The Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) aims to select the 5 most innovative ideas in the field of Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) sector. Find out more!
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The INCREDIBLE Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) will select the five most innovative ideas with the potential to increase the environmental, economic or social value of Mediterranean non-wood forest products (NWFPs). OIC winners will be invited to attend the INCREDIBLE business acceleration programme organised by leading forestry and business experts. The initiative responds to challenges for NWFP value chains analysed by the INCREDIBLE team during the first year of the project and aims to identify innovative solutions.<\/p>\n
Contact us for more information<\/a>, APPLICATION IS\u00a0 NOW CLOSED <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have the potential to become a real social and economic resource for the Mediterranean and its people but they are currently undervalued and under-exploited. The INCREDIBLE project, funded under the European Commission\u2019s Horizon 2020 programme, is a Thematic Network to share knowledge, connect people and foster social, technological or managerial innovation in Mediterranean NWFPs through transversal and multidisciplinary approaches. iNets for cork, resins, wild mushrooms & truffles, medicinal & aromatic plants, and wild nuts & berries bring experts together for regional and international exchange, while a Community of Practice explores cross-cutting themes across the different sectors. From 2017, NWFPs experts from across the Mediterranean have been engaging with a broad range of stakeholders on how to create value for Mediterranean NWFPs. They have identified several knowledge gaps and potential challenges through international workshops and seminars involving stakeholders from across the region. The way forward is to search for innovative and creative ideas able to fill these gaps.<\/p>\n How? The OIC is the tool used to collect innovative social, technological and environmental solutions to challenges across five themes:<\/p>\n 1 – cork; Candidates are asked to present innovative ideas or approaches to tackle challenges identified in the first phase of the INCREDIBLE project. Once all the applications are received, the five most brilliant ideas will be selected. \u2022 resource modelling in a context of climate change \u2022 supporting production and marketing capacities \u2022 climate change adaptation and cork oak decline \u2022 marketing – Chestnut value chain – Mediterranean pine nuts -Knowledge gaps in common WHAT WILL BE ASKED?<\/strong><\/p>\n The application process, now closed<\/strong>, involved two steps; application\u00a0 had to be submitted in English:<\/p>\n 1) applicants will complete the online module<\/a> with basic information about their idea;<\/p>\n 2) applicants will be contacted via e-mail and requested to:<\/p>\n Proposals will be evaluated by the Evaluation Panel composed of five experts included in the INCREDIBLE consortium, with representation from each iNets, according to the following criteria:<\/p>\n WHEN?<\/strong><\/p>\n The five winners will be selected by Autumn 2019 and will be invited to the acceleration programme. For winners, the acceleration programme will be free of charge and travel costs will be covered by the project.<\/strong><\/p>\n The acceleration program will take place in winter\/spring 2020<\/strong> at the Agripolis Campus, Padova, Italy. It will be a 10-day full immersion programme<\/strong>, where participants will have the chance to attend seminars, with support from mentors and experts for coaching, in order to develop their innovative ideas.<\/p>\n The topics of the acceleration service<\/strong> will be defined according to the needs of the participants selected. Nevertheless, some basic and transversal topics will be present: business modelling, marketing strategies, trademark communication, traceability tools, etc. Participants will also have excellent networking opportunities<\/strong>, both with colleagues and company and academic representatives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> We offer several opportunities for those who will support INCREDIBLE initiatives (Open Innovation Challenge and acceleration service):<\/p>\n VISIBILITY<\/strong> SCOUTING<\/strong> SUPPORT<\/strong>TIMELINE<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nINCREDIBLE project<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nFind out more about INCREDIBLE<\/a><\/p>\nREAD MORE ABOUT THE OPEN INNOVATION CHALLENGE<\/h2>\n<\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>WHAT IS THE OIC?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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\n<\/strong>Through the INCREDIBLE Open Innovation Challenge (OIC)!<\/p>\nTHE OPEN INNOVATION CHALLENGE<\/h3>\n
\n2 – resins;
\n3 – wild mushrooms & truffles;
\n4 – wild nuts & berries;
\n5 – aromatic & medicinal plants.<\/p>\n
\nThe winners of the OIC will take part in the ETIFOR business acceleration programme created by an international team of NWFP experts as part of the INCREDIBLE project. During the acceleration service, that will last 10 days (beginning of 2020) and will be based in Padova (Italy), the ideas of the winners will be boosted thanks to seminars, mentoring activity and targeted workshops. For winners, the acceleration programme will be free of charge and travel costs will be covered by the project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nThese were some of the challenges that emerged in the preliminary phase of the INCREDIBLE project. Participants can work to find solutions and novel ideas to solve these gaps or contribute to other topics related to NWFPs. Be creative and innovative!<\/h3>\n
Knowledge gaps\/challenges identified<\/h2>\n
Resin<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 progress in the compatibility of resin harvesting with other forest uses
\n\u2022 improvement in working conditions of the resin tappers
\n\u2022 development of new natural resin derivative products<\/p>\nAromatic & medicinal plants<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 natural Resource Management and biodiversity conservation
\n\u2022 legal framework adjustment
\n\u2022 certification and traceability<\/p>\nCork<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 evaluation of Ecosystem services (life cycle approach)
\n\u2022 profitability
\n\u2022 policies targeted on multifunctionality
\n\u2022 communication (to consumer, to research, etc.)
\n\u2022 some crucial policy innovation ideas (stronger regulations to minimise the grey economy; establishment of PES models; maintenance\/ development of regulations to assure the sustainability of the cork oak ecosystem; multifunctional ecosystem policies)<\/p>\nWild mushrooms & truffles<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 management of truffle plantations and development of mycosilviculture
\n\u2022 regulation and taxation systems and training<\/p>\nWild nuts & berries<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Increase processing quality
\n\u2022 Standardisation of supply
\n\u2022 Develop new products (chestnut beer or chestnut flour)<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 immaturity of the sector: lack of management and good practices guidelines.
\n\u2022 organic food labels: better marketing and communication of certification brands and labels<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 pests and diseases: how to solve severe yield losses especially due to new exotic pests.
\n\u2022 Arbutus unedo and berries are not promoted adequately<\/p>\nThe winners of the OIC will take part in the ETIFOR business acceleration programme created by an international team of NWFP experts as part of the INCREDIBLE project.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>WHO CAN ENROLL AND HOW?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nEveryone (individual, startup, company) with an innovative idea to solve a problem or to boost the NWFP value chains is welcome!<\/h3>\n
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The Open Innovation Challenge will be open from April to August 2019. DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 15TH SEPTEMBER 2019.
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/del>APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nBe innovative, be involved, be inspiring!<\/h3>\n
\nSupport our accelerator and make your impact. Your brand and company will be part of our selected community of experts and entrepreneurs working with NWFPs; you will be involved in our events offering excellent opportunities for networking.<\/p>\n
\nBe the first to get in touch with our innovators that will boost the NWFP value chains!<\/p>\n
\nBe part of the change, contribute to transform brilliant ideas in projects that can also change your business!
\nContact us<\/a>\u00a0to receive a tailored proposal!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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