Rochelle Finlay (MSc, GAICD, Fellow of ARMS)’s Post

Yesterday we had an interesting dialogue in the Eurocities working group #Innovation & #Entrepreneurship on cities' challenges in supporting growth-oriented businesses to grow and thrive in #Europe. A survey we recently conducted made visible 3 top challenges in 22 large and medium-sized cities around Europe: 💰 Companies' access to private funding 🧠 Skills gap and talent recruitment 🏙️ Opening up cities for testing, piloting and procurement Not very surprising results for those working on the issues on local level, but making the challenges visible will help us tackle them. Europe is lagging behind in scaling up, compared to Asia and the US. One key question we discussed was which growth-oriented companies cities should support: all, or the impact businesses, whose purpose is to create a positive impact on society and environment? We heard several examples of how European cities create change and push for sustainable growth by aligning with the #SDGs. Among others, Amélie Dupraz-Canard showcased how Grenoble 🇫🇷 sets sustainability criteria for its funding support to companies, and City of Leeds 🇬🇧 shared how their Inclusive Growth Strategy focuses on a selection of clusters. In Espoon kaupunki - Esbo stad - City of Espoo, 95 % of the startups which received private or national public funding last year were impact startups. As chairs of the working group, we in #InnovationEspoo next look forward to diving deeper into the challenges in cities and finding the most impactful mechanisms to support sustainable growth. More to come! Heli Hidén Siiri Keränen Harri Paananen Yesenia Otamendi María Jesús del Blanco Chiara V. Eleonora Orso Teo Bierens Karen Murgatroyd Gilda Smith-Leigh CMgr MCMI Helena Kyrki Mervi Heinaro Business Espoo #iCapitalAwards

Brilliant to see Bristol City Office (Bristol One City) featured in this article on City innovation. Bristol’s One City Plan for 2050 shows an “innovative style of city governance” and “radical collaboration” with a “common vision and set of goals that are owned by a city-wide coalition of partners, not just the council.” The One City Plan has been co-created by a wide coalition of partners from the public, private and VCSE sectors across Bristol to address the opportunities and challenges that will make the city sustainable and healthy where everyone can share in its success. It's boards shape the plan and utilising the expertise, leadership and influence of its members drive step change against its goals. This is helping to scale up collaboration and innovation in a whole range of areas including: - Addressing Serious Youth Violence - Closing the gender, race and disability paygaps - Incorporating race equality into housing - Pathways to move on from Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence - Improving school attendance - Improving safety on public transport - Creating career pathways for under-represented young people - Creating a Just Transition Declaration - Creating a climate contract - Building resilience within the VCSE sector On the 8th November One City will host a City Gathering to bring together over 200 organisations accross the city to find out more about these initiatives and the opportunity to join in efforts to deliver the One City Plan. Email [email protected] to join its mailing list. https://lnkd.in/erR5wqHu

📰 NEW ARTICLE 🏙️ Cities are at the heart of innovation and ideal places to scale great ideas. Now, across the UK they are on a mission to reinvent themselves. In this article from the third issue of the Connected Places Magazine, Sarah Wray asks why fostering an innovation economy presents huge opportunities for cities to set a path to sustainable prosperity. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCf-pA3b #Cities #Innovation #InnovationEconomy

You’ve probably heard The Pearl called "Charlotte's innovation district," but what does that really mean? 🤔 Innovation district are more than just buzzwords—they’re dynamic ecosystems where creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge ideas converge. The Global Institute on Innovation Districts has put together a fantastic overview that delves into why these districts are not just important, but essential in today’s fast-paced world. Discover what sets innovation districts apart and why they matter now more than ever.

