Business Models for Sustainable Industrial Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
Research and practice on business model innovations to support industrial sustainability is developing rapidly. However the long-run implications of such innovations are poorly understood and unquantified. There is limited understanding of the behavioural characteristics of manufacturers and consumers needed to support successful innovation for sustainability. Consequently, the sustainability benefits of business model innovations often fall far short of expectations and can be counter-productive. This proposal seeks to advance the study of industrial sustainability by extending the application of agent-based modeling techniques to explore system-level implications of sustainable business models. The research will build an understanding of the impact of business models on the industrial system. It will identify key leverage points which will support industrialists and policymakers in facilitating greater triple-bottom-line sustainability. The project will produce guides for manufacturers and researchers to enable investigation and experimentation with alternative sustainable business model innovations.
Planned Impact
The project will contribute to the research areas of industrial sustainability and business models, and deliver the groundwork and a research framework for future academics and industry to build upon. This will strongly complement other EPSRC research centre themes around sustainability, engineering and manufacturing by providing an over-arching framework within which to explore sustainability innovations. The proposed technique of agent-based modeling of sustainable business models will provide a much-needed test-bed to explore the efficacy and long-run implications of new industrial configurations, identify opportunities for intervention to enhance sustainability outcomes, and better anticipate and address potential negative side-effects and the various forms of potential policy resistance. This will be significant for policymakers and industrialists seeking to meet the pressing need for transition to more sustainable and resilient industrial systems to respond to growing economic, environmental, and social challenges. This will have impact at the individual firm level and also at the national level by providing guidance on where to transform behaviour accordingly through appropriate policy intervention and leveraging new business models, investment and technology. Taking a world-lead in this field and stimulating early exploration and adoption of innovative new business model configurations will enhance the UK's industrial position as sustainability increasingly becomes a dominant driver of business resilience and competitive advantage. This will have impact for firms, investors, employees and stimulate overall national economic activity. By assisting in better aligning firms activities with broader system-level needs, it will also have significant positive impact on environmental, energy and resource issues, and contribute towards delivering the broader long-term well-being of society.
Publications
Evans S
(2017)
Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models
in Business Strategy and the Environment
Geissdoerfer M
(2018)
Business models and supply chains for the circular economy
Geissdoerfer M
(2020)
Circular business models: A review
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Geissdoerfer M
(2016)
Design thinking to enhance the sustainable business modelling process - A workshop based on a value mapping process
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Geissdoerfer M
(2018)
Sustainable business model innovation: A review
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Geissdoerfer M
(2018)
Sustainable business model innovation: A review
Geissdoerfer M
(2020)
Circular business models: a review
Geissdoerfer M
(2018)
Business models and supply chains for the circular economy
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Koenigsmarck M
(2023)
Shifting the Focus to Measurement: A Review of Socially Responsible Investing and Sustainability Indicators
in Sustainability
Koenigsmarck M
(2021)
Mapping socially responsible investing: A bibliometric and citation network analysis
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Lehmann, M.
(2015)
Incorportating Design Thinking into Sustainable Business Modelling
Liu P
(2019)
Wind turbine blade end-of-life options: An eco-audit comparison
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Rana, P
(2014)
Why Innovate Business Models for Sustainability
Title | Woodpeckers, After All |
Description | Dr Curie Park published an essay book 'Woodpeckers, after all' for Korean readers on 1st Aug. Having been inspired by woodpecker spotting in the last three places she called home i.e. Gangneung, her first marital home; Cambridge, her current UK home; and Seoul, her latest marital home in Korea, the woodpecker symbolises a thriving lifestyle that benefits neighbours with wit and style. In this tiny book she introduces her daily stride towards sustainable life beyond her bread and butter, sustainability research. The 24 hilarious, touching or outrageous stories include; refusing single-use plastics, going flexiterian, planting a tree at a secret location near IfM, second-hand clothes hunting and having a child in the 21st Century and beyond. Although the Korean text would be inexplicable for most of the IfMers, it didn't stop many of them appearing in the book. The dark night quest for hedgehogs to Steve's garden with Steve and Ian, the lunchtime hyenas after the leftover sandwiches in the common room, the communal recycling shelf at Martin and Paulo's rented house, the teatime birding club with Aloisius, to Florian's secondhand sewing machine and the Kimchi making session with Paulo and Kirsten are only to name a few! Fingers crossed the English version may one day see the light of day. |
Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Dr Park hopes this book would approach the Korean readers in a friendly manner, and encourage them to engage with easy and enjoyable sustainable actions in their everyday life. |
Description | The research insights have been developed into a set of tools that can be configured to assist businesses, organisations and policy makers to investigate, analyse and develop current and new business models in order to create and capture new value. This is now called The Cambridge Method for Value Generation |
