GENGREEN - Supporting Nordic female entrepreneurs in launching green businesses
At the project’s core are the creation of regional and cross-national networks, sharing information, and developing synergies among participating businesses. The aim will be achieved through various means, including the utilization of the Living Lab concept, joint training modules, workshops, field visits, and webinars. Participating businesses can expect diverse opportunities for synergies, collaboration, learning, and business development.
One of the project´s most important goals is to build Living labs. Living Labs are user-centered, open innovation ecosystems, operating as close as possible to local stakeholders and target population groups. GENGREEN aims to create an ecosystem for Nordic collaboration between Living labs. The project is also reaching out to companies for co-creating and testing innovative solutions. Successful cross-border matches are seen as crucial to have an impact on an otherwise fragmented market and will be supported by activities bridging the gap between supply and demand. The GENGREEN project is implementing an interactive, participative, and learning-based approach to support cross-border living labs networks.
GENGREEN is up and running from 1.1.2024 until 31.12.2026. GENGREEN is co-funded by European Union's Interreg Aurora-programme. National co-fundig is provided by Lapin liitto, Interreg Norge and LTU (Luleå Tekniska Universitetet)
Project manager is PI Silvia Gaiani, Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki (silvia.gaiani@helsinki.fi)
- GENGREEN is co-funded by European Union's Interreg Aurora-programme, which provides funding opportunities for cross-border cooperation in Northern Europe, specifically in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. See the Official poster (pdf)
- National co-fundig is provided by Lapin liitto, Interreg Norge and LTU (Luleå Tekniska Universitetet)
Finland
Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki
Project manager Silvia Gaiani
Doctoral researcher Urszula Ala-Karvia
Doctoral researcher Ada Trogen
Project worker Heidi Åkerman
Research Assistant Ilona Myllyoja
Into Seinäjoki
Specialist Johanna Rintamäki
Centria University of Applied Sciences
RDI-Specialist Mira Valkjärvi
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Lecturer Elisa Maljamäki
Project planner Sari Nisula
Inari Municipality
Business advisor Jonna Ylimaunu
Development Association of Seinäjoki Region (Leader Liiveri)
Director Sinikka Koivumäki
Norway
ICE Kirkenes innovation hub
Senior project manager Maja Kruuse
Arctic Economic Council
Executive director Mads Qvist Frederiksen
Senior consultant at AEC Irina Zhilina
Sweden
Luleå University of Technology
Senior Lecturer Maria Miller
Associated Senior Lecturer Suzanna Törnroth
GENGREEN Advisory Board
NORWAY
Hedda Crogh from Norinnova
SWEDEN
Malin Malmstrõm - Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Luleå University of Technology
FINLAND
Alexandra Santos from Platform 6 in Tampere
Aline Santa Izabel – multi-talented food-tech entrepreuner
GENGREEN Official IMPACT PATHWAY MAP (pdf)
The South Ostrobothnia Living Lab is based in Seinäjoki, in the premises of Skaalaamo Start Up Hub office in Rytmikorjaamo (Vaasantie 11, Seinäjoki). Its called GENGREEN Hub Skaalaamo.
The aims of the GENGREEN Hub Skaalaamo will be to provide a physical meeting place for the beneficiaries of the project, offer a wide range of networking activities, and deliver professional support at various levels for start-ups and companies. Additionally, the Living Lab will support and encourage female green and innovative entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the GENGREEN Hub Skaalaamo will organise public events aimed at boosting green entrepreneurship and provide regional and local public authorities with initiatives that address societal needs.
The GENGREEN Hub Skaalaamo will be an experimental environment for entrepreneurs and companies that aim to launch new products or services in the green domain. Long-lasting synergies and exchange of good practices between local institutions, educational institutions, businesses, investors, large companies, entrepreneurial associations will be encouraged.
Contact: Johanna Rintamäki, johanna.rintamaki@intoseinajoki.fi
Website: https://intoseinajoki.fi/skaalaamo/ (only in Finnish)
Kokeilupaja – living lab offers a flexible and unique chance for female entrepreneurs and those interested in entrepreneurship or sustainability to get together and tackle major issues. The living lab concept arranges events, trainings, webinars, and opportunities to network with others facing the same issues. The living lab focuses on the topics of sustainability and circular economy, but also hopes participants bring up topics that they wish to get support with. Come join us at monthly coffee meetings and learn more about the other things we will be arranging in the living lab!
