Graduation 2026: HSBA celebrates its graduates
Ceremonial farewell at the Grand Elysée with family, friends and supporters
Research at HSBA
We do research for Hamburg: modern, open-ended and application-orientedResearch Profile
Transfer Between Science and Economy, Teaching and Research
HSBA combines application-oriented teaching with excellent research. With 30 professors, 20 doctoral students (see faculty) as well as national and international Affiliate Fellows, HSBA works on current issues that are relevant for corporations in the field of business administration and related disciplines. Our research activities create added value for the economy and support young academics through our cooperative doctoral programme. All departments of HSBA are involved in research, academic continuing education and teaching. Our university members are committed to the guidelines of good scientific practice.
News from research
News & Stories
Turning International Encounters into Lifelong Connection
How cross-cultural experiences and student engagement create lasting impact at HSBA
Master Study Trip 2026: Insights, Innovation, Inspiration
Every year, our Master's students set off on a week-long trip to explore a European business destination. The study trip is organised by the students themselves in collaboration with the HSBA faculty and combines company visits, academic perspectives and cultural exchange.
This year, three groups of students from the MSc Innovation Management programme travelled to Lisbon, Tallinn and Turin. They gained in-depth insights into regional economic issues, met representatives from a wide range of organisations, got to know the country and its people and together created an unforgettable experience.
Here are some highlights, lessons learned and impressions from their trips – many thanks to all participants, especially Zoé Reckhaus (Lisbon), Raul Rodriguez Cardenas, Antonia Vogt (Tallinn) and Lea Kaeser and Viktoriia Hryhorova (Turin) for their input and the great pictures!
A big thank you goes to all the companies that gave our students such a warm welcome, as well as to Jason Harman, Prof. Dr. Michael Höbig and Prof. Dr. Max Johns who accompanied the students. The study trip was supported by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of HSBA (VFF).
Annual Research Report
Research with Impact for Business and Society
HSBA’s Annual Research Report offers a comprehensive insight into the university’s research activities over the past academic year. It presents our research profile and the key thematic areas that guide our research strategy through to 2025.
In addition, the report introduces our research institutes and features selected research and third-party funded projects, conference activities and research results. It also highlights how research and teaching are closely integrated at HSBA. Another focus is the promotion of early-career researchers, whose academic development is supported under excellent conditions through the Ingeborg Gross Graduate Center (IGGC), funded by the Ingeborg Gross Stiftung.
Contract Research
Our experts from HSBA as well as our independent institutes, take over research contracts commissioned by third parties. We offer support in solving current corporate issues utilizing modern and scientifically proven methods. The aim of contract research is to generate know-hows, especially for our cooperation companies, to increase their competitiveness and at the same time to strengthen the quality of teaching at HSBA with the latest findings and knowledge.
Grant Research
Externally funded third-party projects are also an important premise of research at HSBA. The research results from third-party funded projects are made available to the general public through publications. Sponsors are, for example, the European Union, federal ministries, foundations, public authorities or supra-regional research funding institutions.
Focus Areas of Research
In a regular selection process, we identify the research fields that are competitive and have a potential to initiate new research priorities. The constitution of research priorities is intended to promote cooperation and enable research and teaching activities to achieve a higher level of productivity and visibility. In addition, the University Council decides on a three-year research strategy in which trend-setting research priorities are institutionally strengthened. The "Foundation for Advancing HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration" utilizes its funds to support both research projects outside the institutionally anchored focal points as well as research by the faculty that is crucial for higher education strategy.
Business Ethics
Our research in business ethics focuses on strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR), governance and sustainable management. Every year, the Corporate Social Responsibility Summer School discusses the current challenges of this research area with young international researchers.
Medium-sized and Family Businesses
Here, the focus is on specific challenges facing (Hamburg) medium-sized and family-owned companies. Although the majority of German companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and they are often family-run, they are rarely taken into account in public and economic policy. Under the direction of the Institute for Mittelstand and Family Enterprises (IMF), we consider the SME sector as a driver of innovation, technology and economy in Germany. With our research we would like to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized family enterprises.
Digitalisation
Digitalisation is increasingly influencing the way we communicate, live and do business. This research area investigates the development of digitisation in business models, processes and products. So far, the insurance and financial sectors have been in focus. But also, the question to what extent the function of marketing is changed by digital communication and which chances digital business models offer for sustainable business are topics of this research area.
Research Projects
An overview of current and completed economic and non-economic third-party funded t3://page?uid=1228research projects can be found here. Further research activities and scientific publications by HSBA professors can be found on the research news page and in the publications database.
Nächste Events
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For any further questions please contact us!
The Research and International Office offers support and a wide range of services.
Sabine Lebedinski
Manager Research, Third-party funding & fundraising
+49 40 822160-911sabine.lebedinski@hsba.de