Across Imperial Business School, faculty research and insight continues to challenge assumptions and spark new conversations. In the past 12 months, readers have explored how to redesign health policy, rethink sustainability, interrogate the role of AI, and build businesses that are resilient and socially conscious.

IB Knowledge is a hub of thought leadership and a home to faculty expertise where business questions are raised, entrepreneurial mindsets are cultivated and scientific temperaments are encouraged. This year we created a repository of articles to cater to a variety of interests that deeply matter to our audiences.

So whether you care about barriers to sustainable consumer behaviour or how tariffs impact global trade, this curated list brings you the most-read IB Knowledge articles of 2025:

Sustainable consumption: What’s holding us back and what can be done about it

Eduardo B. Andrade, Head of the Department of Analytics, Marketing & Operations, reveals how policy and behavioural insight can help close the gap between what consumers say and what they do.

How protectionism risks undermining the US economy

Jonathan Haskel, Professor of Economics and former member of the Bank of England’ Monetary Policy Committee, takes a closer look at why "reciprocal" tariffs misunderstand the real nature of global trade.

Bold goals, missed levers: Will the NHS 10-Year Health Plan go far enough?

From taxing sugary foods to addressing income inequalities, this think piece from Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation draws on evidence across health economics and behavioural research and argues that more ambitious fiscal and regulatory measures are needed to deliver meaningful health outcomes.

Lessons in leverage: How monetary policy could cause financial instability

Ali Uppal, Assistant Professor of Finance, shares key insights from his research which suggests that raising interest rates may increase financial risk, revealing unintended consequences for banks and regulators.

Adapting to a changing climate: how businesses can mitigate physical environmental risks

Research from Centre for Climate Finance & Investment (CCFI) revealed how climate financing can safeguard businesses against climate threats. Authored by Michael Wilkins, former Executive Director at CCFI, the article highlights how climate resilience can support economic development.  

The hidden cost of startup buzz: how founders and investors can avoid a culture of hubris

Christian Hampel, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation, discusses why early hype and fluctuating risk appetites can fuel hubristic leadership cultures. The article stresses on how founders can build sustainable momentum without losing discipline.

AI-powered rental fashion: Smarter recommendations for a sustainable future

Gah-Yi Ban, Associate Professor of Analytics & Operations, writes about AI and how it is reshaping recommendation systems in the sustainable fashion rental market. This article discusses balancing sustainability with customer loyalty and if it can actually support in boosting retention.

How platforms can win by selling smarter, not harder

Research from Jiahua Wu, Associate Professor of Operations, shows how platforms can manage competition more effectively by rethinking how they share information with providers.

How empathy-led training can curb sexual harassment in India

Assistant Professor in Economics and Public Policy, Karmini Sharma, talks about training models that shift mindsets instead of simply enforcing compliance. The Q&A sheds light on her research on transforming harassment training through empathy and evidence.

5 ways the UK can stimulate the biopharma sector

In this roadmap, James Barlow, Co-Director, Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance, highlights how public investment, regulatory reform and ecosystem development can drive UK innovation and global competitiveness.

From public to digital innovation to organisational culture, these articles demonstrate the breadth and impact of Imperial Business School’s research acumen and ecosystem. As global challenges evolve, fresh insight and evidence from IB Knowledge will continue to shape how leaders, policymakers and practitioners respond.