Exploitation Route | Findings can be taken forward through a dedicated website, licensing through Cambridge Enterprise and a spin-out company |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Education Government Democracy and Justice Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Retail |
URL | https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/industrial-sustainability/industrial-sustainability/overview/ |
Description | We are actively disseminating our research outputs through workshops, training courses, participation at conferences, symposiums, and other events, our own annual conference, website, through the trade press and media, and open events. Our research has developed new value constructs that are helping companies like Nike, Riversimple and Marks and Spencer to explore new business models. `The research insights have been developed into a set of tools that can be configured to assist businesses, organisations and policy makers to investigate, analyse and develop current and new business models in order to create and capture new value. The tools have been used by over 200 companies and organisations (90 in 2016 alone) and proven to drive effective improvements in various dimensions of operation - cost avoidance, improved growth, new product and service development, strengthened relations with key stakeholders to name but 4. Beneficiaries: Engagements with over 120 businesses. Some examples include: Kingspan - Insulation Manufacturer Croda - Chemical Manufacturer Veolia - Waste Recycling company Linde - Major Gas producer (was BOC) M&S - International retailer with manufacturing supply chains Altro - Industrial Flooring and walling manufacturer iema - membership professional institute Bangladesh Government, Atos, Ethical Apparel Africa, Subsea 7. Outcomes: Most companies will not allow their names to be associated with Business Model development activities as the outcomes can be strategically sensitive. Below are some examples of recent outcomes. • Riversimple LLC : Disruptive transport SME obtained £15M in 4 round investor funding after revising business model and value proposition to funding community. • Mid Cap PVC goods manufacturer: Avoided potentially high risk investment in new product line (£1M) and purchased rival manufacturer with better business model and market position • International Chemical Company & SME with disruptive technology - devised new basis for licensing agreement - enable implementation of new technology 3 times faster than had been anticipated with associated cost benefits and market growth. • Multinational Corporation Division: Enhance the value proposition and business model for a new product line and obtained 3x investment enabling faster market penetration • Service SME: Transformed the business model and value propositions of each part of their services portfolio gained support for associated business transformation from Staff, Customers & Board. Turned around the decline in customer acquisition returned to growth within 6 months. • UK Retailer: Created program to identify suitable new disruptive businesses to enable transformation ahead of market. Built new businesses with advanced business models - transforming elements of the business from product to service and established business cases to evaluate in line with existing decision parameters. • Worked with a UK Retailer to help them devise new ways to identify the critical needs of communities surrounding each of their 500+ stores, enabling them to build tailored local solutions drawing on the connectedness and loyalty. This shift in business model was further enhanced during the pandemic to provide key support to local communities in ways that could not have been achieved otherwise. • Used value tools to assist the Welsh Government in evaluating benefits of developing a policy and incentives to create an accredited Welsh brand mark for use with major UK retailers. The evaluation program demonstrated that this would not be an effective approach so the policy was not developed. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Education,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail,Transport |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Member of BEIS Supply Chain External Expert group |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Adding Net Zero knowledge into BEIS policy making for Supply Chain improvement |
Description | Member of UKRI Manufacturing Made Smarter Advisory Group |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Revised the strategy for Manufacturing Made Smarter to include environmental goals for the first time. |
Description | EPSRC Cranfield Digital Re-distributed Manufacturing Studio |
Amount | £24,928 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 02/2017 |
Description | EPSRC IAA KTF |
Amount | £47,018 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | EPSRC IAA Post Doc Placement |
Amount | £9,914 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2018 |
End | 03/2019 |
Description | H2020-IND-CE-2016-17/H2020-SPIRE-2017 |
Amount | € 1,049,481 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 768748 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | H2020-WIDESPREAD-2016-2017/H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017- Twinning |
Amount | € 996,390 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 810764 |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | H2020-WIDESPREAD-2016-2017/H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017- Twinning |
Amount | £996,390 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Ares(2018)2659874 - 23/05/2018 |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | IUK December sector competition: Open |
Amount | £572,566 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 104387 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2018 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | RESENG GCRF QR |
Amount | £14,789 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2019 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Textiles: Circular Bioeconomy for Textile Materials |
Amount | £4,436,877 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V011766/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | University of Cambridge Impact Acceleration Account - Cambridge Method for Value Generation Tools Website |
