The road to better business By strengthening Europe's knowledge about social responsibility initiatives that businesses conduct, the continent can advance good causes and set an example for the rest of the world. Climate Change and Environment © Thinkstock The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of today's business ethics in Europe and contributes to important causes such as sustainability and environment. The EU-funded project 'European platform for excellence in CSR research' (CSR Platform) brought experts together to advance CSR, ensuring its pivotal role in the European Research Area (ERA). Building on current research by the European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS), which looked at obstacles to CSR progress, the project furthered the topic by networking with various key stakeholders. These included academic institutions, business communities and policymakers. CSR Platform then conducted forums to help achieve its goals and established the required research network that exploits past and present research efforts to disseminate them effectively. The project also helped bring young research professionals together and created a CSR knowledge centre, promoting knowledge exchange and dissemination of research results significantly. Through its research coordination network and multi-stakeholder platform, it identified and overcame barriers to yield improved and more relevant CSR research. In other words, CSR Platform upgraded CSR research in Europe, producing numerous recommendations that lead to better-informed theory and practices on the topic. This will have a positive impact on institutions, corporations and the relationship between business and society, bringing forth increased well-being for citizens and communities in need. It will also lead to a more socially cohesive Europe and position the continent as a pioneer in the field of CSR.
