SwitchMed Connect 2015 is the first annual gathering of Mediterranean stakeholders to build synergies, exchange knowledge, and scale up eco and social innovations. Leading start-ups and entrepreneurs, industry agents, initiatives, change agents, policy and financial institutions working on applications of productive, circular and sharing economies in the Mediterranean will come together in Barcelona. We will share our stories, expertise and experience on eco and social innovations. We will exchange in interactive sessions and find synergies. We will get inspired on how to scale eco and social innovations, and create actions in the scaling up labs.
SwitchMed is an initiative that supports and connects stakeholders to scale up eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean. We provide all Mediterranean stakeholders like you with tools
and connections of supporting partners for your eco and social innovative solutions, to achieve productive, circular and sharing economies in the Mediterranean. We train green business entrepreneurs and start-ups, empower grassroot innovative solutions, and build capacity for sustainable industry service providers. We engage with policy institutions to establish a regulatory and policy framework to boost the market for sustainable products and services.
Our regional partners (UNIDO, UNEP-DTIE, UNEP/MAP, SCP/RAC), local partners in our initial target countries, expert teams and strategic partners in and around the Mediterranean implement the SwitchMed Initiative. The European Union is funding the SwitchMed. SwitchMed is run in close collaboration with the UfM labelled Mediterranean RESCP Post Rio+20: Supporting the adoption of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Resource Efficiency (RE) models in the Mediterranean Region. For more information visit www.switchmed.eu.
Eco and social innovation living stories
Switchers are individuals, enterprises or civil society organizations that have been able to develop an eco and social innovative solution making an impact for sustainable living within the Mediterranean region, and contributing to the switch to a sustainable and fair consumption and production pattern.
To scale up eco and social innovations, we need to make concrete efforts visible and inspire many others to take them up. This is why we are set to tell the stories of the ‘Switchers’. At SwitchMed Connect ‘inspire’ sessions, entrepreneurs and initiatives working through eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean will share their stories. We will exhibit stories of change makers working to practice sustainable food, housing, tourism and fashion. In addition, we plan to launch a new online Switchers platform.
Are you a Switcher? Would you like to be part of the Switchers EXPO and the Switchers Sessions?
We invite all eco and social innovators to apply for registration and travel sponsorship. On 28th October, we will hold a special ‘story telling’ training on how to best tell the story of your sustainable business or initiative so you can get well prepared for the Switchers Sessions on Day 1 of the SwitchMed Connect. In addition, you might get selected to be part of the Switchers EXPO. If you like to apply for a registration and travel sponsorship, please fill in the application form.
We cannot accept more applications to be a switcher, we have already selected the 50 cases that will join Meet The switchers sessions. Thank you very much for your interest!
Discover the Mediterranean networks working on productive, circular and sharing economies
Share and showcase your stories, expertise and experience on eco and social innovations
Exchange and find synergies with other likeminded change makers
Get inspired on how to scale eco and social innovations and create actions in the Mediterranean scaling-up labs
EntrepreneursJoin the green entrepreneurship training sessions and take your business idea to the next level
Change makersExperience and get an insight into the most promising Mediterranean initiatives and businesses in sustainable food, housing, tourism and fashion
Industry agentsExchange with leading industry service providers on how to successfully market and sell sustainable production services to industry
Financial institutionsGet an overview of impact investing practices in the region and take part in making of the Green Impact Investing Platform
Policy institutionsBe inspired about how to implement the Regional SCP Action Plan at the national and local level
Expect a highly interactive SwitchMed Connect 2015 where we will co-create actions for follow-up in our next SwitchMed Connect in 2016!
In an EXPERIENCE, session, you can get an insight into eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean. We will dive deeper into at least 50 innovations right-now-happening for sustainable food, sustainable tourism, sustainable housing, sustainable mobility and sustainable fashion.
In an INVESTIGATE, session you can share and discuss challenges, barriers and opportunities for scaling up innovations in one of our Working Groups (Labs). These will include access to finance, collaborative economy approaches, circular value chains, market links, shifting buyer behaviour.
In an ACT session, you can co-create an action, design actions and plan projects to scale up innovations. We will design actions to follow-up after SwitchMed Connect 2015 and revisit in SwitchMed Connect 2016.
29th October - DAY 1: EXPERIENCE AND INVESTIGATE
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE
Day 1, 9am-10:30am (90 min)
Objective
Welcome all participants and set the stage for the day.
Background
This is the first annual gathering of the SwitchMed Initiative aiming to build synergies, exchange knowledge, and scale up social and eco innovations. Leading start-ups and entrepreneurs, industry agents, initiatives, change agents, policy and financial institutions working on applications of productive, circular and sharing economies in the Mediterranean will come together in Barcelona. We will share our stories, expertise and experience on social and eco innovations. We will exchange in interactive sessions and find synergies. We will get inspired on how to scale social and eco innovations, and create actions in the scaling-up labs.
