Neobanks are digital-only banking platforms that operate solely online and offer apps, software, and other technologies to streamline mobile and online banking. They are also referred to as "challenger banks". Neobanks are transforming the banking sector in a similar way as Airbnb revolutionized the hospitality industry or Uber and Lyft overhauled transportation. One of the key advantages of Neobanks is that they offer services beyond borders. They allow customers to open accounts remotely, transfer money internationally, and access their accounts from anywhere in the world. This is made possible by digital technologies that enable documents to be exchanged electronically, eliminating the need for paper-based transactions.

Several aspects of new financial technology and Neobanks still require further research and clarification. Neobanks typically maintain lower overhead costs than traditional banks, mainly because they lack physical branch infrastructure. However, it is important to consider the resilience and sustainability of Neobanks and their impact on the environment. The examination of neobanking may encompass an in-depth analysis of the ethical dilemmas and complex challenges it presents. One of the key questions is whether neobanking will disrupt traditional institutions. Neobanks offer opportunities for the transformation of old banks by helping them manage costs and sustainability. It is essential to take into account how these two types of banks can coexist and mutually enhance each other until the superior version emerges to assume a leading position.

Here are some key questions to address in this study:

• What is the level of interruption that Neobanks have caused in the traditional banking industry? And how have Neobanks revolutionized the banking industry? What are some strategies that Neobank startups can use to collaborate with traditional banks?

• How efficient are fintech and neobanks in comparison to traditional financial institutes? How can a digital bank and fintech startup be sustainable? What is the impact of neobanking on the environment, and how can this reduce the environmental impact in comparison to traditional banking? (Qualitative and quantitative study)

• What are the aspects of sustainability, and how can this sustainability be converted into practical business action and help with the entrepreneurial part of business development as a newcomer?

• How do Neobanks offer services beyond borders, and what are the advantages? What is the role of digital technologies in enabling Neobanks to offer services internationally? How are the new financial technology opportunities defined as a sustainable solution and at the same time as a viable opportunity in the banking and finance industry?

Students have the freedom to select both the specific details of their chosen topic and the subareas they wish to delve deeper into. They also have the flexibility to incorporate various technology-related subjects, such as cryptocurrency, blockchain, data management, or sustainability and ethics. These topics should revolve around the overarching theme of "Financial Technology and Neobanking."

Geschke, J. H., & Fritschi, L. N. (2020). The Rise of Neobanks: An Analysis of the Disruptive Potential of Neobanks in the Swiss Banking Sector. CBS Research Portal.

If you are interested, please send an email to Ines: ines.wolf(at)tu-berlin.de

Ensure that you also send your request to Pouria to receive additional help and detailed information regarding the topic. pouria.taghvaei(at)tu-berlin.de

The built environment in Germany is with an approximate share of 40%, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Considering Germany's ambitious climate goals, reducing emissions in how we plan, design, construct, use and maintain buildings is imperative for achieving climate neutrality by 2045.

To effectively guide sustainability efforts in the built environment, it is necessary to study the behaviors and practices of the various players in the industry: architects, contractors, and building owners and users. Understanding the motivations, barriers, and opportunities that shape their decisions can help identify effective strategies for introducing innovations in sustainable construction.

Challenges in transforming the built environment to reach climate neutrality include retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources for heating and cooling, building more circular and creating healthy living spaces for all its citizens. Collaboration among various stakeholders is necessary to create innovative technologies and materials, as well as supportive policies and incentives.

Studying the players in the built environment and identifying effective strategies and concepts for reducing emissions, Germany can make significant progress toward achieving its climate goals while also improving the sustainability and resilience of its built environment.

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Start-ups are viewed as agents of change in many industries, including the construction sector. These companies are often seen as disruptors of long-standing systems and are expected to play a crucial role in transforming industries towards sustainability. In Germany, start-ups are a promising actor in the construction sector. This raises questions about the current start-up landscape in Germany, the services they offer, who they work with, and how they challenge existing structures in the industry.

Several projects and research approaches are possible. Depending on the scope, 2 students might write as a team or share data collection activities. A research question should be refined by specifying the focus of the analysis. E.g.

• What is the current start-up landscape in Germany's construction sector?
• What are the services that start-ups in the sustainability sector offer, and how do they contribute to sustainable development?
• Who are the key stakeholders that start-ups in the construction sector work with, and how do these collaborations affect their operations?
• How can start-ups in the sustainability sector be classified based on their business models and impact on the industry?
• In what ways are start-ups in the construction sector challenging existing structures in the industry, and what are the potential implications of these disruptions for sustainable development?

