From Sustainability to Resilience: Three Key Takeaways from the Sustainability osapiens Summit 2026

The Sustainability osapiens Summit (SoS.26) in Mannheim brought together professionals and business leaders to discuss how organizations can navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Across two days of keynotes, panel discussions, and expert conversations, one message stood out: resilience has become an essential part of every sustainability strategy.

As an exhibitor, MBI was proud to contribute to these discussions through our booth, our keynote presentation, and our participation in the panel discussion on intelligent supplier management. Together with our long-standing partner HERE Technologies, we also demonstrated how trusted data can help organizations build more transparent, efficient, and resilient operations.

1. Geopolitical Risk Is No Longer a Niche Topic

One of the defining themes of SoS.26 was the growing impact of geopolitical and economic developments on business operations. Dr. Robert Habeck’s keynote on resilience and sustainability in an era of global disruption reinforced what many discussions throughout the summit confirmed: organizations can no longer separate sustainability from resilience.

Political instability, trade restrictions, sanctions, and regional conflicts increasingly influence supply chains, sourcing decisions, and investment strategies. As a result, geopolitical risk is becoming a strategic consideration for procurement, sustainability, and risk management teams alike.

This shift was reflected in many conversations at our booth, where visitors discussed how greater transparency across global operations is becoming essential for making informed decisions.

2. Building Resilience Starts with Proactive Risk Management

Within the Supplier Intelligence & Collaboration track, our political risk expert Dr. Nicolas Schwank and business advisor Stefan Engels presented the keynote “Geopolitical & Economic Disruption: Managing Structural Dependencies.” The session explored how geopolitical and economic disruptions can reshape supplier strategies and investment decisions almost overnight, highlighting the importance of identifying structural dependencies before they become business risks.

These topics continued during the panel discussion, “The Future of Intelligent Supplier Management: Building Resilience in a Fragmented World.” One key takeaway resonated throughout the discussion: when it comes to political risk, the biggest blind spot for many organizations is still being reactive instead of proactive.

Building resilient supply chains requires organizations to move beyond responding to disruptions. By understanding external risks earlier and continuously monitoring changing conditions, businesses can make better-informed decisions and strengthen long-term resilience.

3. Data Creates the Transparency Required for Resilience

Another recurring topic throughout the summit was the increasing importance of regulatory frameworks such as the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive and national KRITIS requirements. Both emphasize the need for greater transparency across critical infrastructure, suppliers, and operational dependencies.

Reliable data plays a central role in meeting these challenges. At SoS.26, we demonstrated how organizations can leverage CONIAS Risk Intelligence to better understand geopolitical risks across global supply chains and integrate these insights into their sustainability and resilience strategies. We also showcased how geospatial data supports more sustainable decision-making, from site selection to supply chain optimization.

Together with HERE Technologies, we highlighted how high-quality location data and mobility solutions help organizations improve operational efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance transparency across their operations. Combined with trusted geopolitical intelligence, these data sources provide the foundation for more informed decision-making in an increasingly uncertain world.

Looking Ahead

The Sustainability osapiens Summit 2026 demonstrated that resilience is no longer just a response to disruption. It has become a strategic capability built on transparency, collaboration, and trusted data.

We would like to thank everyone who visited our booth, attended our keynote, and joined the discussion throughout the event. A special thank you also goes to Susanne Neuerer and the team at HERE Technologies for supporting us in representing our long-standing partnership and demonstrating how complementary data sources can support more resilient and sustainable business operations.

If you would like to learn more about MBI’s geopolitical risk intelligence, our HERE Technologies Distribution, or our global socio-economic data, contact our experts. We’d be happy to discuss how trusted data can support your organization’s resilience, sustainability, and supply chain objectives.