Co-creator & co-organiser
SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Greetings and Moderation: Enrique de Villamore Martín, Director, SCP/RAC hosting the SwitchMed Networking Facility
· Nicola Di Pietrantonio, Programme Manager, EU Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
· Stephan Sicars, Director, Environment Branch, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
· Habib El-Habr, Deputy Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP)
· Eva Herrera, Commission of Ecology, Municipality of Barcelona
· Guillermina Yanguas, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain, Secretary of State of Environment, General Directorate of Environment Quality and Assessment and Natural Affair
· Josep Enric Llebot Rabagliati, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Government of Catalonia, Department of Territory and Sustainability
Sustainable Tourism
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 10:30am-12:30pm (120min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the switchers: Sustainable tourism
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of change makers in tourism sector.
Background
Without doubt, tourism is a strategic economic sector in all Mediterranean countries having still much potential for development of sustainable tourism services that can benefit both the environment, communities and the economy.
The first half of the sessions will include Pecha Kucha style presentations of stories by sustainable tourism Switchers. The second half will include a well facilitated discussion on understanding the needs and challenges of the Switchers and elaborating on possible responses (from the perspective of policy, finance, skills, networks and other ecosystem factors).
Co-creator & co-organiser
Biosphere Tourism is co-hosting the session and our facilitator will be Artur Nadcrinicinii.
Contributors & Speakers
Jean-François Fiquet (Terres d’Amanar)
Aymen Louhichi (Tunisia eco-tourism)
Zribi Skander (Dar Zaghouan)
Amine Draoui (Mornag Eco Farm)
Zaher Redwan (Green Hand - Casa Verde)
Jordi Tolrà (Aethnic)
Nabil Tarazi (Feynan Ecolodge)
Amina Mauro (The GreenWatcher)
Aurora Requena (Plàncton)
Ignasi Uñó (TwentyTú)
Sustainable Food
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 10:30am-12:30pm (120min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the switchers: Sustainable agriculture & food
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of change makers in agriculture & food sector.
Background
Agriculture, and food, is an strategic sector to be rethought in order to develop an scale-up eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean, making an impact for sustainable living.
Initiatives carried out by change makers (The switchers) related to food consumption or production have an strong ecological and social component to be featured in order to inspire projects to future Switchers, and to be replied.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Global Footprint Network Mediterranean-MENA Program is co-hosting the session and our facilitator will be Aurélie Salvaire (The A Factor & TEDx Barcelona women)
Contributors & Speakers
Kamal Milad Mouzawak (Souk El Tayeb)
Laura Marie Tabet (Nawaya)
Carme Verdaguer (Peplemon)
Fatima Zahra Beraich (Biôdome)
Raquel Díaz – Ruiz (Espigoladors)
Haddad Naoufel (Tunis Coop)
Tarek Hosny (Shaduf)
Halil Kazaz (HAK2)
Giuliano Petroni (Peix al Plat)
Moti Cohen (Living Green)
Sustainable Fashion
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 10:30am-12:30pm (120min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the switchers: Sustainable fashion & clothing
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of change makers in fashion & clothing sector.
Background
Clothing is one of the major consumption areas in the Mediterranean countries. Fashion industry is also one of the leading economic sectors. Hence, clothing and fashion is a priority area for improving sustainability performance of products and services. In addition, it includes a diverse range of eco and social innovative solutions for making an impact for sustainable living.
The first half of the sessions will include Pecha Kucha style presentations of stories of sustainable fashion and clothing Switchers. The second half will include a well facilitated discussion on understanding the needs and challenges of the Switchers and elaborating on possible responses (from the perspective of policy, finance, skills, networks and other ecosystem factors).
Co-creator & co-organiser
Associació Moda Sostenible de Barcelona (Sustainable Fashions Association Barcleona) is co-hosting the session and our facilitator will be Sonia Ruiz (Noima).
Contributors & Speakers
Asli Guvenç (Asli’s Closet)
Bijan Kafi (Sekem)
Marc Metni (Waste)
Patrick El Zoghi (WeWear)
Yara Yassin (Up Fuse)
Jorge García Barrasa (Footwear Technology Centre La Rioja)
Ghitta Laskrouif
Tamar Shalem
Nadia Dajani (Al-Bareeq Jewellery)
Fiona Capdevila (Del través)
Sustainable Housing
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 10:30am-12:30pm (120min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the switchers: Sustainable housing
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of change makers in housing sector. Energy consumption, waste generation and lack of integrated approaches are some of the main challenges in the sector.
Background
Mediterranean regional action plan on sustainable consumption and production mentions housing and construction among the resource-intensive economic sectors, generating high environmental impacts in the Mediterranean.
The first half of the sessions will include Pecha Kucha style presentations of stories by sustainable housing Switchers. The second half will include a well facilitated discussion on understanding the needs and challenges of the Switchers and elaborating on possible responses (from the perspective of policy, finance, skills, networks and other ecosystem factors).
