- Under this initiative, 129 green companies have been created between 2016 and 2023, with business models that contribute to the ecological transition, conservation and recovery of biodiversity or adaptation to climate change.
- The Emprendeverde training cycle in Biosphere Reserves has been carried out by the Emprendeverde Network together with the National Parks Autonomous Organization and the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves to give visibility to the advantages and opportunities offered by these spaces for green entrepreneurship.
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) today announced the main results obtained thanks to the services offered by the Emprendeverde Network during the period 2016-2023. It has done so during a day dedicated to “Transforming from training and green entrepreneurship”, held at its headquarters in Madrid.
The Emprendeverde Network, an initiative within the framework of the Empleaverde Program and co-financed by the European Social Fund, has carried out 43 training and support programs to promote green entrepreneurship, thanks to which 1,258 entrepreneurs have been trained in different stages of development of their green business model. As a result of this training, 129 green businesses have been created.
During this day, examples of entrepreneurial projects trained in some of the services of this green entrepreneurship initiative have been shown. In addition, discussions have been held with experts who are part of the Network community, to reflect together on how training drives green entrepreneurship and just ecological transition.
In this regard, the deputy director for Green Transition of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda, who opened the session, stressed that “we work with the business and entrepreneurial ecosystem to promote the green transition with equal opportunities”. Therefore, “we need a paradigm shift in terms of capabilities to strengthen the resilience and sustainable competitiveness of our strategic sectors,” he said.
Among the results presented, it should be noted that in addition to the1,258 people trained during the 2016-2023 period, more than 4,000 people have received support and training through programs, seminars, networking meetings or lectures.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the number of female participants (631) was slightly higher than the number of male participants (627) and they came from all over Spain, both from rural and urban areas. The employment status of the people trained was mostly (39%) unemployed, followed by self-employed (26%) and employed (26%). In addition, the average age of the participants is around 41 years old,
During the meeting, the results and conclusions of the training cycle “Emprendeverde in Biosphere Reserves” were also presented. This cycle, offered by the Emprendeverde Network together with the Autonomous Organism of National Parks (OAPN) and the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves (RERB), had the objective of making visible the advantages and opportunities offered by biosphere reserves for green entrepreneurship. More than 900 people have been supported thanks to the nine training actions developed during 2023, of which 36% reside or want to undertake in the RERB.
SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONALS AND INSPIRING VENTURES
After the presentation of the main results, a team of experts in training entrepreneurs took part in a round table discussion on what kind of actions can contribute to green entrepreneurship. The panel included Carolina Rodríguez, head of promotion at ENISA; Gema Gómez, founder and director of Slow Fashion Next and Moda Impacto Positivo; Agustín Valentín-Gamazo, founder of Enviroo and Impact Hub Málaga; and Nuria Fernández Muñiz, founder of Delaene.
Four entrepreneurs trained in one of the Emprendeverde Network’s programs also participated in the event: Patricia Astrain, founder and director of RecirculateAnaut Frantz, founder in AlgaloopPatricia González, founder of Lapland; and Antonio Moret, researcher and founder of Bats Malaga, who, in addition to exhibiting one of its bat nesting boxes, presented a virtual reality demo to visualize the first cave with virtual bats in history. This block of inspiring presentations addressed topics such as the conservation and recovery of biodiversity, sustainable blue economy, adaptation to climate change, sustainability, circular economy and the national strategies to which these projects contribute.
All the reflections obtained during the conference will favor the design of a renewed and improved Emprendeverde Network, which will evolve within the framework of the new period of the Empleaverde+ Program (2021-2027), co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus, to contribute with new and innovative training to promote the creation, growth and consolidation of green businesses.
THE EMPRENDEVERDE NETWORK
The Red Emprendeverde (REV), which currently has nearly 11,000 members, is a strategic tool of the Empleaverde Program that has been in place since 2011. It is currently constituted as the largest support network for green entrepreneurship in Spain to promote the creation and consolidation of companies that favor green recovery through support services and training for entrepreneurs. Thus, REV is made up of people who share common values and the goal of promoting businesses that foster a more sustainable and fairer economic activity.
