SoPro at the Austrian CSR Day

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 the 8th Austrian CSR Day took place at the Krems IMC University of Applied Sciences. The event organized by respACT (Austrian Business Council for Sustainable Development) has focused on the topic of "stakeholders, engagement and partnerships" this year, and was very well attended with approx. 300 participants.

respACT is the leading enterprise platform for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development in Austria.

GET INFORMED – Engagement of Stakeholders as a Crucial Component of Responsible Corporate Management

Along their value creation chain, enterprises are connected with most different internal and external target groups (= stakeholders): Their active integration is an essential factor of success. Such stakeholder engagement not only facilitates a broadening of one's own knowledge, but also safeguards acceptance and confidence within society. Above all, it contributes to improved risk management and increased reputation.

This topic was conveyed to the audience in the course of practical lectures and presentations, amongst others by John J. Aston (Managing Director, astoneco management) and Johannes Herbsthofer (winner of Trigos CSR award and proprietor of Johannes Herbsthofer's painter shop).

GET IMPRESSED – The innovation platform of SoPro presents itself

In addition to informative lectures on this topic, the CSR Day offered a varied framework programme in form of an "open space", where there was an opportunity to present numerous projects and initiatives. At the SoPro information stand, visitors, among them many representatives of enterprises interested in CSR, enquired about the offers of the innovation platform of SoPro.

Within the framework of the session "Regional dialogue – partnerships on a regional scale" in the afternoon, project manager Bernhard Kuderer presented the project of SoPro, together with Alfred Grand (Vermigrand organic products GmbH) and Manfred Ergott (Janetschek printer's), and earned the enthusiasm of the interested audience with impressions of best-practice cooperation between social and economic enterprises. A large number of contacts were made, and such this year's CSR Day was a great success also for the innovation platform of SoPro.

For further information on the Austrian CSR Day, please refer to: www.respact.at.