Sustainable Ecosystems (NaWerSys), 5th Workshop as part of INFORMATIK 2025, Potsdam – Institute of Product Development

Value creation is currently undergoing profound transformation. Dynamic markets, increasing environmental awareness, and social challenges demand solutions that balance diverse requirements while enabling sustainable progress. A widely discussed approach is the digitalization of products and services in the context of the twin transition.

Digital technologies - particularly data‑driven information systems, AI‑based components, and cyber‑physical systems - enable products and services to automatically capture usage contexts, analyze conditions, and adapt to situational requirements. Digital platforms act as integration and orchestration layers through which modular services can be combined, scaled, and provided across organizational boundaries. At the same time, structured and continuously collected product and usage data open new opportunities for data‑driven optimization, simulation‑supported product development, and closed‑loop strategies in the circular economy.

However, these opportunities also increase complexity. Identifying valuable offerings, developing viable service portfolios, and reliably delivering individualized products and services pose significant challenges for many organizations. In addition, growing regulatory requirements, such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, raise expectations regarding data management, interoperability, traceability, and the secure exchange of product‑related information across distributed value networks.

To address these developments, organizations increasingly collaborate in joint value‑creation processes, establish trustworthy mechanisms for secure data exchange, and use digital platforms to monetize their services. As a result, value creation is increasingly viewed from a systemic perspective.

NaWerSys 2026 takes up these developments and provides an interdisciplinary forum for research and practice. We invite contributions that explore concepts, methods, and applications for designing sustainable value creation systems, advance theoretical foundations, or provide empirical evidence—for example through case studies.

Submissions should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

Digital Platforms, Intelligent Ecosystems, and Data Sharing
For example, the design of platforms and their governance mechanisms, the development of strategies for monetizing ecosystem services, the development of tools for assessing and optimizing sustainability effects, the standardization of data spaces and trustworthy data exchange, and platform‑based business models for sustainable value creation.
Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
For example, the development of models for cooperation and resource management in ecosystems, life‑cycle assessment and data‑driven sustainability evaluation, digital product passports and lifecycle transparency, and predictive maintenance in the context of condition‑based reuse.
Adaptive Products, Services, and Development Tools
For example, data collection and analysis across product life cycles, the implementation of Re‑strategies in development, the development of methods for data‑driven optimization of subsequent product generations, interdisciplinary development of adaptive technical systems, and the development of tools for simulating sustainable product‑service systems.
Marketing of Sustainable Value Creation Systems
For example, communication of sustainability strategies and performance, the design of brand identity and customer loyalty in ecosystems, analysis and prediction of consumption patterns for ecosystem services, modeling of customer behavior and decision‑making in co‑design processes, and user acceptance of data‑intensive sustainable services.
Regulation of Sustainable Value Creation Systems
For example, analysis and modeling of regulatory frameworks, the design and evaluation of interoperability and data sovereignty, automation in reporting and disclosure processes, and the development of certification procedures and sustainability labels.

The workshop explicitly addresses the fields of computer science and information systems, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as management and marketing. This diversity creates space for interdisciplinary impulses in shaping sustainable ecosystems.

Program Committee

Frederik Möller (TU Braunschweig)

Gero Strobel (Uni Stuttgart)

Dimitri Petrik (Uni Stuttgart)

Henning Gösling (DFKI Kaiserslautern; Smart Factory)

Arthur Kari (FU Berlin)

Frances Turner (Ithaca College, New York) (Guest Chair)

Oliver Werth (OFFIS Oldenburg)

Robert Keller (Hochschule Kempten)

Anna Gieß (Fraunhofer ISST)

Daniel Kloock-Schreiber (TU Hamburg Harburg)

Kevin Herrmann (LUH)

Jonas Brinker (F_beta)

Christoph Heinbach (FH Münster)

07.05.2026

Full-paper deadline

01.07.2026

Author notification and review results

12.07.2026

Cam-ready papers

25.09.2026

Workshop at INFORMATIK FESTIVAL 2026

Contributions

The target group of the workshop is primarily focused on researchers but should also provide a platform for practitioners from companies, organizations, or public administration for joint (experience) exchange.

The contribution formats for publication in the conference proceedings (LNI) are planned as follows:

• Long paper – research paper or case study (10 pages; excl. references)

• Short paper – research paper, short communication, or sketch (4 pages; excl. references)

Accepted contributions will appear after a review process (i.e., peer review, blind) in this year's Informatics conference proceedings in the series 'Lecture Notes of Informatics' (LNI). Contributions must adhere to the author guidelines of the LNI template (https://gi.de/service/publikationen/lni) and can be submitted in both English and German.

