- Attendees were able to discover the trends in innovative entrepreneurship and learn about several projects that contribute to promoting the ecological transition, with a positive environmental and social impact, green recovery and the conservation of biodiversity
- Advice on how to create viable and resilient green companies has been shared by experts who provide the free services provided by the Emprendeverde Network
- The High Commissioner for Spain, Entrepreneurial Nation, pointed out in his speech that the creation and development of entrepreneurship based on innovation are a key lever for the growth of the Spanish economy
November 23, 2022- The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has today organized a conference on innovative entrepreneurship to promote the green transition, in the CONAMA Innova space of the National Congress of the Environment (CONAMA 2022). The Deputy Director for the Green Transition of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda, inaugurated this session, organised within the framework of the Emprendeverde Network, an initiative co-financed by the European Social Fund, with the aim of addressing the potential of innovative entrepreneurship as an ally of the ecological transition. During the conference, the focus was on the fact that innovation, both technological and related to models of efficient management of natural resources, is key in this transformation process. It also highlighted how the Biodiversity Foundation works with the private sector by establishing alliances to promote a green recovery and an ecological transition, and highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in terms of skills for employment to strengthen the resilience and sustainable competitiveness of our strategic sectors. Carolina Rodríguez Arias, director of the Office of the High Commissioner for Spain Entrepreneurial Nation, also participated in the session, during which she stressed that “the creation and development of entrepreneurship based on innovation is a key lever for the growth of the Spanish economy. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), innovative entrepreneurship is the sector that generates the highest returns on productivity in the short term. The Spain Entrepreneurial Nation Strategy includes ten sectors that represent 60% of GDP: industry, tourism and culture, mobility, health, construction and materials, energy and ecological transition, banking and finance, digital and telecommunications, agri-food and biotechnology. According to the Strategy, innovative entrepreneurship must collaborate and be supported by the driving sectors of the Spanish economy. Thus, startups will grow in strong sectors of the Spanish productive fabric. In turn, these sectors will benefit from the stimulation of innovation, generating circles that will help companies to be more productive, more competitive and, therefore, with the capacity to generate more and better jobs. During the day, a round table was held in which three examples of innovative ventures that contribute to promoting this transformation from the entrepreneurial sector were presented. Thus, Francisco Purroy presented Land Life Iberia, which works on environmental restoration and precision reforestation through innovation and with a technological approach. Alejandro Samaniego has shown how titech | Titanium technology, plans to use clean technology to prevent the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, and small unwanted animals, without leaving any ecological footprint, and which is applicable to the maritime industry and other sectors such as irrigation. Finally, Inés Sagrario from Ekonoke presented sustainable and reliable solutions for agriculture that is resilient to climate change, producing natural ingredients in urban ecosystems.
After this first round table, the XVI edition of the Emprendeverde Meetings was held, where advice on how to create viable and resilient green companies was shared by experts who provide the services provided by the Emprendeverde Network. At the end, the participants were able to expand their circle of contacts, create synergies and expand their knowledge on different topics useful for entrepreneurship in green in a dynamic session.
INCREASING THE CAPACITIES OF ENTREPRENEURS
Until 2023, the Emprendeverde Network will offer free services to some 1,000 entrepreneurs through the different actions it carries out to support this group. Registration is currently open for two services aimed at entrepreneurs who need to create and consolidate their green company: comprehensive, online and adapted training through the Emprendeverde Itineraries; and personalised advice and training with an expert advisor who will guide and accompany the entire process for the incorporation of companies from the Constitute #TuEmpresaVerde service. All these services offered by the Emprendeverde Network are free and are mainly carried out online. Within the framework of these services, meetings are held to generate synergies between the participating projects, and preference is given to the participation of people from all over Spain who belong to priority social groups such as women, young people up to 35 years of age, people over 45 years of age, immigrants, people with disabilities and people living in protected areas and rural areas. Participants in these services will be part of the Emprendeverde Network, the largest green entrepreneurship community in the country, already made up of nearly 11,000 members, and will be able to benefit from all the actions offered, aimed at strengthening their green business and ensuring the optimal start of their activity. In addition, it connects entrepreneurs with people from all over Spain who are interested in and aware of the green economy, with the aim of facilitating opportunities and establishing collaborations.