Amount | £6,996 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Title | Better Models in Business Models - BM² |
Description | The BM² tool is being developed to help companies identify opportunities for disruption and innovation of their business models which will lead to more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable businesses. In a 3-year project funded by the EPSRC, we are developing a computer-based tool to help companies identify and visualise opportunities for business model innovations that result in creating and capturing more value in the wider system of the firm. The purpose of the tool is to identify key leverage points for intervention in the system, and reduce the uncertainty and risk of changing a firm's business model. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | It is anticipated this tool will be tested in industry during 2016 and impacts will be reported then. |
Title | Cambridge method for value generation |
Description | Cambridge method for value generation |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The tools comprising the method have been used in over 200 organisations |
URL | http://www.cambridgevaluegeneration.com |
Description | 'Sustainable value creation in manufacturing: Understanding the contribution of maintenance function' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 'Sustainable value creation in manufacturing: Understanding the contribution of maintenance function', with Dr Maria Holgado, University of Cambridge Abstract: Due to the increasing demands for integrating sustainability within business, manufacturing firms are paying more attention to improve their performance in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. Several authors have hinted the importance of maintenance to achieve more sustainable performance but no comprehensive empirical study has been done yet. This research contributes to the understanding on how maintenance can support the achievement of more sustainable performance in manufacturing industry. During the webinar attendees asked questions about the research presented to further understand the implications and potential for collaboration. All webinars resulted in requests for further information from the attendees and helpful discussions about the research presented and how it can be applied in industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.industrialsustainability.org/publications-videos/webinars/ |
Description | 2015 All Stakehoders Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Over 70 people including Centre staff, members, and collaborators attended the Centre's annual All Stakeholders Day on 4 June in London. During the morning Centre researchers presented on the progress and outputs of ongoing projects to staff and members. This was followed by a PhD poster session which provided an opportunity for Centre members to discuss current research one-on-one with the students. In the afternoon Centre collaborators joined the group for a workshop on identifying key research challenges to 2015. Participants were separated into groups each of which was tasked with identifying and outlining a key research problem. Lively group discussions were followed by fascinating presentations by each of the groups. This exercise was expanded at the Centre's annual conference exhibition in the 'Identifying Key Research Challenges for Making industry sustainable to 2030' booth. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Adaptive Planning Policy and Practice -The opportunities provided by big data and dynamic simulation models using the case study of knowledge base firms in Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | A talk at Tartu College, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Annual Review |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Centre's Annual Review is published online and in print every Aug-Sept with a summary of research outputs and activities for the year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |
Description | BMI and Adaptive planning and Cambridge Industries- a LISA lab workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Key speaker and evaluation by Prof. Kotval. 6 talks of undergoing projects at LISA lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Building Future Leaders - CIS Annual Cohort Retreat January 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Through the Cohort Development Programme the Centre is meeting its goal to increase the capacity for change, by developing researchers who not only have deep technical skills derived from their research, but a broader understanding of business and sustainability. This understanding cannot be built solely from textbooks, papers and laboratories, but is strengthened and deepened by engaging with practice, exchanging with peers and broadening horizons of experience. In order to support these needs the Centre developed the cohort programme, bringing together students of manufacturing, design and industry with a common interest in sustainability. The cohort development programme is there to support research students from across Centre institutions and from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (DTC) in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, but we have welcomed members from across the UK and the international research community. Over the last 5 years, the programme has provided a range of opportunities for researchers to gather and engage in activities to improve their research practice, build networks and expand personal horizons. Events have ranged from research practice - helping understand the tool building process - to communication skills, practicing how to communicate research ideas succinctly to industry. The community has also exploited social media such as Facebook to maintain contact between events and share the latest news and conferences. The cornerstone of the programme is an annual retreat which brings students, researchers, senior academics together to develop shared understanding, and personal vision for their role in the future of manufacturing. In 2016 62 attendees were drawn from 11 UK institutions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Business Modelling Workshop for FlexMan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Business Modelling Workshop was conducted at CPI, Sedgefield. The