Digital innovation: Students develop app for biodiversity protection!

Digital innovation: Students develop app for biodiversity protection!

As part of the 2025 summer semester, students in the bachelor's course “International Innovation Management” developed an innovative application that is intended to support companies in promoting biodiversity. The project was launched by Franziska Lichter, head of the Chair of International Management, and aims to simplify the Bremen Biodiversity Index (BBI). The BBI, developed by the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), helps companies with the ecological assessment of their company premises.

The students conducted an extensive online survey and interviews with experts to identify the needs of companies, which are often faced with a lack of expertise, limited resources and the complexity of the biodiversity issue. Based on these findings, a mock-up for the app was created, which enables intuitive assessment and planning of biodiversity. With automated assessments, visualization of progress and context-specific recommendations for action, the app is a helpful tool for companies.

Functional scope of the app

The app's special functions include photo documentation and AI-supported plant identification, which make it easier to get started with the topic of biodiversity. Due to its user-friendly design, the app was deemed relevant during a test phase at ProPotsdam GmbH. The project highlights how digital tools can support biodiversity promotion in companies, particularly with regard to compliance with regulatory requirements as set out in the EU Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

However, the challenges for companies should not be underestimated, as studies on the topic show. Taking biological diversity into account represents a major challenge for many companies. Established methods for recording, estimating and evaluating areas of ecological impact are often missing. Although some companies are voluntarily committed to protecting biodiversity, the number of active companies remains small.

Measures to protect biodiversity

Voluntary measures that companies can take to protect biodiversity include:

• Naturnahe Gestaltung des Firmengeländes
• Anlegen heimischer Streuobstwiesen
• Renaturierung von Gräben
• Anlegen von Feuchtbiotopen und Feldgehölzpflanzungen

Companies have the opportunity to analyze their activities with regard to their impact on biodiversity. The aim should be to minimize both direct and indirect interventions along the product and value chain. It is very important to observe appropriate standards and certificates when selecting suppliers. Adjusting investment strategies can also have positive effects.

However, the long-term preservation of biological diversity requires joint efforts from politics, society and business. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as well as the European and German biodiversity strategies call for greater involvement of companies in the protection of biological diversity. Measures are already being taken in Germany to activate more companies in this important area in order to promote the goal of sustainable environmental protection.

For more information on biodiversity and its relevance for companies, see the detailed analysis by companies-biological-diversity.de as well as further insights from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BFN).

In summary, the project offers a promising perspective for companies that take their ecological responsibility seriously and at the same time want to master the complex requirements and opportunities in the area of ​​biodiversity. The app, which emerged from student results, could be the key to facilitating the first step towards responsible, biodiversity-friendly business practices.