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ECOSTAR Natural Talents: training and support initiative

In Economy and Nature on 30.05.2017
Contributed by Krista Patrick

An exciting training and support initiative for young professionals and students has been set up to improve entrepreneurship and innovation skills tailored to the marketing and economics of ecosystems and biodiversity.

ECOSTAR is the research-enterprise impact hub and accelerator which promotes entrepreneurship and innovation for nature-based businesses.

This exciting initiative is promoted by a university-enterprise partnership between European and US-based institutions, and it is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, and other private investors.

ECOSTAR has two key activities:

  • It is an Impact Hub which promotes the start-up and acceleration of new business initiatives with a positive impact on environment and society and provides an excellent opportunity for existing start-ups.
  • It is also a Research-Business alliance that links universities and companies, providing networking and market-oriented training. It focuses on business models that make profit by marketing, promoting and enhancing biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

In the UK, Ricardo Energy and Environment and the University of Manchester are promoting ECOSTAR. 

As part of this, they are holding a launch event on 15th June 2017 at the University of Manchester, which will include the following sessions:

  • An introduction to the ECOSTAR project Dr Kieran Conlan, founder Cascade Consulting (recently acquired by Ricardo Energy & Environment)
  • A live stream from Rome of the first Market Outlooks in Europe for water, carbon and biodiversity from US based Ecosystem Marketplace
  • An overview of natural capital initiatives being undertaken in Greater Manchester Krista Patrick, Natural Capital Coordinator at GMCA
  • A profile of Discover the Wild and an exploration of the hidden wildlife of the city founder of Discover the Wild David Winnard
  • An introduction to the Smithill Estate Enterprise Hub
  • Keeping it lean – supporting student enterprise and innovation at the University of Manchester: Dr Martin Henery, Enterprise Academic / Lecturer, Manchester Enterprise Centre at the University of Manchester

The event is aimed at students, start-up founders and natural capital professionals and will provide a great networking opportunity for those with an interest in nature based business. 

Places are free but limited, so please register soon. You can book here and find out more on the ECOSTAR website.

Main image by Flickr user Joshua Poh.