Centre's Value Mapping tool for Business Modelling was used in a workshop with CPI and NiTech. This helped identify the value opportunities for those participants in the larger project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | C Park: Member of the Green Impact Team, IfM, University of Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | We have now established a Green Impact team here at the IFM. Green Impact supports and encourages departments and colleges across the University in reducing their environmental impacts. The first meeting was held on 19 November which was attended by Peter Lumb from the Environment and Energy team, who briefed us on the Universities accreditation scheme. The IfM Team is a mixture of staff and students willing to take on the challenge of making a difference. With the guidance of a workbook we will be working towards the Bronze award for the building. Please look out for posters and notices around the building explaining what we are hoping to achieve and contact any of the Team for help or to bring ideas forward. Plus look out for the Green Impact buns talk early in the New Year. The team is Becca Clarke, Anna Quincey, James Wood, Rebecca Fowler (DIAL), Shane Strawson (Teaching office), Andy Nightingale(Facilities manager) and Curie Park (Sustainability). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | CIS Annual Conference presentation by K Zhang |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation of the results from Engineering Dept MET long project on the transformation towards continuous manufacturing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | CISL Sustainability Leadership Lab on Business Model Innovation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | CISL Sustainability Leadership Lab on Business Model Innovation: Prof Steve Evans and Dr Doroteya Vladimirova of the Centre for Industrial Sustainabilityin collaboration with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership ran the third annual Lab on Business Model Innovation, featuring a keynote speech from Ryan Gellert, General Manager EMEA at Patagonia. Delegates could join the Lab as a standalone course or as credit towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/graduate-study/sustainability-leadership-labs/business-model-innovation-s... |
Description | Cambridge Research on dynamic simulation models and Adaptive Planning |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Agreement between Cambridge-Berkley-National University of Singapore. 12-13 April, Singapore |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Case Study: Growing businesses sustainably with PrISMS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Case Study of Centre supported research with SMEs in the Eastern region through the PrISMS programme. Support was offered to start-ups in such areas as identifying key areas of focus and evaluating promising. This case study has been used to highlight Centre involvement with industry and has been made available as a hand out at events as well as on the Centre website which has resulted in requests for information about other businesses can get involved with Centre research. A group of BIAC staff will be brought up to the highest level of competence so that skills and knowledge are transferred and BIAC become capable of systematically innovating to deliver new levels of economic, environmental and social performance. By 2016 BIAC will have increased economic value from waste and by 2020 BIAC will have zero waste to landfill. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Centre Researchers Contribute to National Academic Debate on Business Model Innovation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Institute for Manufacturing in Cambridge hosted a national academic workshop on "Business Model Innovation" on the 8th December 2014. The purpose of the event was to gather leading UK academics who are currently investigating the subject of business model innovation to discuss the challenges to businesses and the future of the academic field. Dr Doroteya Vladimirova gave a talk on the Centre's work in the field of business model innovation for sustainability and sustainable value creation. The event was also attended by Centre's PhD researchers Sudhir Rama Murthy, Kirsten van Fossen and Na Jiao. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Centre Workshop with Central Research Laboratory (CRL) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Commercial Director Ian Bamford and Dr Maria Holgado led a workshop at the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) using the using value mapping and SVAT tools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Centre Workshops with Altro Ltd |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Dr Doroteya Vladimirova with colleagues Dr Dai Morgan, Dr Maria Holgado and PhD researcher Sudhir Rama Murthy led 2-day workshops with Altro's top management team on the company site in Letchworth. This engagement brought the Centre's work on sustainable business models into a collaborative enquiry about future business opportunities for Altro. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Centre Workshops with Heraeus Noblelight UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Heraeus Noblelight UK top management worked with Dr Doroteya Vladimirova and Dr Maria Holgado to investigate new business models in high-tech industries using the Centre sustainable business model tools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Centre Workshops with Innovate UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The winners of the Innovate UK Circular Economy: Business Models funding competition for feasibility studies were introduced to the Centre's sustainable business model tools by Prof Steve Evans and Dr Doroteya Vladimirova at the IUK awarded projects kick-off workshop in Swindon. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Centre exhibition stand at Resource 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The Centre for Industrial Sustainability and industrial partner Altro shared a stand at the Resource/Ecobuild event in early March. Resource is a 3 day event in conjunction with EcoBuild where professionals share learning and explore opportunities to be circular and resource efficient. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Centre participation at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Steve Evans and Lloyd Fernando attended the Sustainable Apparel Coalition meeting held in Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The event included brands, retailers, manufacturers, government, NGOs, and academic experts, representing more than a third of the global apparel and footwear market. Discussions focused on the industry's 2020 vision. On the third day Prof Steve Evans presented the Centre's Sustainable Business Tools to the member companies of SAC and later to the Nike team. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | EEF's Climate, Energy & Environment Policy Committee Away Day at the IfM |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | On June 4 the Centre for Industrial Sustainability hosted EEF's Climate, Energy & Environment Policy Committee at the IfM, University of Cambridge for their annual away day. In a full-day event, the Committee members had the opportunity to meet PhD researchers and to understand how the Centre works. Prof Steve Evans, Dr Doroteya Vladimirova, Miying Yang and Dr Melanie Despeisse gave the attendees an overview of the current research and the tools developed on sustainable business models and eco-efficiency. Doctoral researchers presented their research during a poster showroom over lunch. The event finished with a debate on the challenges and lessons of measurement sustainability |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Exchanging Experiences from 2 Research Projects: GenMob (CEG-IGOT, University of Lisbon) in Portugal and BMI-ABM and /Metrocare (LISA-DLE, University of Cambridge) in the UK and in the roundtable meeting with Cambridge Research Division |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | It took place on 9th January 2017, at the Robison College University of Cambridge. IGOT-CEG/DG, UL, Portugal and LISAlab-DLE, UC, UK. a LISA lab workshop: progress review of undergoing work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Finding sustainable value with low income entrepreneurs in Brazil |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | In early September, Centre Director Steve Evans and doctoral researcher Paulo Savaget worked with FA.VELA, a non-profit organistaion in Brazil, on their project RESILIENTE. FA.VELA develops skills and capabilities of residents of low-income communities to enhance their opportunities for personal and professional growth. The project RESILIENTE accelerates both existing and new sustainable businesses from low-income entrepreneurs to enhance the urban resilience and restoration of the Pampulha Lake Basin in the municipalities of Belo Horizonte and Contagem (state of Minas Gerais). Due to the large number of industries and favelas in the basin, the project emphasises collaboration to the development of innovative solutions and frameworks for sustainable business models. Steve and Paulo helped the project by designing and defining its scope, strategies and next phases; providing feedback about the materials and methodologies that will be used in the acceleration process; meeting with the sponsors, namely the Newton Fund from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and, together with a professor from Newcastle University (José Esteban Castro) and members of FA.VELA, they conducted the kick-off workshops. These workshops consisted of a seminar for a broader audience and 2 days of intensive work exclusively with low-income entrepreneurs to design their businesses and to find new opportunities for sustainable value. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | FlexMan Press Release by NiTech |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | NiTech Press Release Titled: NITECH WINS MAJOR >£1m INDUSTRY-LED PROJECT Press Release dated: Feb 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.nitechsolutions.co.uk/nitech-wins-major-1m-industry-led-project/ |
Description | FlexMan Press Release from CPI |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Press release Titled: CPI in UK collaboration to develop world class surfactant manufacturing techniques Dated: 16 Dec 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.uk-cpi.com/news/collaboration-to-develop-new-surfactant-manufacturing-techniques/ |
Description | Flexman launch in IfM Newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Doroteya Vladimirova and Sudhir Rama Murthy launched a new two-year project for CIS, in collaboration with Croda, the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and NiTech Solutions. The CIS team will investigate new business models for the adoption of NiTech's continuous oscillating baffle reactor (COBR) technology, and the shift from batch to continuous manufacturing in the process industry. The project is part-funded by Innovate UK and EPSRC in the 'Flexible Manufacturing' competition. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | High Value Business Models Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at the IfM, featured the High-Value Business Tools developed at the University of Cambridge. With innovative social start-ups as case studies, the symposium brought together change makers from industry and academia to first explore new business opportunities in the start-ups and then and apply new lenses to tackle challenges faced by each start-up. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | High-Value Business Model Innovation Process Workshop and Expert Discussion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This is a workshop and expert discussion at the Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge on the High-Value Business Model Innovation Process. Participants are introduced to a comprehensive framework for business model innovation based on 7 years of Cambridge research and our experience of real life industry challenges. Participants have the opportunity to benefit from and help shape the future of this ongoing research at the IfM, University of Cambridge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | High-Value Business Tools at CISL Course |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Dr Doroteya Vladimirova, Prof Steve Evans and Ian Bamford from the Centre for Industrial Sustainability led a second Sustainability Leadership Laboratory (Lab) in collaboration with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). The Lab entitled 'Transforming Business to Deliver Sustainable Value' was held on 26-27 May 2016 at Madingley Hall, Cambridge. The intensive two-day course provided delegates with the tools to identify opportunities for value creation in their business, and the ability to design and develop a comprehensive action plan to implement sustainable change. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/graduate-study/sustainability-leadership-laboratories/Pdfs/previous-sustai... |
