What if companies and public authorities with sustainable ambitions could be supported more quickly and effectively – right here in the region? What if students, researchers and entrepreneurs worked together on the major challenges of our time, and everyone benefited as a result?
That is the idea behind the Lifeport Metalab. Ruth Klein, programme manager at The Economic Board, explains why this is so desperately needed – and why it is getting off the ground right now.
Sustainable ambitions enough - but where are they going?
“More and more businesses and public authorities have serious ambitions when it comes to sustainability,” Klein begins. “Somewant to build sustainably, whilst others need to comply with CSRD legislation and assess their environmental impact.” This raises important questions such as: How do you actually measure that impact? What is a feasible way to make a process more sustainable? How do you know if a new material is truly viable?
“And it often turns out that this sort of research is either not being carried out at all, or that everyone is going their own way. That’s a shame, isn’t it?”
A place where everything comes together: the Lifeport Metalab
This is why the ‘Smart Sustainability’ triple-helix group has launched this initiative. Three participating parties are taking the first step together to explore this: the Lifeport Metalab. This will be a place – or rather a collaboration – where the needs of businesses and public authorities are linked to researchers, students and knowledge institutions in the region.
“We really want to draw up a regional research agenda for sustainability,” explains Ruth. “So not somewhere far away, but right here, with HAN University of Applied Sciences, Radboud University, Van Hall Larenstein and the ROCs – you name it.”
And that doesn’t just yield better solutions for businesses. It also ensures that students get to work on real, current issues. “That makes education more relevant and increases the likelihood that they’ll stay and work here after they graduate.”
Smart cooperation, greater effect
The strength of the Metalab lies in its ability to better coordinate who does what, so that research projects truly complement one another, build on each other’s findings, and address the region’s needs. Klein: “For example, you could link someone from the university with someone from Van Hall Larenstein or a vocational college. That is precisely what makes the research stronger.”
And perhaps even more importantly: by formulating a research proposal together as a region – rather than through a series of separate initiatives – you increase the chance that it will actually be embraced.”
“It’s simply smarter. And it stops us all from reinventing the wheel at the same time. That costs energy, time and money. Whereas there’s already so much knowledge out there.”
A flying start (with a start-up grant)
The idea is there, the need is there, and now the initial start-up capital is in place too. With a start-up grant from the Dutch Climate Initiative (KIN), The Economic Board, HAN and Lifeport@ now want to get down to work in earnest and have an initial plan in place within six months.
HAN will hold discussions with the research institutions; the organisation Lifeport@ will act as a bridge between businesses and research networks; and The Economic Board will ensure administrative support.
First start small, then build
Klein: “Lifeport@ already organises successful workshops where entrepreneurs and researchers engage in dialogue at the Lifeport@ Innovation Hub Circular.
We now want to scale up that approach to something bigger, something more structural. The Metalab is set to become a sort of ‘knowledge bridge’ between supply and demand in the region. Not all-encompassing, but cleverly connected.”
What are the next steps? Klein: “We’ll probably start with two or three sustainable ambitions. We’ll seek out suitable researchers and students to work on these. If that works well, we’ll build on it.”
The expectation is that the Metalab will not only generate new knowledge, but also forge lasting connections. Between education and practice. Between policy and implementation. And above all: between people.
“Because ultimately, that’s what it’s all about. That we’re able to find one another more quickly, make use of each other’s knowledge, and work together to ensure sustainable progress. In and for our own region.”
The Metalab is an initiative of: The Economic Board, HAN University of Applied Sciences and Lifeport@. With support from the Dutch Climate Initiative (KIN).
Want to find out more or get involved? Please get in touch via The Economic Board.