Co-creator & co-organiser
Jordan Green Building Council is co-hosting the session and our facilitator will be Jérémie Fosse (Eco Union).
Contributors & Speakers
Gabriele Diamanti (Eliodomestico)
Moussa Amara (Fondation Amidoul - Tafilelt)
Nelly Baz (HBR creative platform)
Adital Ela (Criaterra)
Gijsbert Huijink (Som Energia)
Khaled Fatnassi (SICAP)
Bouamama Fouzia (Eco Labina)
Maya Karkour (Eco-consulting)
Elias Abumohor (Applied Research Institute Jerusalem)
Raül Robert (Sostre Cívic)
Sustainable Mobility
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 10:30am-12:30pm (120min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the switchers: Sustainable mobility
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of change makers in mobility sector.
Background
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), in the European Union, mobility and transport is one of the most impactful demand areas besides housing and food. Similarly, eco and social innovative solutions are urgently required for tackling the impact and moving towards sustainable living practices.
The first half of the sessions will include Pecha Kucha style presentations of stories by sustainable mobility Switchers. The second half will include a well facilitated discussion on understanding the needs and challenges of the Switchers and elaborating on possible responses (from the perspective of policy, finance, skills, networks and other ecosystem factors).
Co-creator & co-organiser
UK Trade & Investment Barcelona is co-hosting the session and our facilitator will be Charlie Mathews (Collective Responsibility).
Contributors & Speakers
Ines Temimi ( Collectun D3E Recyclage)
Emilio Sassine (pneumatic bike for mountainous areas)
Alfredo Balmaceda (ZICLA)
Mohamed Mrani Alaoui ( Carmine)
Karim Sokhn ( CyclingCicle)
Hicham Zarrouky (Sheaply)
Lis Brusa (Koiki)
Ehab Elia (Kartag)
Uygar Özesmi (Good4Trust)
Francesc Queralt (Social Car)
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE | Day 1, 10:30am - 12:30pm (120min)
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of entrepreneurs and change makers in each sector.
Background
We are looking for change makers who provide eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean, making an impact for sustainable living.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Parallel sessions will be co-hosted by following expert organisations:
· Sustainable food (La Fundación Dieta Mediterránea & ASCAME managing the MED DIET Project - confirmed)
· Sustainable tourism (Biosphere Tourism tbc)
· Sustainable fashion (Barcelona Sustainable Fashion Association – MSBCN - confirmed)
· Sustainable housing (Jordan Green Buildings Council tbc)
· Sustainable mobility (UK TI)
TEDx and A-Factor (Aurélie Salvaire and Carlotta Cataldi) are providing support for overall moderation technique and storytelling trainings. Each session will also have a professional moderator to accompany the co-hosting organisation.
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 2pm-2:45pm (max 45 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Panel 1: Actors' role in driving innovations
Objective
· To highlight the role of various types of actors from intergovernmental agencies, national governments, business intermediaries to financing institutions enabling eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean.
· To provide a basic understanding for the afternoon sessions, which will focus on specific roles and actors that are doing projects in the region in support of eco and social innovations, green entrepreneurs and resource efficient SMEs.
Background
While entrepreneurs and change makers might have the ideas for change, they cannot drive the change alone. The framework conditions and the entrepreneurship ecosystem need to be favourable. Available infrastructure, governance and regulations, markets, innovations and the geographical location can have indirect effects. Financing, training and capacity building, culture, networks, technical support and visibility can have direct effects on take up of innovations. In the Mediterranean region, a wide range of actors are working on these factors to drive innovations.
Co-creator & co-organiser
SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Enrique de Villamore Martín, Director, SCP/RAC
Panellists:
· Policy-makers’ perspective: Naser Tahboub, Deputy Secretary General for Environment and Water, and Alessandra Sensi, Senior Programme Manager, Secretariat of the Union for Mediterranean (UfM)
· Intermediaries’ perspective : Douja Ben Mahmoud Gharbi, Vice President / Partner, CONECT / LiNXEO
· Civil Society Organisations’ perspective: Alvaro Porro González Coordinador d´Estàrter
· Financial institutions’ perspective: Daniel Sorrosal, Policy and Advocay Manager, FEBEA
Training start-ups & ecosystem building
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 3pm-5pm (120 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: Training start-ups & building eco-system of green entrepreneurs
Objective
1. To provide an overview of organisations active on capacity building for entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean
2. To identify challenges and opportunities in the provision of support and training to green entrepreneurs
The focus of the discussion will be on training programmes and technical support.
Background
A wide range of initiatives and programmes are available in the MENA region for raising capacity among entrepreneurs for them to develop and put eco and social innovations in the market. Still, synergies among these initiatives are not well identified. Programmes could benefit from each other and build on each other's experience for enhancing the impact of the initiatives in building the eco system of entrepreneurs.