Description | Industrial Sustainability at RESOURCE15 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Centre for Industrial Sustainability participated in the Resource15 conference at Excel in early March. Resource is a 3 day event where 11,000 professionals share learning and explore opportunities to be circular and resource efficient. As well as managing a busy stand CIS also gave two workshops during the conference each year. In 2015 the workshops were: 'New Tools for Sustainable Businesses' led by Dr Doroteya Vladimirova, Dr Maria Holdago, and Miying Yang and 'Circularity Thinking: Ways to Navigate the Circular Economy' with Centre PhDs Fenna Blomsma from Cranfield and Geraldine Brennan from Imperial College London and assisted by Dr Dai Morgan. In addition, Professor Shahin Rahimifard participated in a panel discussion on the future of supply chains in manufacturing alongside the Ellen McArthur foundation representative Sven Herrmann and other industry partners. In 2016, the Centre gave a workshop on Sustainable Businesses Tools again and a workshop on maturity practices. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | Interview with Prof Steve Evans, Director of Research at the Centre for Industrial Sustainability |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interview in The Engineer at the Centre's annual conference in July. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.theengineer.co.uk/prof-steve-evans-director-of-research-at-the-centre-for-industrial-sust... |
Description | Managing Cities of tomorrow: Dynamic models for improving decision making in spatial planning |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Shadow EU-Summit: managing cities of tomorrow. Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. 18-22 April, 2016, Amsterdam - Netherlands. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Miying Yang - Friday Buns Seminar on SVAT |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Miying Yang presented her PhD research 'Sustainable Value Analysis for Product-Service Systems' at the Friday Buns Seminar at the IfM. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Papers and Posters at ISIE 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Several Centre researchers participated in the International Society for Industrial Ecology 2015 (ISIE 2015) conference held at the University of Surrey from 7-10 July. Cambridge doctoral researcher Sudhir Rama Murthy presented the paper, 'Industrial Ecology Principles and Industrial Practice - Exploring the Linkage' (authors: Rama Murthy, S., Morgan, D. and Evans, S). Dr Nancy Bocken presented the paper 'Challenges and Opportunities in Circular Business Model Innovation for Clothing from a Retailer Perspective' (authors: Bocken, N., Holgado, M. and Evans, S.) based on the work for project REDRESS. Nancy also introduced and chaired ISIE's first session on 'Sustainable Business Models and Value Networks'. Cambridge doctoral researcher Daniel Summerbell presented a poster 'Performance Analysis of a Cement Plant' and Yuan Tao presented the poster 'Policy intervention mechanism for promoting industrial symbiosis in China'. Cranfield doctoral researcher Fenna Blomsma gave a presentation on her research 'Circularity and cognitive embeddedness - developing the Circularity Canvas' and Imperial researcher Geraldine Brennan presented a poster 'Extending the Circular Economy: Power Dynamics & Organizational Influence' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Presentation at 2degrees supply chain event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Steve Evans spoke at a 2degrees supply chain event in London on 6 March 2015 about his work in developing new business models that support durable and sharable benefits from the retailer/supplier relationship. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Presentation at Sustainability Live exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The Sustainability Live exhibition and conference took place at the NEC in Birmingham from April 21-23. Intended for energy and sustainability management professionals, the event included a 3-day conference on the subject 'From Risk to Resilience'. At the conference Dr Peter Ball presented a case study on 'Visual ways to present data' in the session 'Powering change: is data the new feedstock for sustainability solutions?', which was chaired by Dexter Galvin, Head of Supply Chain at CDP. Dr Maria Holgado spoke on 'Transforming businesses to deliver uncaptured and sustainable value' and Miying Yang spoke on 'Sustainable Value Analysis Tool' in the session 'Value unchained: the shift from competition to collaboration' chaired by Louise Armstrong from Forum for the Future. Both sessions were well attended. Centre doctoral researcher Aanand Davé was invited to have a poster at the Sustainability live exhibition in the Innovation Zone where innovative emerging technologies were highlighted. The poster 'Industrial Eco-Efficiency Modelling - Data-granularity framework for measuring and predicting asset performance' was very well received and generated much interest in Aanand's research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Professor Steve Evans contributes to Future of Engineering report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 2018 is the UK's Year of Engineering, the government campaign to promote and celebrate one of the country's most dynamic industries. As the year comes to an end, what are the concerns occupying the sector's leaders? The Future of Engineering special report, published in The Times, covers how a lack of sufficient funding for research and development is holding innovation back, and addresses what can be done to encourage more women to join the industry. It explores the new importance of so-called soft skills in engineering graduates and the need for an overhaul of the patents system. Also featured is comment on how engineering can spearhead the fight against climate change and an infographic on the work to be done to counter the sector-wide talent shortage. The report features an opinion column by the IfM's Professor Steve Evans who discusses the ongoing challenge faced by sustainability engineers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/engineering-climate-change |
