Climate finance global support
Why is climate finance central to all businesses and public organisations? Investors, markets, legislators and public opinion put growing pressure on public and private actors. Requests for bigger efforts, faster results and new tech towards increased sustainability, climate mitigation and adaption, energy efficiency and transition to net-zero. No matter if you look for investment, funding, market or social good opportunities, do you know how climate finance works together? Industry, associations, universities as well as startups, foundations, small businesses and society at large, all have a stake. The AdWisers helps and trains executive level professionals, managers, policy-makers and entrepreneurs on innovative financial instruments and where opportunities to mobilize financial resources for climate actions are. We assist in steering investment strategies, increasing knowledge to capitalize on the opportunities in the evolving landscape of climate finance including policy, regulatory frameworks, projects, carbon credits, ETS.
COP 28 & ENERGY TRANSITION
How will we be powering the future? What role for renewables, hydrogen, carbon capture tech and markets? Which paths towards net-zero? The Gulf countries have a vital role in shaping the global energy landscape and circular carbon economy. They are also home to some of the most innovative and visionary companies and powerful initiatives. The AdWisers was selected by the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to bring its expertise on the futures of energy transition at Cop 28 in Dubai and to foster a first-class debate with some truly exceptional panelists from: the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Qatar, Kapsarc, ACWA Power, UN-ESCWA, UAE University, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Together we created and shared unique value and The AdWisers was honored with the GCC Award.
FROM EXCELLENCE TO IMPACT – GULF REGION
Standardization, Research, Innovation & quality Education are dynamic forces shaping our present and redefining what is ahead of us. Their role becomes even more central in light of contemporary developments: growing international economic protectionism, decarbonization and the transition to a greener economy, the race for technological supremacy, trade wars, growing social inequalities, geopolitical tensions, polarization of higher education systems, weaponization of the technical standards-setting...with the related impac on competitiveness, access to markets, supply chains, international cooperation and investments. With the Abu Dhabi University and the Gulf Standardisation Organization we designed and delivered a powerful and impactful symposium mobilizing top level experts and players (UNIDO, CEN-CENELEC, Green Climate Fund, etc.) for dedicated support at international level for researchers, standardisers, academia, industry and international partners.
Climate Funding & BiH
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is "The" international fund completely dedicated to fund and help countries in boosting their capacities in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The GCF offers tremendous technical and unrivalled funding opportunities to tackle climate change and help the transition to green societies but it carries complex and technically challenging processes and requirements. The AdWisers provides its high-level expertise in cooperation with the CIHEAM Bari to support Bosnia i Herzegovina at every stage of the process through a dedicated team in the framework of the GCF Readiness and Delivery Programme. Our activities focus on country’s ownership and are always co-designed and co-managed with local key stake-holders. Recently we delivered two capacity building workshops targeting representatives of Ministries, institutions, local stakeholders, academia enabling joint identification of interest and priorities related to climate change programming, climate finance, projects’ pipelines and GCF requirements.
Tech & Development for the rule of law
Many actors provide training on technical skills, entrepreneurship and innovation, few do so through a development and impact-oriented approach solving the world's most pressing issues. Justice Accelerators (JA) is a distinctive programme, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the American Councils. It equips upper secondary students (16+) with the skills to become social tech entrepreneurs by developing tech solutions solving issues related to the rule of law and sustainable development. While developing prototypes, students receive training from partners and experts on technical skills (coding, robotics, AI), rule of law challenges, skills-based education on innovation and entrepreneurship. The AdWisers supported the JA and was a member of the high-level Jury of the pilot programme (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) where teams pitched their solutions on: crime prevention, criminal justice, corruption, organized crime, cybercrime, trafficking in persons and firearms, migrant smuggling, terrorism, prevention of violent extremism.
SMEs and global competitiveness
What are the models enabling innovation, international cooperation and socio-economic relaunch during and after Covid-19? Are SMEs ready to tackle challenges brought by contemporary technological, social, economic and environmental changes? How can companies be profitable, deliver social impact and contribute to public sector quest for more efficiency, cost-effectiveness and human-centered solutions? The AdWisers was in invited by the Rotary International to deliver an inspirational seminar focusing on supporting SMEs capabilities to be futures-proof. We analysed and addressed Industry 4.0., public and private partnership, internationalization, incubation & acceleration for startups and SMEs, technical assistance, research-industry-market linkages, access to international funding and standards. Selected Rotary’s invitees gained valuable perspectives and tools to navigate today’s world complexities and opportunities.
LEADING THE WAY TO HEUROPE ASSOCIATION
Tunisia and the EU are in the negotiation process leading to the Association to Horizon Europe, the world largest research & innovation funding programme. The AdWisers was asked to produce a forward-looking high-level report providing scientific evidence, policy intelligence, cooperation opportunities and innovative perspectives on the EU-Tunisia cooperation. The objective was to better inform and support key-stakeholders and decision-makers in addressing the technical and policy dimensions within the association process and its negotiations. We analysed STRI as drivers of change, for mutually relevant strategic objectives. Moving from the identification of Tunisia’s achievement under H2020, its current niches of excellence and new potentials, we indicated concrete avenues and elaborated game-changing initiatives advancing: country’s modernisation; international competitiveness; industry and SMEs business with the EU; economic, social and human development; democratisation and reform processes.
Fighting COVID: Funding & new jobs
The AdWisers is at the forefront in fighting Covid-19, relaunching economy and mobilising private and public investors via international cooperation, sustainable development & innovation. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) committed to help Italy respond to COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. The AdWisers joined forces with other EU and Italian leading players to operationalize this initiative. The objective is three fold: select the 10 best Italian companies providing products and solutions fighting COVID-19; mobilise USD 10 Mil. from private investors via a catalytic fund; disburse the economic support and provide high-level technical assistance to the selected companies, to increase production, innovation capacities, jobs creation and international competitiveness. Our uniqueness: a “policy-to-market” approach with funding and technical assistance provision integrated by design and an effective one-stop shop for investors and companies.
Redefining social entrepreneurship in digital societies
Can Europe solve societal challenges through the digitalization of social policy? Are social entrepreneurs, policy-makers and citizens ready for the digital social economy? Which digitalization policies, strategies, economic incentives and educational capabilities are needed? What are the novel elements of governance and new decentralised ownership models brought by open-source, AI, IoT, Big Data, DLT? The AdWisers was invited to join other leading thinkers in a high-level policy co-creation workshop to debate some of the most fascinating and significant challenges of our times. Our experience, vision and recommendations are part of an outstanding REPORT for the European Commission prepared by: Q-Plan International, United Nations University, University of Manchester, Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation & Technology.
Green Deal: Is your business ready?
The EU is boosting the Green Economy: More funding, incentives and thematic priorities. A tremendous opportunity to relaunch economy: New businesses, services and products will emerge while companies unable to swiftly adapt and reconvert will fade away. Can you take advantage of the Green Deal and be competitive? We help companies with innovative bio-waste technology in their internationalization & market expansion and in the alignment to EU green priorities. As Associated Partner to the Interreg MED Green Growth Community - 14 projects connecting 165 partners from 13 countries in the Mediterranean, with a budget of around €30M - we are at the heart of key areas for the Green Deal. Our support includes: eco-innovation, green manufacturing and public procurement, climate financing, waste management, bio-diversity, ecosystem services, innovative learning solutions for climate change, GIS, urban & rural sustainable development.
EU & PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OF INNOVATION (PPI)
The AdWisers is a proud member of Pronto, the new EU project, supporting the SMEs by improving access to international public contracts and helping the public sector to better design, access and manage procurement of innovation. Often, public authorities face challenges in understanding how innovations works, where to buy it, how to check whether it fits the purpose and their context and how to stay in contact with innovative SMEs. Companies struggle to understand the complexity and bureaucratic components of procurement, eventually losing interest in offering solutions. The AdWisers promotes the advantages of PPI in Poland and EU countries, expands public authorities & SMEs capacities in PPI via capacity building in sustainable and green procurement, e-procurement and digitalization, green deal, health.
HELPING SMEs IN CRISIS: ALTERNATIVE FINANCE HUB
In the coming months and years, businesses, SMEs and start-ups will need fast and effective access to liquidity and standard financing systems can be too lengthy, complicated and inadequate. Alternative finance (AF) can help the recovery of the economy after the COVID-19 crisis through new instruments such as minibonds, crowdfunding, direct lending, invoice trading, private equity and venture capital. Across EU, The AdWisers has been providing strategic advisory to the European Union and businesses to expand the AF system, promote its opportunities and support knowledge and policy development. Today we are working to establish in Poland the 1st European Alternative Finance Hub to: give information and advisory to help businesses, connect them with investors across EU, offer trainings & consultancy services, develop innovative partnerships & solutions with fintech, traditional banks, innovators, universities and public sector.
Reviving Urban Spaces For Post-COVID Society
Urbid is an innovative project reviving many urban places and artifacts - currently neglected - able to welcome the city's residents, once the health crisis period is over. It simultaneously supports the economic recovery, fights social alienation and promotes new ways of living the urban spaces. People who have lost their jobs, permanently or temporarily, can then be given a short-term employment, basic income and their work would offer a fresh start for small and medium-sized businesses (restaurants, shops, outdoor events) after the dead period. Urbid interventions focus on locations out of the radar of the city authorities (overwhelmed with big infrastructural projects) and can work via digital platform and via small teams (1-3 people) respecting COVID-19 social limitations. The AdWisers supports URBID in its internationalization dimension, strategic partnerships development and social innovation impact.
Techsummit 2019: Cybersecurity for all
Cybersecurity will play a crucial role for all in digital societies. No government, city, business or citizen will be able to do without it. The Slovak Government and OSCE identified cybersecurity as top priority and we were asked to develop an ambitious programme for the Techsummit 2019 in Bratislava to reflect on global themes such as: What’s the role of cyber-security in geo-politics, business and new partnerships? Is cybersecurity helping or limiting business & cooperation between EU, USA, China and Russia? Are smart cities new battlefields or places for testing new solutions? Are big data, 5G and IoT enablers or sources of risks for logistics, public transport, health services and energy and water supplies? We designed thought-provoking round-tables to stimulate new perspectives and brought renowned international experts, industry leaders and digital pioneers from all over the world for a truly inspiring and enriching event.
EU-Tunisia: More Leadership & Innovation
To support an international project between the EU and Tunisia, we designed and implemented a forward-looking programme composed by multidisciplinary capacity building trainings and a cutting-edge executive course on Leadership, Innovation and Evidence-Based Decision-Making. We focused on SDGs, local economic development, responsible research and Innovation, education, bio-economy and industry 4.0. We put together policy makers, high-level management from Ministries, Local Authorities, the private sector, research centers and international organisations to break the silos in the mind-sets, connect the organizations and to allow for resource flexibility and organizational change. We challenged them to co-design, test and operationalise innovative policies, solutions and business opportunities. We worked together to adopt inclusive governance models, multidisciplinary teams and create new value.
Helping Cities to innovate
How can cities build a local strategy for Innovation? How to innovate agendas that help local innovation ecosystem grow? How to marry city's objectives, indicators and national innovation strategy? What’s the social impact of innovation strategy? How can cities help innovative financing for SMEs? At the Economic Forum in Florence, Italy, we provided our insights and expertise to several cities and SMEs representatives participating to the Eurocities Joint Working Group on SMEs, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We supported the critical review exercises of the city of Vienna, facilitated the works on national and local innovation and alternative funding with the cities of Barcelona, Braga, Florence, Gothenburg, Helsinki, London, Stockholm and led the final discussion on synergies between Innovation Strategies and Innovative funding of SME.
Caucasus Region for Tech & Environment
National Environmental organisations, research centers, authorities and international organizations are at the center of the fight against climate change. However research, industry and policies are not always designed to work in a coordinated manner. Every year floods, landslides, and poorly planned management of territories cause enormous damages to ecosystems, economies and losses of lives. Combining innovative technology with evidence-based policy-making and organizational change are essential to connect science to governments for sustainable development to better protect people and societies. In the Caucasus region, we advanced institutions capabilities and strengthened their international cooperation with the EU through an integrated support including knowledge sharing, international funding opportunities, technical assistance, remote sensing and GIS, institutional capacity building, social engagement and policy-making.
How to prevent a Humanitarian Crisis
The Eastern Institute invited The AdWisers to partner in the EU-Ukrainian Forum 2019 in Rzeszow, Poland. We were asked to provide our expertise in assisting in the development of the Strategic Game: How to Prevent a Humanitarian Crisis? Ukraine and Its Neighbors – an Optimal Plan of Action in the Face of War in the East of Ukraine. Through a set of multidisciplinary simulations, scenarios and multi-level analysis, the innovative exercise challenged a selected group of high officials, decision-makers and civil-society members. We tested readiness, awareness, coordination and impact of participants choices and their organisations capabilities. We addressed also the evidence-based policy-making while dealing with complex challenges such as humanitarian and social path issues including: forced migrations, ways to supply humanitarian and medical help, maintaining security on the territories free of the conflict and fulfilling the needs of civilians.
Capacity building for EU-Africa Cooperation
What funding is available under Horizon 2020? How can EU and African businesses, innovators and organisations partner together? What about the financial, legal and outreach requirements? In West Africa, we supported the European Commission and built capacities to advance the Science, Technology and Innovation cooperation. We trained more than 100 international participants, fostered the awareness of technology for humanitarian aid, brought the voice of the African innovators to the policy-makers.Together with the Minister of higher education, research and innovation of Senegal, the EU Delegation and the representatives of the public and private sector, we advocated for a stronger innovation partnership between the two continents.
Responsible Research & Innovation
Do you know that responsible research and innovation (RRI) brings economic and social advantages to businesses, research organizations and citizens? Being aligned to RRI criteria increases your funding opportunities, social promotion and reduces customers’ aversion to non-responsible behaviors. The European Commission pushes forward RRI in ICT to enable new quality standards, certifications and compliancy for the public and private sector. We support RRI and provide expertise and advisory to: develop the EU Framework Model for Responsible ICT Innovation; help connect social scientists with ICT developers; provide evidence for policy-making. We train and help organizations to: understand, integrate and benefit from RRI in ICT in their digital transitions; move away from the limits of CSR; embrace the more effective RRI approach; avoid economic and reputational losses like Cambridge Analytica or the Diesel Gate.
FinTech Summit 2018
What’s the future of financial services in the Fintech Era? Is the regulator able to deal with disruptive innovations? What’s next after robo-advisory investment platforms, financial chatbots and blockchainisation of processing? We partnered with the Fintech Summit 2018 and provided strategic advisory to strengthen Slovakia’s role as a leading hub for startups and fintechs in the CEE region. We built new partnerships’ scenarios, mobilized and engaged top players to challenge the status quo, to reshape the relations between legislators, banks, fintechs, clients. We coordinated the knowledge sharing and promoted the innovative solutions of Tatra Banka, PwC, Oracle, the Slovak Ministry of Finance, Members of the European Parliament , fintechs, law firms and others. We had the honor to open and close the Summit and we celebrated youth talent winning the hackathon competition.
Giving access to alternative finance
Innovative companies, start-ups and SMEs struggle to access credit. This is particularly true in southern, central and eastern Europe. We have provided our advisory and expertise capacities to a major EU-funded project aimed at facilitating access to alternative finance. We have contributed to the development of the EU alternative finance strategy and its validation processes at national and international level. We have targeted financial intermediaries (banks, financial institutions, business angels and investors) and business multipliers (public or private associations, incubators and agencies) and have strengthened their knowledge and capacities. At the Budapest Stock Exchange, we inspired the banking and financial sector to look at the role of alternative finance in innovation processes as an opportunity for partnerships, engagement in integrated services and development of cooperation schemes.
Strategies for Smart Cities in Ukraine
We have been asked by the City Council of Lviv to address the issues of effective and sustainable strategies for the expansion of the smart city concept. We have analysed contemporary challenges and risks faced by cities and citizens, in the transition, implementation and management of smart cities processes. At the 451 E Forum we have presented integrated strategies focusing on connecting innovation, international cooperation, policy-making and capacity-building in an organic fashion. We stressed the importance of the integrating public-private partnerships and the SDGs as powerful tools for local economic development and the creation of new smart professions. We have inspired people to look at new smart governance models and develop smart citizens cultures to take advantage of global opportunities and be shock-resistant to sudden changes and evolving scenarios.
Fostering the Research – Industry links with EaP Countries
We supported the European Commission in its Science, Technology and Innovation cooperation with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. In a major event we facilitated the knowledge exchange between the public and private sector, addressed the issues blocking the research – industry cooperation, facilitated the multi stakeholders debate on smart specialisation strategies, tech-transfer, framework conditions and reforms. In another event, we delivered a dedicated training-module to support representatives of Universities, Ministries and Foundations in Georgia to design projects with effective sustainability, to engage international stakeholders and industries, to influence the policy dialogue and legislations towards their priorities.
Climate change via Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
CCU technologies can extract carbon dioxide and then use it as a raw material for carbon-containing products (e.g. chemical products, fuels, building materials) and open new opportunities for our economies. But are industries and citizens aware? Do we have enough scientific evidence? Do we need financial incentives and policy support to help industry and research developing CCU full potential? We helped the EC, its Scientific Advisory Mechanism and the Science Advice for Policy by European Academies to raise awareness about it throughout their communication and outreach efforts on CCU. We led the facilitation of the high-level discussion at the European Open Science Forum, fostered the interaction between eminent panelists and the public, addressed the economic incentives and policies’ measures needed to promote CCU technology.
Unlocking EU – GULF countries business & opportunities
We accompanied the European Commission in a dedicated mission reinforcing its Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation with the Gulf States. In high-level meetings between EU representatives, Ministries and leading management of top industries we promoted effective matching of EU global excellence in STI with Gulf countries ambition and needs to diversify economy and innovate. We developed a state of the art analysis of the current cooperation and assessed the needs at the policy, organizational and operational level. At the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) we presented to policy-makers, business representatives and researchers the way forward for a sustainable, systemic and strategic STI cooperation. We built momentum fostering joint priorities and mechanisms to unlock opportunities.
Expanding university market capacities
A leading university in the agro-industry sector wanted to increase its capacities towards international cooperation and market outreach. We developed a strategic roadmap to empower staff with needed skills, connect them to leading platforms and networks and promote their expertise and excellence at international level. We organised conferences with international organisations, governments and the private sector. We followed up with technical assistance and trainings linking university capacities to agro-industry SME needs and fostered participation in international cooperation projects.
Strengthening Africa’s international R&I capacities
An African research and innovation network wanted to promote its own country and industries capacities, stimulate foreign investments, promote internal reforms and better connect researchers, markets and policy-makers. We organised an international conference showcasing country’s excellences, market’s opportunities and R&I capacities towards the EU, international organisations, the donors’ community and private investors. We delivered an integrated capacity-building training on leadership, innovation, internationalization, aimed at the whole R&I eco-system. We empowered public administrators, academia, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and international investors with leadership, managerial skills and innovative thinking to break the silos, generate confidence and benefit from cooperation opportunities.
Advancing evidence-based policy-making
Eurostat wanted to set the new benchmark on the role of statistics and show how they can respond to contemporary challenges. We facilitated the multi-disciplinary brainstorming and meaningful knowledge co-creation among leading representatives of industry, academia, think-tank, policymakers and statistical offices via restricted round-tables. In a final conference we sparked debate among eminent speakers leading to state of the art input and strategic recommendations on future information needs for evidence-based policy-making.
Championing Football Club values for peace
A renowned football club wanted to promote its international engagement to better peoples’ lives via its programmes and social values. We analysed the cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact of its existing programmes through a fresh multidisciplinary perspective. We identified key synergies and complementarities among sport programmes, local communities and sustainable development to support peace, respect and social dialogue. We designed an integrated path for global visibility and recognition by positioning the club as a game-changing actor in responding to the most pressing societal challenges via new transformative initiatives. We developed actions to maximise the use of internal resources, to empower staff and to develop new operational capabilities.
Educational solutions and creative content for SDGs
A UN agency wanted to raise awareness and engage youth and adults about the Sustainable Development Goals. The support provided included a comparative analysis of the most engaging educational and learning tools available along with the suitable methodologies. While developing the creative content, special attention was dedicated to key parameters such as: intuitiveness, meaningfulness, identification and likeability in order to maximise viewers/users experience. The educational aspects were developed in line with appealing informative content; the innovative and creativity solutions were designed to also acquire constant feedback for their further development.