Co-creator & co-organiser
SEED Initiative and SwitchMed Green Entrepreneurship Team
Contributors & Speakers
Main moderators: Giorgio Mosangini, SwitchMed Green Entrepreneurship Programme & Anais Mangin, SEED Contributing initiatives:
· Giorgio Mosangini, SwitchMed Green Entrepreneurship Programme
· Anais Mangin, SEED
· Michael Janinhoff, GIZ RIBH
· Frederic Escartin, Climate KIC
· Guadalupe García Condado, Fundación Biodiversidad
· Nadine Asmar, Mowgli Foundation
· Clara Navarro Colomer, Fundación Ship2B
Open innovation platforms: benefits, insights and working procedures
Type of session & duration
COACHING SESSION
Day 1, 3pm-5pm (120 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: Open innovation platforms in the Mediterranean
Objective
The objective of the session would be to generate interest amongst the attendees (Mediterranean companies and entrepreneurs) about the potential project of an Open Eco and Social Innovation Platform in the Mediterranean Countries. For this purpose, Quiero will introduce the main conclusions of a brief desk research about the Open Innovation Platforms approaches, benefits and insights with special focus in in the Mediterranean experiences.
Background
Quiero salvar el mundo haciendo marketing, in its role as partner of SwitchMed, suggested to launch an Open Eco and Social Innovation Platform in the Mediterranean Countries. So, Switchmed and Quiero together suggested to start the process for developing this project. For companies, Open Innovation Platforms act as accelerators of the Innovation Development processes and therefore, as growth accelerators. Open Innovation platforms help to capture the best existing talent of the world regarding a concrete theme, allowing the company involved to reduce the amount of time and investment when implementing a development innovation process. At the same time, Open Innovation Platforms allow entrepreneurs to create solutions that are needed (and therefore valued) and also to offer existing solutions to a wide market current.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Quiero salvar el mundo haciendo marketing and SwitchMed
Contributors & Speakers
Main moderator: Sandra Pina, Head of Innovation & Research and Partner of Quiero Salvar El Mundo Haciendo Marketing
Speakers:
· Helena Martínez-Alonso, Project Manager of Innovation & Research Of Quiero Salvar El Mundo Haciendo Marketing
· Patricio Guzman, Head For Europe, Socialab
· Khaoula El Behi, Ouishare Connector for Tunisia And Member of Netkite Project and Rapidmodalor
· Ursula Tischner, Owner of Econcept, Manager of the European Sustainability Maker Project and Part of the Team of Innonatives
· Tamer Taha, Founder & CEO, Yomken.com (Made in Egypt) Platform
Circular economy enablers in the Mediterranean
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE
Day 1, 3pm-5pm (120 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: Circular Economy Enablers in the Mediterranean
Objective
To provide an overview of business models and initiatives driving the Circular Economy in the North and South & To identify priority factors in the business ecosystem that all actors should be addressing.
Background
One of the main challenges in countries of the Mediterranean Basin is reaching higher levels of resource efficiency and sustainable waste management. This challenge is an opportunity for green entrepreneurs who like to apply circular economy business models. But what are the business opportunities and models exactly? For such models to flourish, business ecosystem should be favourable. But, which main factors such as infrastructure for waste collection, financing models, supporting policies should the actors be addressing in the business ecosystem? What are the issues common in the North and South and how do they differ from each other?
Co-creator & co-organiser
SwitchMed Initiative, Agència de Residus de Catalunya & Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Contributors & Speakers
Key Note Speaker:
· Sven Herrmann, Business Research Analyst, Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (Analysis on types of business models found in the North and requirements for a favourable circular economy business ecosystem)
Panellists:
· Pilar Chiva, Director of the Prevention and Fostering Recycling Area, Waste Agency of Catalonia
· Ignasi Cubiñá, Director and Partner, Ecointelligent Growth
· Nicola Cerantola, Senior Expert in Sustainable Design & Circular Economy, Ecologing
· Alfredo Balmaceda, Director, Zicla
· Javier Goyeneche, Director, ECOALF
· Ferda Ulutaş, Turkish Technology Development Foundation (TTGV) (industrial symbiosis projects in Turkey)
· Ines TEMIMI, Collectun 3D (recycling of electronic waste in Tunis)
Finally, group work to elaborate on the enabling factors for circular economy:
1. Regulatory incentives
2.Financing mechanisms
3.Partnerships within circular value chains
4.Business support schemes
5.Consumer acceptance.
Enabling social and grass-root innovations (CSOs)
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 5:15pm-6:45pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: Enabling social and grass-root innovations among civil society
Objective
Promote the role of Civil Society organizations as eco-social pioneers in terms of creating bottom up collective initiatives of new models of production, consumption and distribution as seed of new economic models by:
1.Getting to know the CSO framework towards Sustainable Consumption and Production
2.Making visible some different switcher’s experiences or initiatives
3.Discuss the role, potentialities and limitations of CSOs towards SCP
4.Networking
These goals connect to the Civil Society co-creation workshop that will be taking place during the last week of October in Barcelona, and that will take place also in the following countries in this first phase: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon.
