Why Partner With KLU?
Welcome to the academic community at KLU. With 30+ resident faculty, 50+ PhD students, and 3 dedicated Research Centers, we partner with companies and NGOs to solve real-world challenges in logistics, supply chain management, leadership, sustainability, digitalization, and data science—through PhD collaborations, events at the intersection of practice & research, and thematic communities.
How We Work
Our faculty, PhD candidates and student body regularly work with companies and NGOs to tackle challenges like decarbonizing supply chains, optimizing humanitarian logistics, or building resilient food systems.
KLU Research Centers
Dedicated teams of faculty and PhD students focused on humanitarian logistics (CHORD), sustainable supply chains (CSLS), and global shipping (CSGL).
KLU Theme Docks
Cross-disciplinary communities where researchers, students, external experts, and companies collaborate on digital transformation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and leadership—through joint research, knowledge transfer events, and community networking.
Research
Sponsor a PhD
KLU has a long track record of research co-creation with industry. Many of our PhD students conduct rigorous, practice-oriented research, often commissioned by individual companies, focusing on their strategic and operational issues.
Engage in the individual mid-term sponsorship of a doctoral project and gain:
- Cutting-edge insights tailored to your business challenges.
- Exclusive access to faculty expertise and academic methods.
- Early contact with outstanding young talent.
Join a Public Research Project
KLU faculty specialize in answering real-world business questions—from sustainable transformation to digital supply chains.
Become a practice partner in a publicly funded research project and receive:
- Data-driven insights grounded in academic rigor.
- Actionable recommendations you can implement immediately.
Bring Your Challenges Into the Classroom
Partner with KLU students and faculty on real business questions. From one-day formats fully engrained in our programs’ curriculum to guest lectures or voluntary case workshops, these formats give you direct access to emerging talent and fresh thinking.
Examples:
- Deep Dive Mittelstand: Student teams spend a full day analyzing your business model and growth opportunities.
- Finance Summit: Students and practitioners explore current challenges in corporate finance and investment.
- Beyond Now: Companies collaborate with entrepreneurial students and academic experts to develop future-ready solutions to real business challenges.
Meet Researchers and Industry Leaders…
… at events that move your field forward. KLU designs and hosts conferences and workshops where practitioners and researchers learn from each other—through case studies, panel discussions, and hands-on problem-solving. Interested in co-hosting or sponsoring an event? Let's talk. (link to lower section = contact)
Examples:
Theme Docks
KLU nurtures five thematic communities—we call them "Theme Docks"—where researchers, students, external experts, and companies collaborate on the most pressing challenges in:
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management,
- Digital Transformation & AI,
- Entrepreneurship & Value Creation,
- Sustainability,
- and Responsible & Inclusive Leadership.
Activities include joint research projects, knowledge transfer events, Executive Education programs, and community networking.
Want to contribute to advancing these fields? Choose your path:
- Subscribe to the KLU newsletter that is in line with your interests (news & events).
- Follow us on LinkedIn
- Share your ideas with us - Contact us!
Insights
KLU Knowledge Blog
Explore KLU research insights directly from our faculty and PhD students—on leadership, sustainability, AI, and the future of logistics and supply chains.
Science & Business News
Discover our latest research breakthroughs and industry collaborations. See how companies partner with KLU—and explore what's possible for your organization.
Contact us
Share your challenge with us. Together, we'll design the right approach—drawing on our faculty expertise, research insights, and proven formats.
