The regional innovation ecosystem supporting start-ups contributing to SDGs
About this good practice
While the Piedmont region needs to diversify its economy beyond its traditional strengths in core industrial activities, it has to be coherent with the 2030 Agenda.
The following good practice aimed to provide support to the innovation growth of the Region by also contributing to the SDGs through the financial and strategic support of viable start-up projects.
Following the final phase of the EU project AlpBioEco, resulting in eco-innovative business ideas & concepts for SMEs, it emerged a circular business model from which, in 2021, the start-up Vortex was born. Its entrepreneurial concept is an example of how clusters can contribute to SDGs through the support they give to SMEs. Environment Park was essential to develop the innovative process that led to the creation of a cosmetic product from an industrial agrifood waste. Through the processing powered by renewable energy, the startup has been able to transform a waste of the apple production chain in a raw material functional for their production. Compared to the standard production processes, the impacts are positive in terms of CO2 emissions (-74%) and water usage (-68%).
Environment Park has provided support with dedicated staff working on apple flour processing, through scientific support and laboratory tests. Thanks to the Cluster know-how, the start-up was able to access services and all the enabling conditions offered by the rich innovation ecosystem of the territory, mainly: Réseau Entreprendre, INVITALIA, I3P.
Resources needed
Following the project AlpBioEco, Envipark has supported Vortex by giving advices and updates on new possible project calls and future activities. Moreover, Envipark realized specific test on his pilot plant for Vortex with direct compensation.
Evidence of success
The multidisciplinary ability of the local innovation ecosystem to support financially, strategically and scientifically the business idea, selected during the European project AlpBioEco represents an example of how economic development and re-industrialisation processes can happen without disregarding the achievement of SDGs goals, but rather, by contributing to their pursue thanks to a new business model, that demonstrates the advantages of circular economy with high social impacts.
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice is potentially interesting for other regions, because of some key factors that led to the success of the start-up:
• the capacity of the local innovation system (Environment Park, Réseau Entreprendre, INVITALIA and I3P), to network and provide the complementary knowledge necessary for the creation and growth and development of the start-up;
• the multidisciplinarity of the support received: the ecosystem worked particularly well because different types of skills were put together (young farmer, technical expertise and networking of Environment Park…);
• cross-cutting benefits related to the reduction of food waste that is transformed into cosmetic products (environment, sustainability, circular economy, upcycling process).
In the framework of the Agenda 2030, the support of the local innovation ecosystem received by the startup actively contributes to the following SDGs:
8. Decent work and economic growth
12. Responsible consumption and production
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.