Social Accounting, Sustainable Development, and Technological Innovation: ReSChape Project Advances

The IAMOT 2024 Conference Unveils Key Insights from Three Groundbreaking Studies

ReSChape Pioneers in Advancing Research and Development, Enhancing Social and Environmental Well-being through More Resilient and Responsible Supply Chains.

Porto, 26 july 2024

Exciting new revelations from the ambitious ReSChape project, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Program, have emerged, shedding light on improving global supply chain sustainability and resilience.

During the International Association for Management of Technology (IATMOT) 2024, held in Porto, Portugal, professionals from participating entities, presented the results of their studies focused on three key areas: social accounting, sustainable development, and technological innovation. These investigations offer a roadmap to address current and future challenges of global supply chains.

Social Accounting: Addressing Today’s Challenges

A significant aspect of the project has delved into the growing importance of social accounting in global supply chains. Social accounting evaluates and manages the social and environmental impacts of business activities, and its relevance has surged in the context of globalization. Alberto de la Calle, Professor and Researcher at the University of Deusto, presented insights into how globalization affects business practices, highlighting the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for addressing these challenges.

The research revealed several strategic benefits of actively adopting social accounting practices across supply chain partners, including increased transparency, stronger stakeholder engagement, and better alignment with broader organizational goals. It also demonstrated how technology can enhance the analysis, automation, and evaluation of both macro (national) and micro (company-specific) indices.

Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chain Development

Ricardo Zimmermann, Pedro Senna, and Paulo Pereira from INESCTEC, along with Rosanna Fornasiero, Director of Research at IEIIT-CNR, National Research Council, and Frida Betto, Researcher at IEIIT-CNR, shared findings from their study on supplier development strategies. Their research focuses on enhancing social sustainability in supply chains, particularly at the lower levels where challenges are most significant.

The study generated 134 diverse actions targeting various risks that positively influence organizational resilience and sustainability. Additionally, 20 strategies combining sustainability dimensions and resilience capabilities were formulated. These actions and strategies were tested in a multinational and multisectoral workshop titled “Supply Chain Sustainability and Resilience Radar,” demonstrating the numerous benefits of collaboration in tackling current and future supply chain conflicts.

Technology Driving Resilience and Sustainability

The third study, presented by Rosanna Fornasiero and Frida Betto, explored the role of technological innovation in enhancing the sustainability and resilience of energy-intensive supply chains. By analyzing multiple case studies across different companies, the researchers identified key technology-driven actions implemented at various levels of the supply chain.

The study highlighted that collaboration is crucial at all levels of the supply chain, emphasizing the importance of partnering with public entities. It also underscored the significance of emerging technologies like the Internet of Things, blockchain, and digital twins in improving visibility, traceability, and decision-making within supply chains.

These groundbreaking studies provide a robust foundation for businesses and policymakers to tackle emerging challenges and promote equitable and sustainable economic and social development. The ReSChape project continues to lead the way in research and development, significantly contributing to social and environmental well-being through more responsible and resilient supply chains.About ReSChape
The EU-funded ReSChape project focuses on the analysis of social, economic and environmental changes and disruptions to assess their impact on supply chains (SC). Through it, new SC models will be proposed to secure a more efficient and people-centered process, using digital technologies. The project aims to increase resilience and sustainability in the EU through strategies for resource efficiency and digitalization. It will also develop innovative tools to track sectors' business patterns and define mechanisms to assess the relationship between disruptions and SCs. Based on its results, innovative scenarios will be devised with recommendations for future global value chains, promoting fair, inclusive and sustainable trade. Learn more.

About the Consortium
The ReSChape consortium has put together 9 experienced partners coming from 5 different European countries plus UK in a joint research and dissemination effort to develop and achieve the aims of the project.
ReSChape is coordinated by Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), from October 2022 to October 2025, and will reshape supply chains for positive impact.