Background
Civil Society organizations, either formal or non-formal status based, are often seen as just oriented towards raising awareness or public policy development. But they often could also fulfill a role as economic model change pioneers. There are thousands of grassroots initiatives either economic or satisfying necessities orientated taking by civil society that open new fields of building up solutions in front ecological and social crisis. They endorse some comparative advantages related to business projects given the community support of these projects, the low investment that allows them to be highly experimenting, the motivation richness of community lead initiatives, etc.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Switchmed Civil Society Team, Estarter (Igop- UAB)
Contributors & Speakers
Main moderator: Conchi Piñeiro and Andrea Calsamiglia (SwitchMed Civil Society Team)
Speakers:
· Rubén Suriñach. CRIC (Opcions magazin, Xarxa d’Economia Solidària. Catalonia-Spain)
Grassroots initiatives representing the main topics of SwitchMed project:
· Uygar Özesmi: Good 4 Trust (Turkey)
· Haddad Naoufel: Tunisie Coop (Tunisia)
· Gijsbert Huijink, Som Energia (Spain)
Financing instruments for resource efficiency and eco innovations
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 5:15pm-6:45pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: Financing instruments for resource efficiency and eco innovations
Objective
To get an insight into financing needs of green industry and green entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean countries and provide a mapping of financing instruments and asset classes available in response.
Background
Access to finance remains a challenge for scaling-up, or even launching, sustainable business models and green entrepreneurship. On one hand, a significant number of entrepreneurs have limited insight into financing opportunities, and lack skills and capacity to make sound applications for growing their businesses or internationalising their enterprises. On the other hand, investors’ understanding about sustainability priorities, resource efficiency opportunities and potentials for product and service innovations stays rather weak despite their growing interest on the topic. Therefore, facilitation of access to finance requires a good understanding of issues on both sides sand developing financing solutions and technical support to address those strengths and weaknesses.
Co-creator & co-organiser
European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA) and the SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Daniel Sorrosal, Policy and Advocacy Manager, European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA)
· Nigel Jollands, Senior Policy Manager, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change team, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
· Catherine Bellin-Schulz, technical assistant officer, Solidarité Internationale pour le Développement & l’Investissement (SIDI)
· Bruno Dunkel, Fund Manager, CoopMed - Social Economy Fund for the Mediterranean
· Ferda Ulutaş, Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV)
· Xavier Pont, Co-funder and Director General, Ship2B
· Arnaud Pinier, Smala & co
High Level Panel on Developing & implementing Policies
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 1, 5:15pm-6:45pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Meet the actors: High-Level Panel on Developing and implementing Policies for Circular Economy Practices
Objective
· To highlight circular economy opportunities in the EU and the neighbouring North African countries
· To point out planned policy interventions in Europe and in the North African countries to support those opportunities
· To explore collaboration opportunities among the EU and the neighbouring countries to support circular economy efforts.
Background
The Commission is aiming to present a new, more ambitious circular economy strategy late in 2015, to transform Europe into a more competitive resource-efficient economy, addressing a range of economic sectors, including waste. There is much to explore on the different levels from the global UN perspective, to Commission’s perspective and the EU country perspective as well as the perspective of EU neighbouring countries. How will priority areas food, housing, mobility, tourism be affected? What business models will be fostered? What are the expected implementation challenges? How can North and South Mediterranean collaborate to make circular economy a reality?
Co-creator & co-organiser
SCP/RAC
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Enrique de Villamore Martín, Director, SCP/RAC
Panelists:
· H.E. Eng. Adalah Atteereh, Chairman of Palestine Environment Quality Authority
· Mr. Mohammad Alkafawin, Senior Sustainable Consumption and Production Expert, Jordanian Ministry of Environment
· Hanan El-Hadary Chairman of the Industrial Council for Technology and Innovation, Egyptian Ministry of Industry
· Esther Pozo Vera Coordinator for European Neighbourhood Countries and Mediterranean issues, DG Environment, European Commission
· Callum Blackburn, Head of Policy and Research, Zero Waste Scotland, The Scottish Government
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE | Day 1, 10:30am - 12:30pm (120min)
Objective
To provide an overview of eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean with a focus on MENA, and to collate needs and challenges of entrepreneurs and change makers in each sector.
Background
We are looking for change makers who provide eco and social innovative solutions in the Mediterranean, making an impact for sustainable living.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Parallel sessions will be co-hosted by following expert organisations:
· Sustainable food (La Fundación Dieta Mediterránea & ASCAME managing the MED DIET Project - confirmed)
· Sustainable tourism (Biosphere Tourism tbc)
· Sustainable fashion (Barcelona Sustainable Fashion Association – MSBCN - confirmed)
· Sustainable housing (Jordan Green Buildings Council tbc)
· Sustainable mobility (UK TI)
TEDx and A-Factor (Aurélie Salvaire and Carlotta Cataldi) are providing support for overall moderation technique and storytelling trainings. Each session will also have a professional moderator to accompany the co-hosting organisation.