🎉 Celebrating Progress – Manchester MOU One Year On! Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, reaffirmed our joint commitment with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to enhance the region’s innovation ecosystem. As we celebrate our achievements one year on since signing this landmark MOU, local innovation leaders have learned about our collaborative efforts: piloting new initiatives, boosting SME engagement with Innovate UK support, convening roundtables to strengthen the region’s talent and investment pipeline, and enhancing research and innovation clusters in Greater Manchester. This strong innovation partnership is founded on purpose and a long-term ambition for a better society — and it is delivering. In the last year, this has included: 🚀 Investing £33m through the Innovation Accelerator, supporting 10 ambitious projects in Greater Manchester, driving job creation and economic growth. 🚀 Allocating over £20m in additional Innovate UK funding into the region’s clusters - Clean Growth, Digital and AI, Advanced Materials, and Health and Life Sciences. 💼 Supporting over 500 companies with the Innovate UK Business Growth team, seamlessly integrating with Greater Manchester's The Growth Company, to assist local SMEs. But our efforts don’t stop here. Indro has announced: 💡 Investing £2.5m through the Further Education Innovation Fund (FEIF) into Greater Manchester, aiding its 9 colleges to support regional businesses in adopting innovation. 🔍 Recognition of Greater Manchester advanced material capabilities and commitment to review infrastructure to support. 🌐 Enhancing access to Innovate UK Products and Services via the No Limits digital platform to bring more people to innovation opportunities. Also, Innovate UK KTN is now renamed to Innovate UK Business Connect, and Innovate UK EDGE transforms into Innovate UK Business Growth, making it easier to find who to talk to. Innovate UK and GMCA, collaborating with Innovation Greater Manchester, are making a substantial impact in the Manchester City Region. Learn more about the FIEF announcement: https://ow.ly/PUae50QFA4c Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP) | Marketing Manchester #BusinessInnovation #Innovation #Regional #LevellingUp #GreaterManchester

Tomorrow, Ocean Born Impact CEO Martin Schwab will be speaking at South Summit Madrid, a global leader in entrepreneurship acceleration and a valuable network for innovation and business between corporations, startups, entrepreneurs, investors and institutions around the world. The panel, titled "Ctrl+Alt+Defeat Climate Change: Harnessing Interconnected Systems", will be shared with Nick de la Forge, Founder and Managing Partner of Planet A Ventures, and Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy, and moderated by Isabela Alcázar PhD, Chief Sustainability Officer at IE University. The conversation will underscore the value of an extensive, cooperative network of greentech entrepreneurs in shaping a sustainable future and how the best innovations can be scaled up. As climate tech becomes increasingly crucial in tackling climate change, the seamless integration of these technologies will be vital for their effective application to the current crisis. If you are attending tomorrow, please reach out to Martin to connect! Details of the event here: https://lnkd.in/eC_ZiJez #ImpactInvesting #ClimateFinance #ClimateFunding #ClimateChange #Innovation #Technology #Sustainability #Entrepreneurship #GreenTech

From Manchester’s industrial heritage to the scenic vibrancy of Adelaide, WE Group spans the globe🌍 , connecting diverse perspectives and opportunities. Adelaide, located on Australia’s stunning southern coastline, is not only a city of progressive ideas and research excellence but also home to our CMO, Jessica Jackson. As part of our global presence, Adelaide perfectly aligns with WE Group’s vision of creating impact through innovation and collaboration. Let’s explore what makes this city such an integral part of our story. Adelaide – A City of Innovation, Sustainability, and Leadership Adelaide is a city where cutting-edge ideas meet quality of life. Known as the “20-minute city” for its seamless accessibility, Adelaide offers the perfect blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. From its stunning beaches and rolling hills to its dynamic arts and festival scene, Adelaide is more than just a city—it’s a lifestyle. But beyond its picturesque setting, Adelaide is a hub of innovation and research excellence. Home to globally recognized institutions like: 🎓the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, the city is shaping advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy. ⚙️The Lot Fourteen innovation precinct stands as a testament to Adelaide’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and technological growth, with startups and established companies alike thriving here. For WE Group, Adelaide is not just another location—it’s the home of our CMO, Jess Jackson. Jess completed her PhD at University of South Australia, which helped shape her deep expertise in life sciences and strategic communications. Her academic achievements and leadership reflect the incredible talent and innovation Adelaide nurtures. Drawing on the city’s progressive spirit, Jess leads WE Group’s communication strategies with a commitment to global impact and meaningful change. Whether it’s through partnerships with local innovators or expanding into the Asia-Pacific market, Adelaide is a cornerstone of WE Group’s mission to create meaningful global impact. 🤔 What do you think makes Adelaide such a standout city? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️ #Adelaide #InnovationCity #Sustainability #GlobalImpact #WEGroup #UniversityOfAdelaide #FlindersUniversity #UniSA #LotFourteen #Innovation #Technology #Futurism #Entrepreneurship #LifeSciences