* If you are interested, please send an email to Ines: ines.wolf(at)tu-berlin.de 

India is a dynamically emerging economy with enormous human capital (The World Bank, 2023). The rapid development of India has a significant impact on the sustainability and cultural changes of the country. The Blossom of the Indian economy is especially vivid in major rapidly developing cities such as New Delhi or Mumbai. Economic growth brings social changes, in particular, the emancipation of women, thus the growth of women-owned entrepreneurship. In this study, students will research the impact of Women Enterprise Development (WED) (Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, 2023) Impact on promoting women’s e-commerce entrepreneurship (Sugandha Soni & Ritwik Sahai Bisariya, 2020).  

Your main goal will be to interview female participants of the programme, and programme representatives. All data will have to be analyzed and coded in accordance with the grounded theory (Gubrium, Holstein, Marvasti, & McKinney, 2012).

Your research would help Indian policymakers to understand the current stage of SDG 5 (United Nations, 2023) implementation and possible ways of programme improvement.

Theory: Grounded Theory (Gubrium et al., 2012), others… 

Study sample:

• female participants of the programme;
• program representatives.

Type of research: Qualitative research.

Gender: priority to female students due to the specificity of the research.

Skills required:

• basic coding;
• analytical thinking;
• good communicational skills.

Language requirements:

• Advanced English (both written in speaking);
• Hindi and other Indian languages are a plus.

* If you are interested please write an email to Tomasz waliczko(at)tu-berlin.de

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Gubrium, J. F., Holstein, J. A., Marvasti, A. B., & McKinney, K. D. (Eds.) (2012). The Sage handbook of interview research: The complexity of the craft (Second edition). [Los Angeles, Calif.]: Sage Publications Inc. Retrieved from knowledge.sagepub.com/view/hdbk_interviewresearch2ed/SAGE.xmldoi.org/Jaber

Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India (2023, February 16). Women Enterprise Development (WED). Retrieved from www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/government-schemes/WED_.html

Sugandha Soni, & Ritwik Sahai Bisariya (2020). Impact of E-Commerce on Women Entrepreneurship: a Study in Indian Context, 11(8), 1412–1418.

United Nations (2023, February 15). THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. Retrieved from sdgs.un.org/goals

The World Bank (2023, February 16). India | Data. Retrieved from data.worldbank.org/country/IN

Currently seeking to form a research group of 3-5 students interested to gain expertise and conduct research in sustainable entrepreneurship. Particular focus is placed on culture and ecosystem contexts, as well as considering North-South comparisons.

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Entrepreneurship is known to be a driver of economic prosperity and job growth, and can also be used a catalyst for sustainable development. However, it is not clear if the established economic aims are able to address current social and environmental issues such as those named in the Sustainable Development Goals, and foster transformative change (cf. Schot and Steinmueller, 2018). Entrepreneur’s sustainability orientation is as much related to the contextual factors of their environments as it is to personal characteristics. The contextual factors can be influenced by institutions and external conditions, as socio-economic pathways prioritize SDGs based on prevailing immediate needs and as well as the capability to target goals that are measurable. The majority of research and best practices in the area of sustainable entrepreneurship occurs in the Global north, which may skew the usefulness of results and implications given the contextual causal linkages.

Ideas for Investigation:

• Exploring the role and effects of academic institutions and incubation practices in Egypt on entrepreneurial intention and sustainabiltiy orientation
• Exploring contextual factors of sustainable entrepreneurs's success, lighthouse engagement, and "recyclability" propensity in entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• How does culture affect sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems? (see Lee and Peterson, 2000, Gupta et al., 2004; Liñán and Chen, 2009)
• How to define attributes of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems? How sustainable entrepreneurs develop their practices according to their local ecosystem and how does it affect the entrepreneurial ecosystem? (see Spigel, 2017)
• Bibliometric literature review of sustainable entrepreneurship in Global South. 

Seeking 1-2 Students with high motivation to work in a team that are available to travel to Egypt for up to 2 months, to collect data-- fully funded within the ISI4Egypt Project. High self motivation and independence is required. Arabic culture or language knowledge is a plus!

Seeking 1 Student to conduct literature review. 

Interested? Email Paul Wolf.

Currently seeking 3-5 students interested in working on topics related to positive psychology, positive business and design thinking in a research group. 

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Karina Cagarman karina.cagarman(at)tu-berlin.de