30th October - DAY 2: INVESTIGATE AND ACT
Type of session & duration
EXPERIENCE
Day 2, 9am-10am (max 45min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Panel 2: Scaling up innovations
Objective
To discuss how scaling up of eco and social innovations in the Mediterranean is interpreted by various actors and what leverage points they suggest to work on. The panel will provide a base for the sessions on Day 2, which will focus on various leverage points for scaling up.
Background
The second day of the SwitchMed Programme focuses on pathways of scaling up eco and social innovations. According to the World Bank definition, scaling-up means expanding, adapting and sustaining successful policies, programs and projects in different places and over time to reach a greater number of people. For the SwitchMed community, it is all about finding pathways to replicate and sustain what we are doing well. We like to explore these pathways that might look very different for different activities, for different sectors and countries.
Co-creator & co-organiser
SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Burcu Tunçer, Team Leader, SwitchMed Networking Facility
· Scaling up sustainable manufacturing: Igor Volodin, Senior Advisor, UNIDO
· Scaling up via access to finance: Adonai Herrera-Martinez, Senior Manager in Turkey, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change team, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
· Scaling up via market links and partnerships with big business: Michael Spanos, Managing Director, Global Sustain
· Scaling up via consumer pull: Bernard Outah, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO)
· Scaling up via cross-sector partnerships: Angel Versetti, Igniting Business Investments for Sustainable lifestyles (IBIS) Project Associate, World Resources Forum Secretariat
Scale up market pull: Shifting private consumer behaviour
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE
Day 2, 10:15am-12:30pm (135 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up market pull: Shifting private consumer behaviour with a focus on middle class personas
Objective
Providing an overview of barriers and motivators for responsible consumption behaviour (engagement with eco and social innovative solutions, purchase, use and disposal in environmentally friendly manner) among middle class consumers in MENA region and investigating the concrete role of business, civil society and policy in supporting consumers to make informed choices.
Background
Especially growing middle class consumers can be an important leverage point in creating demand for eco and social innovations. Therefore, it is utterly important for all key actors (policy, business, civil society) to support informed consumer choices (during purchase, use and disposal). Common barriers include price, lack of information, low awareness and knowledge and poor accessibility. The lessons learned and experience from the SWITCH-Asia Programme will be utilised in this session. See for example the video listing motivators and barriers for responsible consum.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Collective Responsibility and the SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Charlie Mathews, Director of Business Development at Collective Responsibility
· Ian Fenn, Sustainable Consumption Project Coordinator, Consumers International
· Najib Saab, Secretary General, Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED)
· Giorgio Maritan, Foro de Marcas Renombradas Españolas and ETHIIC Sustainable Lifestyles Network
· Abdullah Bdeir, Jordan Green Building Council & Green Affordable Housing Initiative
Scaling up pathways and leverage points to Sustainable Manufacturing
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE
Day 2, 10:15am-12:30pm (135 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up sustainable manufacturing: Scaling up pathways and leverage points to Sustainable Manufacturing
Objective
To elaborate on the leverage points for sustainable manufacturing in the SwitchMed target countries and to discuss focus of the scaling up study that might differ from country to country (guiding the ToR of national experts).
Background
This session is the kick off for the scaling up study of the MED TEST II activities of the SwitchMed Initiative. Scaling up vision: Take up of sustainable manufacturing practices as a norm or day-to-day practice in industries. In order to effectively scale-up, ‘leverage points’ needs to be addressed. MED TEST II has already been focusing on the leverage point of ‘service providers’. If service providers of MED TEST II manage to have their services received by more SMEs and over time, this sub-component would achieve quantitative scaling-up. In this sense, actions in response to this question can be explored: ‘How can we strengthen and diversify the service mix of the service providers?’
Co-creator & co-organiser
International scaling up expert on sustainable manufacturing and UNIDO regional coordination team in collaboration with the SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderator: Eli De Friend, CAPRESE
Speakers:
Anne Verniquet, Consultant, SOFIES
Toivo Miller, Principal Development Manager, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Dr. Joyce Miller, Chair, PREMAnet e.V.
Scale up access to finance: Towards a green impact investing network in the Mediterranean
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE & ACT
Day 2, 12:30pm-2pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up access to finance: Towards a Green Impact Investing Network in the Mediterranean
Objective
To build upon the first insights gained via the observations in the Egyptian market
To improve the SWOT analysis for the Mediterranean region
Background
Partnering with one of the International Investment Networks, the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA), which is a network of 24 European Ethical Banks and Alternative Financiers that has a strategic interest in promoting ethical finance, the SwitchMed Initiative works to identify and attract other investment networks as well as the international and national financial sectors in four pilot countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco.