Furthermore, we would like to invite contributions in alternative formats such as discussion rounds, game-based approaches, prototype presentations, project showcases, practical reports (e.g., pitfalls), or small workshops. Corresponding ideas should be sent by email to the organizing team (Paul Christoph Gembarski, gembarski@ipeg.uni-hannover.de), and will be reviewed for relevance to the workshop, but will not initially be published in the conference proceedings.

The publication requires the registration of at least one author for the INFORMATIK. Each accepted contribution will be presented at the workshop. Please submit your anonymized contribution as a PDF file via EasyChair.

History of Sustainable Ecosystems (NaWerSys)

2024
Proceedings

INFORMATIK 2024: https://dl.gi.de/search?spc.page=1&query=NaWerSys%20IV%20%E2%80%93%20Nachhaltige%20Wertsch%C3%B6pfungssysteme

Preface: https://dl.gi.de/items/3f227abe-4d65-4384-a561-ebdffb89c331

Article on "Sustainable Ecosystems": dl.gi.de/items/39e266a9-e1f3-4d4c-8579-bf0f6b6c0491

Program – 26.09.2024 in Wiesbaden, GER

Session 1 (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Gieß et al.: Green data, green future? How data spaces enable the product carbon footprint calculation for the automotive industry.

Walter et al.: Modeling value exchange in informal care support ecosystems.

Merz & Petrik: Potentials of artificial intelligence for the return of electric vehicle batteries to the circular economy.

Schweihoff & Jussen: Keeper of the building data: Exploring the potential for data trustees in the building sector.

Session 2 (Chair: Friedemann Kammler)

Stevenson et al.: Nachhaltiges Retourenmanagement im E-Commerce.

Carl et al.: How to promote the spread of data-driven business models by involving all relevant stakeholders?

Driller & Trang: Unlocking sustainable reporting: Leveraging knowledge graphs for ESG metrics extraction.

Chairs 2024

Thorsten Schoormann, TU Braunschweig, Data-Driven Enterprise | Fraunhofer ISST

Paul Christoph Gembarski, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Produktentwicklung und Gerätebau

Simon Hagen, HARTING Technologiegruppe

Friedemann Kammler, UNEOS AG

Program Committee 2024

Marvin Auf der Landwehr (HS Hannover), Helge Fischer (FOM Essen), Christoph Heinbach (Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz), Ilka Jussen (TU Dortmund), Robert Keller (Hochschule Kempten), Kevin Lefeuvre (Bauhaus Universität Weimar), Frederik Möller (TU Braunschweig), Stephanie Winkelmann (TU Dortmund), Ricarda Schlimbach (HS Heilbronn), Gero Strobel (Universität Duisburg-Essen), Dimitri Petrik (Universität Stuttgart), Joschka Hüllmann (University of Twente), Henning Goesling, tba
2023
Proceedings

INFORMATIK 2023: https://dl.gi.de/handle/20.500.12116/42693

Preface: https://dl.gi.de/items/51ab9eba-a08e-40d0-b292-162f0c45ab52

Program – 29.09.2023 in Berlin, GER

Welcome (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Session 1 (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Hoppe, C., Schmelzer, R., Möller, F. & Schoormann, T.: Data Spaces as Enablers for Sustainability

Di Maria, M., Walter, D. & Knackstedt, R.: Promoting Sustainable Ecosystems through Interorganizational Unlearning – A Call for Research

Winkelmann, S., Schweihoff, J., Jussen, I. & Möller, F.: Turning Old into New – The Lane Change to a Circular Economy in the Automotive Industry

Session 2 (Chair: Simon Hagen)

Neubig, S., Rebholz, D., Hein, A., Keller, R. & Krcmar, H.: To Graph or Not to Graph: The Missing Pieces for Knowledge Graphs in Sustainable Tourism

Heinbach, C., Gösling, H. & Thomas, O.: The Hitchhiker‘s Guide to Urban Spaces - Conceptualizing a Gaia-X-enabled Co-bility Hub Combining Public Transport, Crowd Mobility, and Last Mile Logistics

Discussion (Chair: Simon Hagen)

Chairs 2023

Paul Christoph Gembarski, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Produktentwicklung und Gerätebau

Simon Hagen, DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering

Friedemann Kammler, DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering

Thorsten Schoormann, Universität Hildesheim, Wirtschaftsinformatik | Fraunhofer ISST

Program Committee 2023

Dennis Behrens (Data Scientist), Katja Bley (Technische Universität Dresden), Helge Fischer (FOM Essen), Sven Jannaber (LVM Versicherung), Ilka Jussen (TU Dortmund), Robert Keller (Hochschule Kempten), Marvin Auf der Landwehr (HS Hannover), Cristina Mihale-Wilson (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt), Frederik Möller (TU Braunschweig, Fraunhofer ISST), Dimitri Petrik (Universität Suttgart), Gero Strobel (Universität Duisburg-Essen), Jannis Vogel (DFKI Osnabrück), Stephanie Winkelmann (TU Dortmund)
2022
Proceedings

INFORMATIK 2022: https://informatik2022.gi.de/programm/2022-09-28-1-1

Preface: https://dl.gi.de/handle/20.500.12116/39527

Program – 26.09.2022 in Hamburg, GER

Welcome (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Session 1 (Chair: Paul Christoph Gembarski)

Schweihoff, J., Jussen, I., Stachon, M., & Möller, F.: Design Options for Data-Driven Business Models in Data-Ecosystems.

