What we do

The Mistra Center for Sustainable Markets (Misum) is a cross-disciplinary center of excellence at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE). Our work is based on three pillars: research constitutes the center and is disseminated via education at SSE, and outreach to our stakeholders. We address actors from academia, business and politics to understand and create research-based and business-relevant solutions for sustainable markets.

Misum draws on research collaborations both nationally and internationally and aims to be a national center of excellence embedded in an international context.

Research is organized around three platforms:

and the cross-platform initiative on Sustainable Finance.

To ensure international and business relevancy, Misum features an international board with members drawn from both academia and the business community.

Misum's mission is threefold. Firstly we conduct multi-disciplinary research that is both scientifically rigorous and practitioner relevant. Secondly, we have the mission to educate our students and equip them with tools to be able to understand and act upon our time's most pressing challenges. Finally, of priority for all that we do at Misum is cross-sectional collaboration and industry outreach.

The distinct focus of Misum is on “effective and inclusive governance” – what is often referred to as the fourth pillar of sustainable development (besides the economic, environmental and social dimensions) - and which governance mechanisms can best support market actors towards sustainable development.

Misum's research strategy, 2020

Misum is a cosmopolitan mix of researchers from all departments of the school, and the 'headquarter' supporting our Executive Director Martina Björkman Nyqvist: Executive Coordinator Elizabeth Barratt, our Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Andreea Preluca, the coordinator of UN PRME and the Global Challenges program, Laurence Romani, and the Research and Communication Assistant Zarreen Kamalie.

A collaboration with Mistra and other research foundations

Misum is mostly funded by Mistra (the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research). Mistra has invested SEK 120 million over a ten-year period to establish a profound sustainability center at SSE. Misum also hosts projects funded by, for instance, Vinnova, The Swedish Research Council and Formas.

A cross-disciplinary center of excellence

The aim of Misum is to create a world-class, cross-disciplinary center of excellence that will enhance the understanding of, and create new insights into, sustainable markets. It functions as a platform and meeting place for many kinds of actors both national and international: academics, practitioners, firms and other organizations. Misum’s mission also includes providing expert advice to political leaders and policy developers, and collaborating with other research centers.