Co-creator & co-organiser
European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA) and the SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
· Government perspective: Hanan El Hadary, Egyptian Ministry of Industry, Innovation Centre
· Start-up Financier perspective from Egypt
· SME Financier perspective from Egypt
· Start-up perspective from Egypt
Scale up market links: Conceptualisation of a Mediterranean Open innovation Platform
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE & ACT
Day 2, 12:30pm-2:30pm (120 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up market links: Mediterranean Open Innovation Platform
Objective
Taking in consideration the learnings of the Open Innovation Platforms session on day 1, we will co-create the first potential concepts/approaches for the SwitchMed Eco and Social Open Innovation Platform. The idea is to start a new project with SwitchMed after SwitchMed Connect, in order to explore the possibilities of an Eco & Social Open Innovation Platform for the Mediterranean Areas.
Background
After the interest created in the previous “Meet the actors” session we propose a co-creation session as the starting point for the establishment of the main ideas and concepts for the SwitchMed’s Open Eco and Social Innovation Platform.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Quiero and the SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Sandra Pina, Head of Innovation & Research and Partner & Helena Martínez-Alonso, Project Manager of Innovation & Research from the Quiero Salvar El Mundo Haciendo Marketing
Scale up market links: Leveraging the power of value chains
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE
Day 2, 3:15pm-4:45pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up Market Links: Leveraging the power of value chains
Objective
To highlight various types of engagement of big companies (corporations) with small businesses for spreading eco and social innovations as well as development of sustainable value chains. Multi-stakeholder partnership cases from the Mediterranean will demonstrate how entrepreneurs are gaining access to new markets, finance and capacity building. At the end of the session, a working group to facilitate the engagement of retailers and producers (big businesses) with eco and social innovative companies (small businesses) in the MENA region can be established.
Background
Large companies can help to scale and replicate innovative ideas of their smaller counterparts, and innovative products or business models can be conceived together. Joining forces with large companies can provide access to markets and distribution networks. Larger partners can also directly help with financing needs through loans or equipment, and renowned partners have the potential to improve credit-worthiness. Some even provide capacity building and technical support. Others provide support to community projects via their CSR programmes.
Co-creator & co-organiser
SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Moderation by Sonia Ruiz, noima
· Robert Hamwey, Malick Kane and Lorena Jaramillo, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, Division of International Trade, BioTrade Initiative, UNCTAD
· Arantxa García, Head of Sustainable Development, A&D - TUI Travel Plc
· Mohamed Salama, Co-Founder, Kutuno
· Yair Engel, Kayama, Director, Center for Sustainable Design (H&M Global Change Award - Closing the loop for fashion)
· Sheana Shechterman, Sustainability Manager, Dizengoff Centre
· Bernard Outah, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO)
Scale up business models: Collaborative economy initiatives in MENA
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE & ACT
Day 2, 3:15pm-4:45pm (90 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up business models: Investigating how to spread sustainable collaborative society initiatives and sharing economy business models in the MENA
Objective
To provide an overview of business models of collaborative society and economy in the MENA and to develop leveraging actions for scaling these up. How can SwitchMed Initaitive and Ouishare MENA Network can work together in 2016 and 2017? What needs should they respond? What actions should they take collaboratively?
Background
The vision of the Switch Med program, especially the Green Entrepreneurship and Civil Society Empowerment activities, has many synergies with the mission of OuiShare : build and nurture a collaborative society, by connecting people, organizations and ideas around fairness, openness and trust. OuiShare activities consist of building communities, producing knowledge and incubating projects around the topics of collaborative practices, as well as offering support to individuals and organizations through professional services and education. During the last year, OuiShare has been expanding in the MENA (Middle East And North Africa) region, with communities growing in Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia. Therefore, OuiShare is willing to get involved in coordinating the development of actions for sustaining and expanding the pilot activities of the SwitchMed Initiative, related to collaborative consumption business models and circular economy business models.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Ouishare MENA Network
Contributors & Speakers
Main moderator:
· Asmaa Guedira, Connector Paris & Morocco, MENA representative for OuiShare
Facilitators and Speakers:
· Nelly Baz, OuiShare Connector Lebanon
· Ahmad Sufian Bayram, ArabShare, Regional Manager MENA Techstars
· Khaoula Behi, OuiShare Connector Tunisia
· Ehab Elia, OuiShare Connector Egypt
· Albert Canigueral, OuiShare Espana
· Arnaud Pinier, Smala &Co, Connector Morocco
· Anne Cécile Ragot, Taoa
Scale up policy links: Co-create inclusive business solutions in response to policy challenges
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE & ACT
Day 2, 5pm-6:45pm (105 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale-up Policy Links: Co-creating inclusive business solutions in response to policy challenges
Objective
Our objective is to simulate links between policy goals (social and environmental needs) and market solutions (business opportunities) . MinkaDev’s approach allows to create these links by attracting and structuring inclusive business aligned to public policy goals. The simulation to be done during the SwitchMed Connect will be the base for a co-creation project in 2016. This project will be connected to the SwitchMed policy and green entrepreneurship activities. This simulation process will set the bases for opening more green, inclusive business opportunities in the Mediterranean region through Minka-dev’s marketplace.
