Is it possible to maintain the balance between the growth of industrialization and the quality of life of the population, and at the same time reduce the deterioration of natural wealth caused by the unbalanced economic growth of some regions at the expense of the dismantling of the natural capital of others?
Answering this question is the objective of the project “SWIT: Generation of sustainable wealth”, recognized as part of “Tec projects with potential to transform Mexico”, at the 49th Research and Development Conference of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Under the leadership of Dr. Carlos Scheel, emeritus professor at EGADE Business School, the project developed the SWIT (Sustainable Wealth creation based on Innovation and enabling Technologies) model, which seeks to harmoniously articulate the three great dimensions of the biosphere: economic, social (human) and environmental.
"More than a project is an initiative that puts sustainability within everyone's reach," said Dr. Scheel, accompanied by the team of researchers, professors, students and various actors in society, before receiving recognition from the hands of David Garza, Rector of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Among those involved in the project are Andrea Cantú Garza, a student of the Doctorate in Administrative Sciences of EGADE Business School, and another graduate of the same program, Dr. Eduardo Aguiñaga Maldonado, leader of Circular Economy of Heineken Mexico.
Some relevant data and results of the project are:
- 23 national and international projects have been carried out
- 4 countries have put the SWIT concept into operation
- 15 scientific articles published in journals Q1 and Q2
- 9 short courses taught
- 6 books published
- 8 book chapters
- SWIT dissemination website: www.swit.mx
- 4 researchers in the project
- 27 students have worked on the project
- Linking with 11 foreign universities
- 14 theses (11 master's and 3 PhD)
Also, for the implementation of the SWIT model, the DiSC Innovation Platform (Disruptive, Systemic and Circular Innovation) was designed, which aims to articulate the synergy between all the constituents of the three subsystems, with the intention of achieving a shared prosperity for all.
All of the above is about generating a holistic development of wealth for a region through projects that are environmentally resilient (recoverable), reversible and durable, as well as socially responsible, inclusive and equitable, and that are finally economically viable and competitive. That is, wealth that can be distributed among all the participants of a region.
More details in this video presented during the “Tec projects with potential to transform Mexico” ceremony of the 49th Research and Development Congress.