🤝 #Glasgow and #Edinburgh are making strides as innovation powerhouses! A recent UK government report has highlighted these cities as prime examples of innovation clusters with exceptional cross-county collaboration 👇 Discover more https://lnkd.in/ePQAp7rD #InnovationClusters #GlasgowEdinburgh #UKGovernmentReport #ResearchAndDevelopment #CollaborativeInnovation

📋 Get Insights: Join industry leaders for discussions. See Agenda! 🌍 Lombardy's #Innovation: 9 Tech Clusters lead #Italy's growth. 🎯 Who Should Attend: #EU Cluster reps, authorities, #investors, #innovators - drive the change! 🚀Details: https://lnkd.in/dbvPxP68 #Scaleup #Investment #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #TechTrends #Technology #Leadership #Growth #Success #Management #Enterprise #Funding #StartupSuccess #BusinessGrowth #OpenScience #OpenAccess #Business #Startup #Startups #Entrepreneur #SME #Tech #EU #Europe #AngelInvestor #Venture #Businessman #VentureCapitalists #Crowdfunding #RAISE #InnovationCulture #FutureOfBusiness #DisruptiveTech #DigitalTransformation #SmallBiz #FounderLife #InnovationEcosystem #AngelInvesting #SeedFunding #TechStartup #BusinessStrategy #VCInvesting #StartupLife #TechInnovation #FundingRound #CorporateVenture #BusinessLeadership #StartupCulture #ScaleUpNation #EntrepreneurialMindset #InvestmentOpportunity #StartupCommunity #TechSavvy #EmergingTech #BusinessDevelopment #FounderJourney #InvestorNetwork #BusinessMentorship #StartupEcosystem #TechInvestor #ScaleUpStrategy #EntrepreneurialSpirit #InnovationHub #StartupIncubator #VCCommunity #InvestmentPortfolio #StartupAccelerator #DigitalEntrepreneur #VentureFunding #SeedCapital #GrowthMindset #TechEntrepreneur #StartupNation #InnovationStrategy #AngelNetwork #VentureCapitalFirm #TechInnovationHub #BusinessNetworking #StartupAdvice #USA #InvestmentCapital #AngelInvestment #StartUpVenture #TechInvestment #BusinessIncubator #InvestorRelations #BusinessInsights EBAN - European Business Angel Network EURADA - European Association of Development Agencies SERN - Startup Europe Regions Network International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA) FUNDECYT-PCTEX

🗓 [#JoinUs] What do entrepreneurship, technology and innovation mean to you? To us, it means much more than smart solutions and success. It means: 🎯Responsible collaboration with public organisations for a sustainable future. 🎯Open innovation and co-creation. 🎯Serving people, society and the planet in line with UN SDGs and ESG principles 🎯Creating an ecosystem with the right combination of resources The above is taken from the Magna Carta of Start for Future, an alliance of innovation incubators, academia, and organisations with which we are actively involved. We are just two days away from Start for Future Summit: The Athens Nexus, hosted by Athens Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation | AUEB, and we are proud to announce that our COO, Panos Mitsios will be discussing among esteemed panellists the following 🔥 hot topic: "Igniting the Innovation Ecosystem in Europe " Fellow panellists are: 💠 Lynne Cadenhead – Professor, Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence Edinburgh Napier University, Chair Women’s Enterprise Scotland 💠 Prof. Klaus Sailer – HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences and managing director of Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship 💠 Dr. Martin Vendel – Academy Director of ΕΙΤ Urban Mobility The panel is moderated by Tom Nugent, Newsletter Editor at Sifted Would you like to attend? 🌐 Find out more: www.atheniannexus.eu #InnovateTogether #AthenianNexus #SFFSummit2024 #Tekmon #nocode #techstartup