Learn more here: https://net.centria.fi/en/project/gengreen/
Lapland´s living lab is running under the ROHKEA brand, which translates to "bold," "brave," or "courageous" in English. In collaboration with the GENGREEN project, the ROHKEA living lab aims to boost entrepreneurial mindsets and foster new businesses in the Finnish Lapland region. The ROHKEA guides encouraging you, Elisa Maljamäki and Sari Nisula, are based at Lapland University of Applied Sciences.
Stay tuned as we kick off our Living Lab training sessions this autumn, starting in Inari with a focus on international and cross-border business. The journey begins at ICE – the Arctic Circular Economy Summit in Kirkenes, Norway on 18 - 20 September 2024.
Curious to know more? Want to travel with us to Kirkenes?
Visit our websites:
https://blogi.eoppimispalvelut.fi/rohkea/
https://www.inari.fi/fi/yritys-ja-kehittamispalvelut/yrittajan-inari/tapahtumat-ja-koulutukset-yrityksille.html
The GENGREEN Living Lab at Luleå University of Technology is situated within the research group Industrial Design, where we specialize in creating and implementing sustainable and circular design ideas. The Living Lab is located in the Multistudio, which is a space for creative hands-on experimentation, flexible and dynamic room arrangement to suit one’s needs, and it is also equipped with modern teaching facilities. In the Living Lab, the LTU GENGREEN team has installed five modular and themed boxes on-site, with each box created with the intention to challenge you and your company on how sustainability can be practiced. The boxes can be opened, and are full of prepared activities/games that one can use at anytime, catered to the learning of skills to create resilient, holistic, and creative green businesses.
We have the WEBOX - DREAMBOX - REBOX - HOWBOX - PLAYBOX.
Follow GENGREEN Sweden Facebook for updates
Upcoming events*:
- An open, kick-off lecture on 6th November with a lunch seminar (12-1pm) held by Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, Chair Professor in Design, who will discuss the important role of design in creating sustainable and circular businesses.
- An open lecture on 4th December during lunch (12-1pm) held by Nina Bilal, Postdoc in Product Innovation, who will dive deep into microplastic pollution, recycling (not always the perfect solution), and how these factors have driven her to begin her start-up, called Pack Away.
There are also spots available for our closed workshops that follow after these open seminars, and sign-up is here: https://simplesignup.se/event/219471
These workshops are catered to guiding and supporting your green business growth through practical and creative improvements made to your design process.
*Lunch is provided at both events.
The GreenHouse is an innovative workspace and community hub created for participants in the GENGREEN project. Located in Kirkenes at Nothing Hill, The GreenHouse offers free office spaces, modern conference rooms, and a communal area shared with local students, fostering a collaborative environment. It is designed to support green entrepreneurs in Northern Norway, providing not only a place to work but also opportunities for networking, learning, and growth. With workshops, mentorship, and access to events like the ICE Conference on Green Transition, The GreenHouse serves as a central space for cultivating sustainable business ideas and connections in the Arctic region.
GENGREEN in Linkedin - join in!
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GENGREEN organizes open educational module on sustainability on 2025. It includes several webinars where you can find detailed information below.
1st webinar – January 22.1.2025 – 13.00-15.00
The Nuts and Bolts of Sustainability – What You Need to Know About the Sustainability Transition
Description: Join us as we uncover the nuts and bolts of sustainability and the key concepts you need to know on your sustainability path. This webinar will go through the basics of sustainability as it is approached and addressed in the GENGREEN Sustainability course/module. In addition to talks, we will take some time to let the participants reflect on their own questions and concerns about these topics and themes. Feel most welcome to join us online at: https://centria-fi.zoom.us/j/65609415653
Event page: https://net.centria.fi/en/sustainability-transition-webinar-22-1-2025/
2nd webinar – February 12.2.2025 13.00-15.00
Flipping the Script – How to Turn Sustainability Challenges into New Business Ideas?
Description: Join us as we flip the script on sustainability challenges and focus on how to create thriving new business ideas with the help of circular economy, social innovations, novel collaborations, and such! This webinar will look at the, for example, the principles of circular economy and regeneration, how circular economy is done in practice and challenge the current logic of how circular economy is just a waste management issue. Join us online at: https://centria-fi.zoom.us/j/67855872524
Event page: https://net.centria.fi/en/flipping-the-script-webinar/