In a world where digitalisation, decarbonisation, circularity, and geopolitical risks are reshaping supply chains, the need for collective action has never been more crucial. The recent IPSERA online event brought to the forefront the transformative power of collaboration across sectors.

During an insightful roundtable discussion on 7th February 2024, we delved into the roles of not-for-profit foundations such as Together for Sustainability (TfS), the Open Compute Project (OCP), and Fraunhofer ISS – CATENA-X in steering systemic transformations towards sustainable supply chains. These organizations exemplify how data sharing and open-source initiatives are pivotal in reshaping industries for the better.

Key takeaways:

- OCP is revolutionizing the Data Centre and Telecommunication industries by promoting open source and open collaboration in hardware.

- TfS is enhancing sustainability in the chemical supply chain through pooled supplier audits, carbon footprint standards, and data sharing among its 45+ members.

- Catena-X is creating a unified data standard across the automotive value chain, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.

The event also spotlighted the critical role of academia, with young researchers Felicia Kemmer and Florian Paffrathemphasizing the need for deeper understanding of collective actions to address the grand challenges ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished guests Michael Henke, Hervé Legenvre, and representatives (Gabriele Unger, Steve Helvie and Jürgen Schmelting) from TfS, OCP, and Fraunhofer ISS, along with all participants for a truly enriching discussion. Together, we are paving the way towards a more sustainable and collaborative future.