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Together, the TUM Campus Heilbronn, the European Leadership Center Heilbronn and the UNGSII Foundation organized a special SDG Lab on the fringes of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the second part of which was continued a few days later in Heilbronn – also to support the ‘home of the Käthchen’ on its way to becoming Green Capital 2027. Dr. Tina Lieber from the European Leadership Center described the meeting in Davos as a “starting point and spark of hope that will be carried forward”. This spark was taken up the following week. Daniel A. Gottschald, Managing Director of “Die TUM Campus Heilbronn gGmbH”, emphasized: “Hope is the most important success factor and the TUM Campus Heilbronn is a place of hope.”

From Davos to Heilbronn

While the workshop in Davos was dedicated entirely to SDG 10 “Nobody is left behind”, Loana Huth, network manager of the TUM Campus Heilbronn, who is currently expanding the sustainability department, brought together international and regional partners at the SDG-Lab in the Experimenta to discuss concrete steps for the city towards a sustainable future. The event kicked off with a video message from Ramu Damodaran, Permanent Observer of the University for Peace to the United Nations and former colleague of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who had both words of encouragement and a challenge: “The academy and universities have an intellectual social responsibility.”

The German G7 and G20 youth delegate Isabell Steidel from Heilbronn has clear visions and a three-step plan for this: the establishment of a Youth Sustainability Hub, the sharing of success stories to improve water supply, as in Heilbronn, by building new wells, and the establishment of an SDG network, because “young people can be a powerhouse for change”. A path she does not have to walk alone. Daniel Gottschald promises: “You have the full support of the TUM Campus Heilbronn for the implementation of the SDGs and the development of an international network. We will do our utmost to implement the SDGs at the campus in Heilbronn.” The plans of Schwarz Campus Service (SCS) to make the ‘Bildungscampus’ climate-neutral by 2030 fit in well with this.

On the way to becoming a Green Capital in 2027

The city of Heilbronn is aiming to become a Green Capital. The home of the ‘Bildungscampus’ made it to the final of the selection process for 2026 – motivation to try again. Prof. Martin Nkafu from the Vatican provided inspiration and tips. He is the founder and CEO of the NCDEIF Foundation and has done pioneering work in the field of sustainability in Africa. As a moderator in Davos and Heilbronn, the founder and president of the UNGSII Foundation, Roland Schatz, advised those present: “Focus on three of the 17 SDG goals, two in which you are already very good, and one that seems impossible.”

At the end of the event with numerous speakers, all participants were optimistic about achieving the goals they had set themselves. “With the large number of projects, we will make joint progress in this network and change the face of the city and the campus in line with the SDGs,” Daniel Gottschald is sure. The involvement of local companies is also planned for the next meeting of the ecosystem. A special spirit of hope wafted through the Experimenta cube on this day, because it was on this day, January 27, 1945, that the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated. A powerful reminder that even in dark times, good prevails.