This week, NHH hosted the first joint workshop on Tax and Sustainability in collaboration with WU Vienna University of Economics and Business and the University of Mannheim.
The event was part of the EngageEU initiative, aiming to foster early-stage research, interdisciplinary dialogue, and stronger networks across European academic institutions.
The workshop marked a milestone for the three institutions—NHH, WU Vienna, and the University of Mannheim—as they co-hosted their first collaborative research event on tax and sustainability.
It was organized by Norwegian Centre for Taxation (NoCeT).
With a strong focus on PhD students and early-stage research, the workshop created a dynamic environment for academic exchange and real-world engagement.
`As a young scholar, you have limited opportunity to obtain dedicated feedback on your research and you are still in a phase of building your network, ´ explains Elisa Casi, one of the workshop organizers.
She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Business and Management Science and researcher at NoCeT.
`We especially focus on early-stage research where you might not get into a conference yet or you can use the workshop as a pre-conference training´.
A defining feature of the workshop was the inclusion of external stakeholders from NGOs, industry, and public institutions. Their contributions proved vital in shaping the academic discourse.
`Academically, they bring insights that help us explain our results, ´ says Casi.
`For example, in a project presented by Mickael Sixdenier, which is a joint project with me, we gained valuable input on how financial institutions responded to a reform—particularly from compliance teams working to ensure regulatory alignment´.
Stakeholders also challenged presenters to examine their research through broader societal lenses. One such moment arose during a presentation from Mannheim, by Inga Schulz where a question was raised: Should increased market competition be seen as a benefit or a risk?
The answer, as Casi notes, depends on whether you're looking at it from a corporate or societal perspective.
The collaboration across the three tax centers brought a wide range of disciplinary perspectives together—from economics to accounting.
`At the three institutions, we have a diverse group of researchers,” Elisa says. “By combining scholars from three leading tax centers, we had high-quality discussions that brought different angles to the table. ´
One example came from Fabian Eble’s project at Mannheim, which explored how tax uncertainty affects corporate investment through a survey-based approach. This sparked a lively discussion not only about research design but also about ethical challenges in running corporate surveys.
`It was fascinating to explore shared challenges across accounting and economics - especially on how surveys are run and the ethical dimensions we must consider, ´ Casi adds.
The long-term goal of the workshop is to inspire more joint research projects and deepen collaborations between the institutions. But for now, the immediate outcome is clear: engaged discussion, strengthened networks, and sharper research.
`As scholars, we often stay within our field and present to familiar audiences,” Elisa reflects. “This workshop created space for unexpected feedback and new connections—exactly what early-stage research needs´.