Background
According to the MedPartnerhsip project in process of finalisation, Kerkennah island in Tunisia has many environmental challenges, ranging from over fishing, salinization of agricultural land, loss of sand from minded land to waste management. Business solutions can be explored in response to selected social-environmental needs, which represent an opportunity for both sides (sustainable social-environmental development and business) prioritised by the stakeholder interest including policy makers and local agencies.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Hosted by MinkaDev in collaboration with Plan Bleu, UNEP GRID, GWP MED, UNEP/MAP & SCP/RAC
Contributors & Speakers
· Stakeholders interested to support and attract green and inclusive business to the Mediterranean region
· Any initiative or entrepreneur willing to participate in co-creation of business opportunities in response to policy challenges or goals.
Scale up technical support: Setting up initiatives to foster ecodesign practices in the Mediterranean region
Type of session & duration
INVESTIGATE & ACT
Day 2, 5pm-6:45pm (105 min)
Action Network
Join the Community for background information and preparatory discussions: Scale up technical support: Setting up initiatives to foster ecodesign practices in the Mediterranean region
Objective
To get an overview of eco-design promoting initiatives (training programmes, projects, service providers) in the Mediterranean countries and to identify and conceptualise initiatives and tools to foster eco-design practices in the region.
Background
Eco-design is one of the key approaches for industries and entrepreneurs to implement eco innovative solutions. Promoters and trainers of eco-design approaches in the Mediterranean region are a handful but ecodesign is not yet well implemented in the area. Exchanges on training experiences, common positions on enabling policies and set up of collective actions such as spreading the business case can strengthen the eco-design community and foster such practices.
Co-creator & co-organiser
Agència de Residus de Catalunya and SwitchMed Networking Facility
Contributors & Speakers
Contributors and speakers include:
· Yolanda Morcillo Ripoll, Agència de Residus de Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain
· Christian Brodhag, Pole Éco-conception, France
· Adital Ela, S-Sense Design and Museum of Design Holon, Israel
· Ramon Farreny Gaya, Inèdit Innova, Catalonia, Spain
· Salvi Plaja Miro, Simon, Catalonia, Spain
· Jon Marín, Nutcreatives, Catalonia, Spain
7:15pm Launch of the Country Hubs by the SwitchMed Networking Facility in Patio (in case of rain in Hall)
7:30pm Closing notes
· EU Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Programme Manager, Nicola Di Pietrantonio
· Catalan Waste Agency, Director, Josep Maria Tost
· SCP/RAC, Director, Enrique de Villamore Martín
7:45pm Start of the party and opening of the Mediterranean Sustainable Food Buffet accompanied by a Mediterranean music band
8:45pmSustainable fashion catwalk in collaboration with the Sustainable Fashion Association Barcelona featuring Switchers
9:30pm Party music with DJ
11:00pm Closing of the buffet
12pm Closing of the party
The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelon (CCCB) is the perfect venue for the SwitchMed Connect 2015. The CCCB has a tradition of organizing and producing exhibitions, debates, festivals and concerts, courses and lectures, and encouraging creation using new technologies and languages. Located in the district of Raval, in the heart of the ever-transforming old city, the CCCB itself is great example of social innovation. We will meet up at the beautifully decorated Pati de les Dones courtyard, get inspired in the Mirador room looking over the surrounding rooftops and hear stories of social and eco innovations in the Hall where many leading authors, scientists and artists presented and exhibited.
For logistics information click here
Back to back to the SwitchMed Connect, we will have a set of activities in collaboration with the Catalonia Ecodesign Award, Creator Space Tour, Impact Hub Barcelona and the Cleaner Production Conference. Watch this space for more information.
Catalonia Ecodesign Award | Creator Space Tour
|
Impact Hub Barcelona |
Cleaner Production Conference |
Barcelona Sustainability Jam
The TRYP Barcelona Apolo Hotel will be hosting most of participants of SwitchMed Connect. Here, we will give more tips for conveniently priced accommodation. Watch this space for more information.
We encourage that you use public transport like the most efficient Barcelona Metro. If you need to take a taxi, we would suggest that you try a great example of the sharing economy Join Up Taxi or the ecological taxi service.
We are proud of our sustainable event management efforts and we want to inform our guests and attendees about our commitments. Please click below to learn about our actions and help us to make this a sustainable event!
The SwitchMed Connect is overbooked with more than 400 registrations. That is why we had to close the online registration. Many thanks for all your interest!
If you have any inquiries and still like to be part of the SwitchMed Connect experience, please contact us at networking.switchmed@scprac.org.