Brinker, J., Kammler, F., & Thomas, O.: Service Tailoring: Ein Konfigurationsmechanismus für individualisierte After-Sales-Services im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau.

Petrik, D., Trieflinger, S., & Schönhofen, F.: Aligning Value Creation in Ecosystems through Roadmapping.

Session 2 (Chair: Simon Hagen)

Jussen, I., Schweihoff, J., Stachon, M., & Möller, F.: Designing a Data Sharing Tool Kit - Showing companies how to start using Data Sharing.

Bollenbach, J., Neubig, S., Hein, A., Keller, R., & Krcmar, H.: Using Machine Learning to Predict POI Occupancy to Reduce Overcrowding.

Kortum, H., Kohl, T., Hubertus, D., Hinz, O., Thomas, O.: A Platform Framework for the Adoption and Operation of ML-based Smart Services in the Data Ecosystem of Smart Living.

Discussion and Closing (Chair: Friedemann Kammler, Simon Hagen)

Chairs 2022

Paul Christoph Gembarski, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Produktentwicklung und Gerätebau

Simon Hagen, DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering

Friedemann Kammler, DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering

Thorsten Schoormann, Universität Hildesheim, Wirtschaftsinformatik

Program Committee 2022

Dennis Behrens (Data Scientist); Katja Bley (Technische Universität Dresden); Helge Fischer (FOM Essen); Lucas Hüer (HS Osnabrück); Marie Kammler (HWG Ludwigshafen); Robert Keller (Hochschule Kempten); Babett Kühne (Kühne + Nagel); Sven Jannaber (LVM Versicherung); Cristina Mihale-Wilson (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt); Frederik Möller (TU Dortmund); Maren Stadtländer (Universität Hildesheim); Frederic Stahl (DFKI Oldenburg, Marine Perception); Andreas Varwig (Consultant Data Science); Sebastian Werning (IU Internationale Hochschule); Jannis Vogel (DFKI Osnabrück)
2021
Proceedings

INFORMATIK 2021: https://informatik2021.gi.de/informatik2021/workshops

Preface: https://dl.gi.de/items/55c9b29a-4518-4c07-a111-8d5314dcedc0

Program – 27.09.2021 virtual

Welcome (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Session 1 (Chair: Paul Gembarski)

Heinbach & Thomas: Decarbonization in the Digital Platform Age – A Green Service Canvas for Small and Medium-sized Road Carriers

Rebstadt, Kortum, Hagen & Thomas: Towards a transparency-oriented and integrating Service Registry for the Smart Living Ecosystem

Jahn & Pfisterer: Entwicklung eines Datenerfassungssystems zur Verwendung mobiler Speicher in lokalen Netzen, um erneuerbare Energien stärker zu nutzen

Session 2 (Chair: Thorsten Schoormann)

Fukas & Thomas: Innovation by Information Technology Recombination: How Artificial Intelligence Progressive Web Apps Foster Sustainable Development

Gasnke, Meißner & Rieck: Game-based Learning: Acquiring Supply Chain Management Skills Through Playing Computer Games

Discussion and Closing (Chair: Simon Hagen)

Chairs 2021

Paul Christoph Gembarski (Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Produktentwicklung und Gerätebau)

Simon Hagen (DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering)

Friedemann Kammler (DFKI Osnabrück, Smart Enterprise Engineering)

Thorsten Schoormann (Universität Hildesheim, Wirtschaftsinformatik)

Program Committee 2021

Dennis Behrens (Data Scientist); Helge Fischer (FOM Essen); Lucas Hüer (HS Osnabrück); Marie Kammler (HWG Ludwigshafen); Robert Keller (Hochschule Kempten); Babett Kühne (Universität Hamburg); Sven Jannaber (LVM Versicherung); Kai Lingemann (DFKI Osnabrück, Planbasierte Robotersteuerung); Cristina Mihale-Wilson (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt); Frederik Möller (TU Dortmund); Sebastian Sieloff (Startup Center HI-Cube GmbH); Maren Stadtländer (Universität Hildesheim); Frederic Stahl (DFKI Oldenburg, Marine Perception); Andreas Varwig (Consultant Data Science); Sebastian Werning (IU Internationale Hochschule); Jannis Vogel (Universität Osnabrück)