Gorissen innovation inspired by nature def

Innovation Inspired by Nature a powerful way to operationalize nature-society synergies

ALTERNET CONFERENCE GENT

Nature and society: synergies, conflicts, trade-offs

03/05/2017 Leen Gorissen

Premise

“The business world is an important partner

to rebuild the relationship between

nature & society”

By inspiring businesses to innovate like

nature they can shift to a value logic of

“doing well by doing good”

Insights based on

A DECADE OF TRANSITION RESEARCH

Key findings

THE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE IS NOT ABOUT

TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS ABOUT

‘HOW TO ORGANISE THE TRANSITION’

‘HOW TO CHANGE THE LOGIC OF VALUE CREATION’

DEGENERATIVE GENERATIVE REGENERATIVE

$$$ “sustainable”

‘HOW TO DEVELOP & IMPLEMENT NEW ROLES’

E.g. Teaming Innovation Biologists & CEOs to learn how to

‘Innovate like Nature’ Pics © nexxworks San Francisco Tour (April 2017)

‘HOW TO DEVELOP NEW PARTNERSHIPS & NETWORKS’

Innovation Biologists & System Thinkers team up with entrepreneurs

But most of all

‘HOW TO RECONNECT HUMANS TO NATURE’

“We the people” vs “what is out there”

FOR, THE ILLUSION OF SEPARATION BETWEEN HUMANS -

NATURE IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF OUR CURRENT CRISIS

AS LONG AS WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NATURE,

WE REMAIN TRAPPED IN “MANAGEMENT OF UNSUSTAINABILITY”

Momentum Now, there is extraordinary

BUSINESS CHALLENGES

Peak oil, peak burn-out, disruption, volatility, complexity,

uncertainty, ambiguity, political & ecological crises,…

BUSINESS PIONEERS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY NEED A

NEW PARADIGM FOR INNOVATION

“I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology.

A new era is beginning.”

- Steve Jobs -

What can we learn from superorganisms that have been succesfull for billions of years?

BIOMIMICRY – mimic mother nature

Framework

BIOMIMICRY

Innovation inspired by nature

WHY?

It is the largest R&D project in history

BIOMIMICRY

the Art and Science of studying the natural world,

translating nature’s time-tested, life-friendly

strategies & principles and applying these to

human design & organisational challenges.

=

FORM model – surface - texture

PROCESS Series of operations

(ECO)-SYSTEM Networks of which the sum

is more than the parts

DIFFERENT LEVELS

FORM: E.G. MODELLING TRAIN FRONT AFTER THE

KINGFISHER’S BEAK TO INCREASE STREAMLINING

PROCESS: E.G. PRODUCING NON-TOXIC YET

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ADHESIVES LIKE THE MUSSELS

SYSTEM: E.G. WASTE RECYCLING AND UPCYCLING LIKE NATURE’S DECOMPOSER-FILTER SYSTEMS

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: LEARNING FROM

SUPERORGANISMS HOW TO BUILD RECIPROCAL NETWORKS,

COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE, DISTRIBUTED LEADERSHIP AND

REGENERATIVE VALUE

E.G. Reciprocation histories are a

good way to

snowball

cooperation and

discourages cheating:

Business sense Bio-inspired innovation makes

Towards a rstorative enterprize

1$ billion turnover

110 countires, 5 production locations

3500 employees

Business in EU:

95% RE

98% reduction of GHG

50% lower footprint

50% recycled and bio-based material

Reduced costs

Increased reputation

Engaged employees & stakeholders

Driving innovation

Future resilience

Wider system change: innovation spirals

along the supply chain

It is about co-innvation & co-llaboration

It is so much more fun to work this way

95% Renewable Energy

98% reduction of GHG 50% lower footprint

50% recycled and

bio-based material

1$ billion turnover

110 countries

5 production locations

3500 employees

“Be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire

world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people,

process, product, place and profits – and in doing so,

become restorative through the power of influence.”

Business in the EU

No two leaves are the same on the

forest floor.

Why would carpet tiles need to be

identical?

Gecko’s don’t need glue to stick

ENTROPY CARPET TILE TAC TILE

No two leaves are the same on the

forest floor.

Why would carpet tiles need to be

identical?

Gecko’s don’t need glue to stick

FROM ZERO TO POSITIVE IMPACT

“DOING WELL BY DOING GOOD” INTERFACE SHOWS THAT IT CAN BE DONE

Interfaces We need more

BRING SYSTEMS THINKING & BIO-INSPIRATION TO THE BUSINESS WORLD

WHILE BUILDING CAPACITY FOR EVOLUTION

INTO OUR ORGANISATIONS

OUTSIDE IS WHERE RECONNECTING TO NATURE

HAPPENS!

CEOs experiencing rules of self-organising systems in the heart of San

Francisco and taking entrepreneurs outside in Oakland (April 2017)

THE NL MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS ALREADY INVESTS IN BIOMIMICRY

THE BUSINESS WORLD IS READY TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATION INSPIRED BY NATURE.

RESEARCH & GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS

COULD HELP SCALE BIO-INSPIRED INNOVATION

Together we can transform exploitative value

regimes into regenerative ones.

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

Learn more?

www.studiotransitio.com [email protected]

twitter: @L_gori

THANK YOU!