The central atrium of the Mechanical Engineering building in Garching will be transformed into a sustainability fair as part of our Fair of Opportunities.

Here, you can explore more than 120 initiatives from across the entire TUM Community and associated partners, covering all areas of sustainability:

1. Education & Research

2. Health

3. Life on Earth & Biotechnology

4. Entrepreneurship

5. Circularity & Awareness

6. Global Engagement

7. Built Environment

8. Energy

9. Mobility

Lecture hall 2001

Welcome by President Thomas F. Hofmann
On the role and responsibility of TUM as a driving force for sustainable development in science, industry, and society.

Keynote by Elizabeth Tolu Ojo, Dean, African Leadership University, Rwanda

About Elizabeth Tolu Ojo:

Elizabeth Tolu Ojo is an executive leader in higher education and sustainability and serves as Dean of Undergraduate Programs at African Leadership University in Rwanda. With over 15 years of experience across nine countries, she leads initiatives that expand access to transformative education and prepare young people to create impact.

TUM Panel: “Driving Sustainability Transformation at TUM”
Students & employees of TUM discuss the current status, progress, and future perspectives of sustainability transformation at TUM.

Panelists:

• Prof. Dr. Werner Lang, Vice President Sustainable Transformation

• Dr. Georg Röder, Head of Sustainability Office

• Prof. Dr. Clarissa Prazeres da Costa, Representative of the Sustainability Board

• Jasmin Fischer, Environmental Department

A diverse and interactive program featuring more than 60 formats includes hands-on workshops, guided tours, panel discussions, and keynotes by renowned experts from academia and industry.

Across nine thematic areas – from Education & Research, Health, Life on Earth & Biotechnology, and Entrepreneurship to Circularity & Awareness, Global Engagement, Built Environment, Energy, and Mobility – concrete approaches and solutions for a sustainable future will be presented and discussed.

In high-level panels, leading voices from research and industry will share their perspectives, including on Energy, Built Environment, and Circularity & Awareness, highlighting that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a shared responsibility for academia, industry, and society.

You can find the full program on our program platform.

Lecture Hall 2001

The Global Sustainability Challenge is an initiative launched by Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability in collaboration with leading educational institutions worldwide, including TUM.

The goal of the competition is to motivate students worldwide to develop innovative solutions to key sustainability challenges.

In the current competition year, more than 3,500 students in 845 teams from 91 countries are participating. The interdisciplinary teams work on solutions in two focus areas: Sustainable Energy and Adaptation & Resilience.

The competition includes several regional rounds held in Hangzhou (Zhejiang University), Mumbai (IIT Bombay), Stanford, and Munich.

From these events, 40 teams from five world regions have advanced to the global finals, including teams from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as well as 14 inter-university collaborations.

The Global Finals will take place during the TUM Sustainability Day. 

The 40 finalist teams will present their solutions to an international jury. The top teams will receive awards and the opportunity to further develop their projects through Stanford’s EcoGlobal program.

Lecture Hall 2001

• 6:00-6:45 pm: Social entrepreneur Sara Nuru

  Who Does Progress Serve?
  Rethinking Growth in a Changing World

  Progress is often measured by growth: more innovation, more scale, more efficiency. But growth alone is not proof of progress. The real question is who benefits from it — and who is left behind. In this keynote, Sara Nuru explores sustainability in its broader sense: ecological, economic and social. Drawing on her experience as an entrepreneur working with coffee farmers in Ethiopia, she offers insights into how businesses can create value that goes beyond profit. She speaks about structural inequality, access to capital and education, and the responsibility companies carry within global value chains. Ultimately, the talk raises a central question for our time: how can economic progress become more inclusive, fair and sustainable?

• 7:00-7:45 pm: TUM Alumna & Astronautin Samantha Cristoforetti

  Beyond the Horizon: Defining Europe’s Path in the Next Space Era

  What is the future of human spaceflight, and what role can Europe play in shaping it? In this keynote, Samantha Cristoforetti will draw on nearly 400 days aboard the ISS — and on her direct involvement in ESA’s commercial space programmes — to examine the current state of space exploration and the forces reshaping it: the rise of commercial providers, the transition beyond the ISS, and the strategic choices facing Europe. From low Earth orbit to future exploration beyond, she will discuss the technological, industrial and political questions that will define Europe’s position in space in the years ahead.

Wind down the TUM Sustainability Day in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. With fresh pretzels and complimentary beverages, this is the perfect moment to revisit the day’s insights, continue meaningful conversations, and connect in an informal setting.

Take the opportunity to meet speakers in person, dive deeper into their perspectives, and exchange ideas beyond the sessions. The Global Sustainability Challenge teams will also be on-site, excited to celebrate their achievements and share their experiences with you.

Adding to the vibrancy of the evening, you’ll have the chance to network with industry partners, international delegations, and students from TUM’s global partner universities. Engage across disciplines, sectors, and cultures—and discover new inspiration through diverse viewpoints.

A warm, community-driven finale to an inspiring day of sustainability and innovation.