As you may already know, digital-liechtenstein.li is supporting me during my master’s thesis, and I’ve been in regular contact with Martin via email since last summer. Last week, we decided it was time for a videocall to discuss the current state of affairs. On Wednesday, we had a one-hour meeting via Teams.
For those unfamiliar, the location initiative digital-liechtenstein.li has been actively driving Liechtenstein’s digital transformation since 2017. Backed by over 55 companies and organizations from business, science, and politics, it serves as a central platform for innovation, knowledge exchange, and networking. Under the patronage of the Princely House and the government, the initiative supports Liechtenstein’s digital transformation through projects, events, and public relations. Its key projects include the Cybersecurity Check Platform, an IT job portal, educational initiatives, and the promotion of future skills. With the Digital Roadmap 2030, published in December 2023, digital-liechtenstein.li has set clear goals and measures for further developing Liechtenstein as a digital hub. By connecting companies, academic institutions, and government organizations, the initiative plays a vital role in shaping Liechtenstein’s digital future.
While digital sustainability is mentioned in the Digital Roadmap 2030, digital-liechtenstein.li lacks expertise in this area and does not yet offer actionable recommendations for its partners. This is one of the reasons why they partnered with me. I benefit greatly from this collaboration, as it gives me access to their network and the prestige they hold within Liechtenstein’s economy. They can connect me with their partners, such as Hilti, LGT, and Thyssenkrupp, who have experts in digital sustainability. At the same time, I have complete freedom to define the scope of my master’s thesis, as long as I provide valuable insights on the topic that they can share with their partners and network.
The main goal of our videocall was to exchange updates on our progress. One of the most important topics we discussed was the survey I created in November, which focused on digital sustainability in companies within Liechtenstein. The survey aimed to assess companies’ interest in the topic, their existing knowledge, and the actions they’ve already taken. Unfortunately, despite digital-liechtenstein.li sharing the survey with around 80 partner organizations, the results were disappointing—we only received 8 responses, which means I cannot use the survey data for my master’s thesis.
Nevertheless, the responses did provide some interesting insights. Based on the low participation rate, I assume that digital sustainability is not a priority for most companies. Additionally, the results revealed that while most organizations are aware of digital sustainability, they haven’t taken significant steps to address it. Companies showed more interest in the topic when they understood its direct benefits and expressed a need for expert-led workshops and consultations. As expected, many organizations are unaware of the impact designers can have when incorporating digital sustainability principles into daily operations and product development methods.
Martin suggested distributing the survey more widely, beyond their partner network, but I feel that this might not be necessary at this point.
During the call, we also discussed the direction of my master’s thesis. I asked Martin if they had any specific needs, but he confirmed that they are open to any insights I can provide. We agreed that I would take a funnel approach, starting broadly and then narrowing down to a specific aspect of digital sustainability. This approach works well for me, as I’m still deciding which focus area to prioritize. Martin also mentioned that I could explore raising awareness about the topic or providing tools and methods for implementing digital sustainability within design processes.
In conclusion, this videocall with Martin was highly productive. It clarified the scope of my thesis and reassured me that I have the freedom to shape my research according to my strengths and interests. Moving forward, I aim to create actionable insights that not only benefit digital-liechtenstein.li and its partners but also contribute meaningfully to the conversation on digital sustainability in the region. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and industry while advancing an important and timely topic.
Links
digital-liechtenstein.li: https://digital-liechtenstein.li/
