Connecting Nature Enterprise Summit
Summit Series Concept
The Connecting Nature Summit Series focused on sharing the innovations, lessons and impact of the Connecting Nature project. Each of the 3 summits was individually themed to align with key strengths of the host city: the Innovations at the Glasgow Summit, the related opportunities for Enterprise at the Poznan Summit and finally capturing Impact at multiple levels for citizens, cities and the wider community at Genk. The local Summit team in each host city led on shaping the themes and content of each Summit. Due to the Covid pandemic, the first two Summits were delivered on line to over 1600 participants with our 3rd and final Summit in Genk a hybrid event with an onsite audience of 200 and a virtual audience of 700
Connecting Nature Enterprise Summit hosted by Poznan City Hall
Nature-based enterprises are key for the successful large-scale implementation of NBS as well as an engine for sustainable economic and jobs growth. The Summit explored the challenges and opportunities facing nature-based enterprises; cities, communities, policy makers and developers and was jointly hosted in collaboration with the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform supported behind the scenes by Horizon Nua.
Highlights from the programme included:
Policy Dialogue: A high-level panel of policymakers debated findings and recommendations of a new draft White Paper on the Nature-Based Economy. Participants were invited to contribute to the consultation process on the draft White Paper.
Community workshops: Led by industry leaders from the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform from sustainable agriculture, forestry to green infrastructure and smart technology, we met the innovators in our nature-based enterprise communities.
Horizon Europe funding for NbS: a dedicated session on funding topics related to nature-based solutions in the first calls of Horizon Europe
#pitchatpoznan: Fast paced live pitches from nature-based enterprises and innovators as they pitched their products and services in 3 minutes flat!
The outcomes, presentations and recording of the event in the Summit Review here.
When interviewed some months after the summit, the host city Poznan stated that the summit led to an increased awareness of Poznan as front-runner on NBS in Poland and beyond and of the link between economy and ecology that can be made by promoting NBS and NBEs. Through the involvement of the Mayor and senior politicians in the event, political awareness and support was raised within Poznan City Hall. The Poznan team working on NBS was better placed to connect urban local support groups with relevant stakeholders after the summit. New cooperation with companies and funding partners were achieved, for example a French NGO was attracted to fund a running forestry project. After the summit the requests have increased for the Poznan team to share their experience at other conferences. Last but least, organisational skills within the team have developed and they have come out inspired to organise future events.
Poznan Summit Outcomes
Increased confidence of the Connecting Nature team through engagement of the Mayor and senior politicians in the event. This has led to an increased political awareness and support for NbS activities through Poznan
Increased external opportunities - direct funding opportunity with French NGO for forestry which has also led to increased profile internally as centre of excellence for external funding
Launch of training programme which has subsequently been continued in other NbS areas leading to increased skills in NbS among local suppliers
"We are very grateful to Horizon Nua for their professional guidance and affable support before and during Poznań Connecting Nature Enterprise Summit 2021. They enabled us to develop new skills linked with online conferences addressing a global audience and to promote NBE values beyond the city dimension."
Natalya Madajczyk, Head of Unit for interdisciplinary projects / Project coordination and urban regeneration office · City of Poznań-Poznań City Hall
June 2021
Thinking about running a nature-based enterprise themed event? Talk to Horizon Nua about shaping the content and managing event logistics for you.