The Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center for Business and Society honored its 2026 Fellows during its annual award ceremony. The event brought together representatives from academia, business, and society at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) to recognize outstanding research projects and discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from digital and sustainable transformation.
In his opening remarks, the Prof. Dr. Sven Laumer, Chair of the Board of the Schöller Research Center, highlighted one of the defining questions of our time: What role will humans play in a world where artificial intelligence increasingly supports and shapes decision-making? This question also formed the thematic foundation of the evening as the following researchers were awarded Fellowships in 2026:
- Prof. Dr. Martin Geißdörfer (Monash University) for his research on integrating sustainability into corporate strategy processes.
- Dr. Moritz Hanika (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) for his work on regulatory transparency and market discipline in insurance markets.
- Dr. Irina Heimbach (University of Potsdam) for her research on overcoming algorithm aversion through anthropomorphic AI.
- Dr. Verena Hossnofsky (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) for her work on organizational stigmatization and destigmatization processes.
- Prof. Dr. Marvin Nipper (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) for his research on the real effects of climate transition plans and sustainability reporting.
- Prof. Dr. Sandra Zilker (Nuremberg Institute of Technology) for her project on AI-based risk assessment in the context of the EU AI Act.
A special distinction was awarded to Prof. Dr. Johann Füller (University of Innsbruck), who was named Schöller Senior Fellow 2026. His research on innovation, entrepreneurship, and Agentic AI examines how intelligent agents may reshape markets, consumer behavior, and decision-making processes in the future.
The Schöller Honorary Award was presented to Prof. Dr. Christian Rödl. As Chairman of the Management Board of Rödl, entrepreneur, lawyer, tax advisor, and honorary professor at FAU, he exemplifies the successful combination of business leadership, social responsibility, and academic engagement. Another highlight of the evening was his keynote, who offered valuable insights into entrepreneurship, responsibility, and long-term value creation.
The Schöller Research Center would like to thank all guests, partners, and supporters, and especially the Schöller Foundations for their longstanding commitment. The projects recognized this year demonstrate how research can contribute to shaping the future of business and society.