Description | Questionaires to Firms (CEOs) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 4 M.Phil students, 2 undergrad students, 1 Research Associate, the project Co-I (Elisabete A. Silva) - undertook a survey of knowledge base firms (universe of of 375 firms with 56 firms being sample) in Cambridge. The results will be use to understand behaviors associated to knowledge base firms in Cambridge and will allow to calibrate a computer model that links planing decisions, business models and spatial analysis. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Re-Distributed Manufacturing EPSRC Sandpit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Discussed novel approaches to re-distributed manufacturing, and the relevance of flexible manufacturing to sustainability. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.recode-network.com/ |
Description | Resource 2016 Workshop on Buisness Models |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Centre researcher Dr Doroteya Vladimirova delivered a workshop on 'Sustainable business model innovation: challenges and opportunities' at the Resource 2016 event. The workshop was the most popular at the event this year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | S Evans: Falling Walls Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | On 9 November, Prof Steve Evans was a speaker at the Falling Walls Conference in Berlin. Falling Walls is the International Conference on Future Breakthroughs in Science and Society, an annual global gathering of forward thinking individuals from 80 countries organised by the Falling Walls Foundation. Each year on 9 November - the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - 20 of the world's leading scientists are invited to Berlin to present their current breakthrough research. The aim of the conference is to: • identify trends, opportunities and solutions for global challenges and discover international breakthrough research. • connect outstanding researchers from different disciplines and support the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas internationally. • build bridges between business, politics, academia and the arts. • promote the latest scientific findings among a broader audience. • inspire people to break down walls in science and society. Steve Evan's talk looked at understanding how industry can bring environmental and social sustainability concerns into its design and manufacturing practices. In his advisory and policy roles, he put emphasis on urgent & practical change now and system level change that others hope for a sustainable future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.falling-walls.com/about |
Description | S Evans: Met with ten CSaP Policy Fellows |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Since 2009, CSaP have pioneered new ways of bringing together public policy professionals and academics to learn from each other, building relationships based on mutual understanding, respect and trust. The experience and diversity of this unique network provides fresh perspectives and critical challenges to conventional thinking, and helps research from all disciplines contribute more effectively to society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.csap.cam.ac.uk |
Description | Shahin Rahimifard gave evidence at Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster as part of the My Science Inquiry - Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons on Net Positive Manufacturing. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Shahin Rahimifard gave evidence at Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster as part of the My Science Inquiry - Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons on Net Positive Manufacturing. As a result, details of his submission will be passed to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, given its current work on Sustainable Development Goals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Sustainability Leadership Lab |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Centre for Industrial Sustainability held a Sustainability Leadership Laboratory (Lab) in collaboration with The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). the lab focused on some of the most pressing issues and cutting edge opportunities relating to sustainable business. Prof Steve Evans and Dr Doroteya Vladimirova led the lab 'Transforming Business to Deliver Sustainable Value' on 16-17 July 2015, at the Moller Centre, Cambridge. The lab provided participants with a deep dive into new tools for sustainable businesses, with a specific focus on learning from real business challenges. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Sustainability Leadership Labs: Business model innovation for the circular economy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Labs bring together professionals to test and challenge cutting-edge responses to global problems. Open to all our alumni and senior industry practitioners, these two-day sustainability workshops held four times per year in Cambridge, are an opportunity for professional development, co-creation and networking - all with real application to your company or organisational situation. Use cutting-edge business model innovation tools designed by the University of Cambridge to discover how to transform your business to deliver uncaptured and sustainable value throughout the lifecycle, and design value propositions for the stakeholders in your business networks. Is your business getting the full benefit of the value you are creating for customers and other stakeholders? Could your current business model be actively destroying value and ultimately affecting the organisation's ability to capture value in the long run? How do you identify resource synergies that will enable circular business models? Answers to these questions will be explored during the two-day short course, through the business model innovation tools, industry case studies and insights from leading research on the circular economy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/graduate-study/sustainability-leadership-labs/business-model-innovation-f... |
