One of the key challenges for organisations involved in any research and innovation actions at a European level is the exploitation and sustainability of project and process innovations that emerge over the lifetime of the funded action. Having invested millions into projects it is natural that the European Commission (or any other project funder) wants to see concrete plans and the introduction of support for any new innovations that emerge from the project.

The reality is that too often the focus is on financing the capital investment costs of nature-based solutions with not enough consideration going into planning long-term sustainable business models to secure a return on investment. Horizon Nua’s founder Siobhan, as part of her research work with Trinity College Dublin in the Connecting Nature project, has customised the well-known business model canvas tool specifically to help plan the business models for nature-based solutions.

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.