing engagement, the Department of Finance has become a key player in sustainable finance – advancing knowledge, fostering dialogue, and empowering the next generation to make finance a force for sustainable change.