Description | Sustainable business tools workshop at CRL |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Ian Bamford and Dr Maria Holgado held a workshop for start-ups at the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) in Middlesex using two Centre business tools. Described as an 'invaluable exercise' and 'a real eye opener for many', the workshops allowed the start-ups to identify priority areas to develop and opportunities to improve social, environmental, and economic benefits and interconnections throughout the lifetime of the product. The companies were able to take away their completed tool as a reference for advancing their business model innovations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Sustainable business tools workshop with IEMA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The institute for environmental management and assessment (iema) are undergoing a considerable reworking of their membership offerings, and as a longstanding member of the Centre, asked if we could provide any assistance. Ian Bamford and Laure Dodin identified that the Cambridge Business Model Tools would provide a valuable analysis of the current and future plans to deliver value to the membership. Over the period of December 2015 to March 2016 Ian and Laure ran a series of workshops with iema's leadership and management teams. These focused on the Cambridge Value Mapping, Sustainable Service Analysis and Business Transformation Tools. As a result of this, the offerings to the membership were considerably enhanced, new processes were established to improve the customer experience, and plans were put in place to implement the changes across the various business departments. Tim Balcon, CEO of iema, commented that the exercise had enabled a greater depth of improvement to be achieved and communicated across the organisation with strong engagement of all the staff. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Sustainable business tools workshop with schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | As part of the Redress program with M&S Ian Bamford and Dr Curie Park worked with the schools service provider Edcomms to run 2 workshops using the Cambridge Value Mapping Tool. These involved working with teachers, parents and school children to explore the potential value that schools might derive from engaging in proposed future projects with the UK retailer. All the parties commented on how the tools helped to provide a strong framework for wide ranging inputs from a very diverse audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Webinar on Enabling Innovation for Sustainable Manufacturing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Prof Steve Evans, Dr Doroteya Vladimirova, PhD researchers Miying Yang and Aanand Davé, and Ian Bamford delivered a webinar for iema on 'Enabling Innovation for Sustainable Manufacturing' on 7 January 2015. The webinar explored some of the practical tools being released from the Centre for Industrial Sustainability |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Workshop at Sporting Goods Manufacturing Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Steve Evans and Dai Morgan participated in the World Federation Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) Manufacturing Forum 2014, 'How can design and manufacturing embrace?' at the Porsche Centre in Leipzig Germany on 13 - 14 November. Steve facilitated a high-level panel discussion with leaders in the sporting goods industry on their views on design integration into manufacturing. Steve and Dai facilitated 2 workshops on integrated problem solving for design and manufacturing teams. The conference was attended by over 170 delegates including leading brands and manufacturers, and resulted in stimulating discussion about the future of the industry and the issues that will be driving it, from consumers attitudes and new technologies to sustainability and new markets. A number of parties expressed interest in following up on the discussions with the EPSRC Centre for Industrial Sustainability and Steve and Dai look forward to continuing the conversation in the coming months. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Workshop to identify new opportunities for Bangladesh SME Foundation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A one-day workshop on Bangladesh's open innovation in the agri-tech catalyst for SMEs (SME Foundation) was hosted at the IfM, Cambridge on 23 September as part of a BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account funded project. Workshop participants included the General Manager of the SME Foundation, a non-profit company established by the Government of Bangladesh's Ministry of Industries to promote growth of Bangladesh SMEs, as well as the managing director of a Bangladeshi SME, the Commercial Counsellor from the Bangladesh High Commission, and the acting High Commissioner. They joined Centre Director and project Principal Investigator, Prof Steve Evans and Co-Investigator Dr Nazia Mintz-Habib, as well as several other Centre researchers. During the morning session the group used the Cambridge Value Mapping Tool to identify new value opportunities in the services provided by the SME Foundation from a stakeholder-network perspective. In the afternoon, the Service Analysis Tool was used to analysis the financial autonomy of the SME Foundation in Bangladesh from a policy making perspective. The workshop provided participants with an in-depth exploration into the complex structure of the SME Foundation and its relationships with various stakeholders. Structured routes to engaging in more effective policy-making were identified to promote open-innovation by the SME Foundation in the Bangladeshi agri-tech industry. In total, 21 potential value opportunities were generated. Cambridge researchers benefited from the opportunity to assess the applicability of two existing tools in a policy-making context in a developing country. Anticipated future activities include a follow-on workshop in Bangladesh with an extended group of participants that fully represent the network of stakeholders to fully explore potential business model innovations using other Centre tools. For more information contact Dr Curie Park. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |