https://climatejournal.news/ en https://climatejournal.news/news/public-voting-is-open-to-select-winners-of-the-first-impact-shakers-awards <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>Public voting is open to select winners of the first Impact Shakers Awards</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/public-voting-is-open-to-select-winners-of-the-first-impact-shakers-awards" data-a2a-title="Public voting is open to select winners of the first Impact Shakers Awards"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/award" hreflang="en">Award</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/social-innovation" hreflang="en">Social Innovation</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/startup" hreflang="en">startup</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/europe" hreflang="en">Europe</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/social-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Social Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/business" hreflang="en">Business</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/social-impact" hreflang="en">Social Impact</a></div> </div> </div> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Business" title="Business" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/55.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Event" title="Event" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/242.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Sustainability" title="Sustainability" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/52.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img alt="Public voting is open to select winners of the first Impact Shakers Awards" title="Public voting is open to select winners of the first Impact Shakers Awards" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/630.png?itok=8GJOE-9V" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="field field--name-field-lead field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">People are invited from all over Europe to vote for the most innovative impact-driven startups and scale-ups.</div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2061 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2062 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Public voting is open until June 18th 2021, to select winners of the first <a href="https://www.impactshakersawards.com/" target="_blank">Impact Shakers Awards</a> that takes its inspiration from the <a href="https://doughnuteconomics.org/" target="_blank">doughnut economics model</a>, which maps human prosperity according to a social foundation and ecological ceiling.</p> <p>Applications were submitted from 24 countries, and an expert panel of jury selected 48 projects that made it to the final round.</p> <p>Using simple <a href="https://www.impactshakersawards.com/finalists" target="_blank">online voting</a>, people can now decide which innovative startup or scale-up will become category winners.</p> <p>The public can pick winners in twelve categories: Energy, Water, Food, Health, Education, Income &amp; Work, Peace &amp; Justice, Political Voice, Social Equity, Gender Equality, Housing &amp; Networks.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2065 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--66-33"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2063 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/631.jpg" width="2048" height="1507" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Top 10 countries and cities represented at The Impact Shakers Awards </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2064 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Finalist projects present various solutions to tackle pressing social, environmental challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on data-driven technologies, capturing carbon from the atmosphere, mental health issues, plastic pollution, and more.</p> <p>Winners will be announced on June 21st and receive access to unique networking opportunities, prizes to accelerate business growth and be invited to participate in an intensive bootcamp to secure alternative funding.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2066 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Partners offering prizes for best projects include <a href="https://queststudio.be/" target="_blank">Quest Impact Design Studio</a>, <a href="https://evpa.eu.com/" target="_blank">EVPA</a>, <a href="https://www.mikme.com/" target="_blank">Mikme</a>, <a href="https://www.seedtribe.com/" target="_blank">SeedTribe</a>, <a href="https://www.theupeffect.com/" target="_blank">UpEffect</a>, <a href="https://business-spirit.news/" target="_blank">Business Spirit Platform</a> and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/" target="_blank">Adobe</a>.</p> <p>Yonca Braeckman, CEO of Impact Shakers and founder of the award, said:</p> <blockquote> <p>“It’s the first time we used the doughnut economics model to work with impact startups, and we can say it’s an excellent and educational first edition.</p> </blockquote> <p>We’ll continue to research how we can implement insight, collect more data, and measure impact.</p> <p>At this point, we found significantly more impact startups in the categories energy, health, income &amp; work and food, while there were far fewer in the categories peace &amp; justice, political voice and water.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--2067 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p><a href="https://www.impactshakers.com/" target="_blank">Impact Shakers</a>, the organiser behind The Impact Shakers Awards, aims to create a supportive ecosystem in which impact-driven startups can grow into solid and scalable businesses and bridge the gap between impact and profit.</p> <p>“It’s really great to be able to prove with data what we’ve been sensing for a while: founders of impact startups are more diverse.</p> <p>Over 80% of the applicants had at least one ‘under-represented founder’ on their team.</p> <p>Another remarkable trend: many already found interested business angels—even with an impact-driven business model,” says Braeckman about the added value of organising the first edition of the Impact Shakers Awards.</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">May 2021</div> Thu, 27 May 2021 11:31:45 +0000 Anonymous 150 at https://climatejournal.news https://climatejournal.news/news/business-accelerator-calls-for-scaling-ocean-focused-startups <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/business-accelerator-calls-for-scaling-ocean-focused-startups" data-a2a-title="Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/accelerator" hreflang="en">Accelerator</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/ocean" hreflang="en">Ocean</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/startup" hreflang="en">startup</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/business" hreflang="en">Business</a></div> </div> </div> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Business" title="Business" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/55.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Sustainability" title="Sustainability" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/52.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img alt="Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups" title="Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/581.jpg?itok=VnheMr21" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="field field--name-field-lead field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">The Sustainable Ocean Alliance is currently accepting applications for scaling ocean-focused startups. </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1853 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1854 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>The <a href="https://www.soalliance.org/" target="_blank">Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)</a> is currently accepting applications for scaling ocean-focused startups.</p> <p>It is a first-of-its-kind initiative for future thinkers with any idea that will solve some of the critical ocean challenges we face today.</p> <p>The application is open for founders with a profit-oriented, market-driven, ocean-related solution.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1857 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1855 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>The Ocean Solutions Accelerator programme supports startups in developing scalable solutions while addressing the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets.</p> <p>They are in their third year of accelerating startups, and throughout that time, they have worked with 29 companies from 12 countries and raised approximately $20 million in follow-on funding.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--video paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1856"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video form-group"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3yzzF_dOjzU?autoplay=0&amp;start=0&amp;rel=0"></iframe> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Ocean Solutions Accelerator programme </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1858 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Their 2020 Accelerator Programme saw 9 startups from 7 different countries participating in the first all-virtual Accelerator programme, culminating in the most well-attended Demo Day yet.</p> <p>Over just 4 weeks, entrepreneurs participated in 35 sessions featuring 29 speakers and facilitators and made more than 60 new connections with SOA mentors.</p> <p>Daniela Fernandez, CEO and Founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance, says,</p> <blockquote> <p>“Being an ocean tech entrepreneur, it’s not easy because it hasn’t been done before. We have to work with one another to build it. And that’s what we’re here for, to put all those pieces together for you.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1859 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Some previous startups they have worked with include the first company to make compostable materials derived from seaweed as a plastic alternative, <a href="https://www.loliware.com/" target="_blank">Loliware</a>.</p> <p>They created the term ‘Hyper-compostable' to reflect on innovative material they designed that allows their products to break down at the same rate as food waste in compost or in the natural environment.</p> <p>This makes an important distinction from the widely used corn bioplastic (PLA), which is only compostable in an industrial setting.</p> <p>Another startup that participated in the SOA Accelerator programme is called BlockCycle in Australia, targeted plastics with waste-to-value marketplace using blockchain technology, famously associated with cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1862 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--33-66"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1860 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/582.jpg" width="726" height="485" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Innovative recycled plastic materials and products are trending</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1861 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Craig Dudenhoeffer, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder at SOA, says, “We get a lot of applications from people saying I am turning ocean plastic into skateboards, I am turning fishing nets into blank.</p> <p>One good example of a company that then stands out is <a href="https://oceanworks.co/" target="_blank">Ocean Works</a>, it’s enabling technology that we think could actually transform and create a new market for plastic and spur new innovations around what we do with that.</p> <p>That’s an example of something we didn’t know we were looking for.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1863 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Applying startup's solution must be feasible, scalable, and solving real issues in the ocean sector and work towards improving ocean health.</p> <p>With an ambitious team, enterprises must have a plan for generating revenue, potentially with initial traction of customers or investors already.</p> <p>Throughout the programme, founders receive guidance from SOA’s community as they engage with mentors, partners, and potential funders to achieve their goals.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.soalliance.org/ocean-solutions-accelerator/" target="_blank">Ocean Solutions Accelerator</a> will also present founders with a rigorous curriculum that encourages personal development and executive training with a range of world-class facilitators and pitch coaches.</p> <p>The programmes include virtual Demo Days, connecting entrepreneurs with more investors, mentors and industry experts.</p> <p>Besides, SOA routinely provides opportunities to gain exposure from its extensive social media network and connections to industry events.</p> <p>Brandon Levy, Programme Director, says,</p> <blockquote> <p>“At one point, it’s humbling but also empowering, knowing that as individuals, entrepreneurs and leaders, we can match the challenge with our own ingenuity, and that’s really what SOA is all about.</p> </blockquote> <p>We are a community of empowered change-makers who are doing what we think is important; what we know is important.”</p> <p> </p> <p class="font-xs-text-center text-align-right"><span style="font-size:10px">Headline image: Photo by Pok Rie from Pexels </span></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">March 2021</div> Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:58:23 +0000 Bronagh Loughlin 132 at https://climatejournal.news https://climatejournal.news/news/how-can-tech-startups-benefit-from-applying-ethics <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/how-can-tech-startups-benefit-from-applying-ethics" data-a2a-title="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/startup" hreflang="en">startup</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/ethics" hreflang="en">ethics</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/technology" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/smes" hreflang="en">SMEs</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/guideline" hreflang="en">guideline</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/innovation" hreflang="en">Innovation</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/technology" hreflang="en">Technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/innovation" hreflang="en">Innovation</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/responsible-innovation" hreflang="en">Responsible Innovation</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/ethics" hreflang="en">Ethics</a></div> </div> </div> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Business" title="Business" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/55.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Collaboration" title="Collaboration" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/53.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Research" title="Research" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/243.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img alt="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?" title="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/567.jpeg?itok=HpTOcU6k" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="field field--name-field-lead field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Innovators can access free to use tech ethics booklet to build resilience and create more value</div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1795 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1796 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>A small group of members of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/communities/global-future-councils" target="_blank">World Economic Forum Global Future Council for Values, Ethics and Innovation</a>, designed a gap-filling practical booklet to help startups and SMEs explore hidden commercial risks and trigger better innovations through the integration of tech ethics.</p> <p>After considering that tech ethics mainly targets big business, they decided to publish the '<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc12cea2cf09257bd6dcc01/t/60005f6715b561354c4050e5/1610637159921/WEF+Tech+Ethics+Booklet+Final+Dec+2020.pdf" target="_blank">Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ </a>booklet.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1799 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--25-75"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1797 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/569.jpg" width="281" height="355" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Hilary Sutcliffe, lead athour of the ‘Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ booklet</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1798 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>It aims to offer a quick overview of how ethics can be discussed and managed in innovative businesses without massive resources.</p> <p>This can be especially useful, where these issues can provide great opportunities if handled well, or potentially devastating risks if poorly managed.</p> <p>The lead author of this publication Hilary Sutcliffe, director of London-based not-for-profit <a href="https://societyinside.com/" target="_blank">SocietyInside</a>, shares more insights in this backstage interview.</p> <p>Hilary was recently named one of the <a href="https://100brilliantwomeninaiethics.com/" target="_blank">100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for 2021</a> and in her work, she explores issues related to trust, ethics, values, and governance of technology - especially concerning nanotech, biotech and AI – through collaborative research.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1800 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <hr /><p>“We have designed the ‘Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ booklet as an easy-to-take on board advice for companies, in particular, developing or using new and emerging technologies, in all countries, across all sectors.</p> <p>I have been working on issues of company ethics since the mid-1990s and witnessed the evolution of business responsibility from being sidelined community relations and philanthropy topic to becoming a more complex core business issue that could determine success on the market.</p> <p>Our work over 20 years in ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ suggests if companies start thinking about this early, and continue to take these issues seriously as they grow, they can head off the problems currently facing so many before they become disasters.</p> <blockquote> <p>So much of the airtime and attention on ethical business is directed at big tech companies, but big tech grows from small tech.</p> <p>We wanted to create an unassuming, accessible little booklet to be read by someone in a startup or small company.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1801 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>With the help of other experts, we shaped the content to be easy to follow.</p> <p>Main contributors are including Prof Angie Hobbs from the University of Sheffield, UK, Pamela Mar from the Fung Academy Hong Kong, Dr Emad Yaghmaei from the Technical University of Delft and Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-1803"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1802 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>In tech, often they know they should be thinking about this, but don’t have much time and don’t quite know where to start and what sort of things it might practically entail.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1804 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>The publication explores the difference between values and ethics; highlights some examples and ways of working, which will help navigate ethical issues and some ideas on ethics in practice from companies in different tech areas.</p> <p>It showcases some accessible ideas of what ethics is, why it’s important now, even in these testing times, and how some companies approach ethical thinking in various tech sectors.</p> <p>Sprinkled in there are a few motivational quotes and cool ways to simply make it normal to discuss and resolve ethical dilemmas in small businesses.</p> <p>One of my favourite examples of how ethics can be translated into business strategy is the<a href="https://www.riversimple.com/" target="_blank"> Riversimple</a> company, which designs hydrogen cars.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1807 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1805 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/570.jpg" width="1536" height="710" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">The Riversimple company exhibits the benefits of applying ethics in business, Image: Riversimple</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1806 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>They have gone far beyond their core purpose to “To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport”.</p> <p>The amazing way they have aligned their entire business model, supply chain, governance and business processes towards this purpose provides a valuable learning opportunity about how to turn this way of thinking into a market advantage.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1808 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>All, while disrupting the sector and making a cool car in the process.</p> <blockquote> <p>There is massive potential in putting ethics on your business agenda.</p> <p>Ethical issues are a fantastic catalyst for innovative thinking - after all, innovation in all spheres invariably comes from problems identified and new ways found to solve them!</p> </blockquote> <p>I’m not sure you really ‘apply’ ethics, so much as decide to act upon a belief that issues of right and wrong - values and morals - have a place in business, particularly in relation to the business impact on people and planet.</p> <p>One of my co-authors, Dr Emad Yaghmaei, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, has put it this way:</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1811 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--66-33"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1809 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>“Ethics in my view is the integration of objective rights and subjective values into a common and contextual framework rather than only doing the right thinking in the research and innovation process and being a set of predefined rules impeding progress.</p> <p>Following this line, ethics concerns the analysis and integration of different values and norms into the design and development of research and innovation, which can trigger the execution of Responsible Innovation.”</p> <p>The five key focus areas that you will find in the booklet:</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1810 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/571.jpg" width="2835" height="1890" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Dr Emad Yaghmaei, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1815 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--58-42"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1812 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <ul><li>Ethics could be your biggest hidden commercial risk - so put it on your Risk Register.</li> <li>Find out what ethical issues matter to you.</li> <li>Start with values and work from there.</li> <li>Make it normal to discuss ethics and think about problems in advance.</li> <li>Be collaborative in resolving issues.</li> </ul><p>This is not the usual set of guidelines or a framework - there are plenty of those available already.</p> <p>It is designed for the step before that.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-1814"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1813 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>We haven’t got a magic formula for every possible scenario; therefore, this booklet's focus is not on providing a long list of potential issues to scroll through, but about how organisations can find out for themselves what their relevant ethical issues are.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1816 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Each organisation will have its own systems and processes and will need to find their way of dealing with them in the context of their sector, country, culture.</p> <p>Using the ‘<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc12cea2cf09257bd6dcc01/t/60005f6715b561354c4050e5/1610637159921/WEF+Tech+Ethics+Booklet+Final+Dec+2020.pdf" target="_blank">Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs</a>’ booklet teams could efficiently work in a collaborative process that would help them deal with dilemmas and find solutions to ethical problems.</p> <p>This free to use publication was officially launched on 28th January 2021, ready to make its way to innovators to create better innovations that would serve everyone better.</p> <p>We would love to do more to promote the guidelines and reach out to innovators.</p> <p>We welcome opportunities to do that and of course, funding to set up more events and platforms to bring these ideas to the attention of tech companies everywhere.”</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div>Footer</div> Interview <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">February 2021</div> Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:16:52 +0000 Szilvia Szabó 129 at https://climatejournal.news