IIM Lucknow said it has set up a Centre of Excellence for Business Sustainability (CEBS), a multidisciplina­ry, collaborative body of experts committed to provide support to businesses.

The centre will help bus­iness to view emerging soci­al and environmental issu­es not just as challenges but also as opportunities for gr­owth, diversification and co­st savings.

CEBS will impart knowl­edge and make available ap­propriate latest modern ma­nagement and decision ma­king tools and techniques to the business leaders by organising events in the field of business sustainability.

“The centre will develop, design and deliver short te­rm and long term training programmes, and organise workshops according to sp­ecific needs of corporate and non-corporate sectors,” said Sushil Kumar, chairman, CEBS, IIM Lucknow.

The centre will help not only the existing businesses but will also provide supp­o­rt to the ideas being floated by students at the incubation cells as well as startup businesses, he added. "IIM Lucknow has strong links with policy makers, so CE­BS also plans to carry out research and provide inputs for formulation of effective public policies in the field of business sustainability. The centre will undertake consulting projects and the­reby extend its services na­tionally as well as internati­onally,” Kumar pointed out.

The objective of the centre is to be a leader in advocating business sustainability by sensitising industry, government, civil society and academia about the ne­ed for integrating sustaina­bility principles with busi­n­ess strategy. “It aims to pr­ovide substantial inputs to improve the performance of business sector so as to ensure socially desirable, environmentally responsib­le and economically viable business models,” he said.

CEBS will participate in policy development process by carrying out research in public policy related to sustainability and sustainable development, and provide vital input to policy makers for creating appropriate fra­mework conditions for bus­iness sustainability.

In addition, the centre will be designing and run courses on how to make a business sustainable to students, who are aspiring to become entrepreneurs.