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Fighting for sustainable innovation in post-pandemic era: over 50 corporate representatives discuss CSR

(Provided by Social Enterprise Development and Research Center) Organized by the Social Enterprise Development and Research Center (SEDRC) at NSYSU, Alumni Association, and Distinguished Alumni Association, and co-organized by Social Engagement Center, “Sustainability, Innovation, CSR” – lecture and workshop that welcomed more than 50 representatives of nearly 30 companies to share knowledge on CSR development and planning. The morning session of the event focused on future trends in corporate social responsibility (CSR), while the afternoon session was dedicated to sharing experience in strategic CSR and an innovation workshop.

Deputy Executive Director of PwC Taiwan, Ching-En Lin gave a speech on the CSR trends of the company. Lin mentioned that as the world has changed, so did the definition of corporate success, and thus the business models need to be reshaped. Companies used to pursue EPS – Earnings Per Share, now, they shift their orientation towards ESG – the environment, society, and governance. Besides, due to the impact of the global pandemic, government supervision of ESG, changes in attitudes of the companies towards social responsibility, ESG integration in investment policies of capital markets, and increasing consumer awareness of sustainability issues have made CSR a necessary element of every corporate strategy. Finally, she gave three major suggestions for business leaders, including the integration of the CSR into the thought, planning, and implementation of the company’s operations. The government, industry, and university can expand their influence through alliances and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Director of CSRone, Tino Chen analyzed future trends basing on CSR reports of companies. Director Chen first introduced the main services of CSRone, including CSR consultancy services and a platform of knowledge on sustainability. In eight months’ work, 23 researchers from CSRone analyzed 846 items of sustainability reports of 556 Taiwanese companies issued in 2019 (plus 86 in the Asia-Pacific region, 642 in total), and found that 74.5% of companies had CSR committees established, 44.2% of which report directly to the board of directors, which proves that Taiwanese companies are gradually gravitating towards the trend of sustainability. Director Chen added that by analyzing major issues we could understand the true opinions of stakeholders, prevent risks, open up new business opportunities, optimize management and policies, and enhance transparency and effective communication.

Director of SEDRC, Yih Jeng, led the innovation workshop, allowing representatives of different industries and companies to engage in interdisciplinary brainstorming to come up with innovative ideas on CSR. In the strategic CSR case sharing session, Secretary of Go Rising Trading Ltd., Shao-Yi Huang, shared the experience of last year’s (2019) seminar organized by the SEDRC and CSR experience activities and gave feedback. Ms. I-Ching Yang, the author of the CSR report by the Kaohsiung branch of ASE Technology Holding Co., shared her years-long experience in writing CSR reports, presented her company's sustainability report, gradual implementation of strategic CSR for urban and rural sustainability, and the initial ideas and milestones in the promotion of education.

Director Jeng emphasized that by fulfilling its CSR, a company will not only enhance its image and win customers’ trust, but also extend its impact to suppliers, the community, society, and the environment. He deeply believes that the lectures on CSR, experience and case sharing, also the exchange of views during the event could further improve companies’ CSR capacity, promote sustainable development and social integration.

(Edited by Public Affairs Division)
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