ENABLING SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRNEURSHIP IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

The journey of the SMART Start-up Programme goes on with the Mediterranean edition that focuses on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean countries. It is based on an interactive training program, which intends to prepare and empower current and future entrepreneurs in the art of sustainable entrepreneurship by introducing new sustainable business strategies which aim at tackling environmental and social challenges, promoting sustainable lifestyles in the Mediterranean region, and connecting the Mediterranean entrepreneurial tradition with the emerging economic green model.

 

SMART Start-up Training on Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean

The first training within the Mediterranean Edition took place between 14 – 17 February 2012 at the notable venue of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey.The training was designed as an interactive discovery aiming to inspire the participants to explore the opportunities for Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region. It provided participants with innovative mechanisms and

tools for activating resource efficient business practices and enhancing the capacity of sustainable entrepreneurs and business in the  Mediterranean.Furthermore, the training provided space for an exchange between the participants and inspiring examples of  'real life' sustainable entrepreneurs from the region. The young innovators shared their personal experiences and explored, together with participants, by which means regular constraints can be converted into innovative business opportunities, and how these can be scaled

up for global impact.Participants had a unique opportunity to present their own entrepreneurial ideas, which were to be elaborated during the training, and to receive hands-on advices by the entrepreneurs and stakeholders. The multidisciplinary group of talented and motivated Turkish students, young professionals and entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean region, truly created a very inspiring and productive workshop atmosphere throughout the training.

 

 

SMART Start-up Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on the Future of Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean

The multi-stakeholder meeting took place directly after the training, on February the 17th, 2012 also at the Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. The Training’s participants joined the Stakeholders Meeting, which brought altogether sixty sustainable business and entrepreneurship stakeholders, from entrepreneurs to policy makers, NGOs, academics, companies as well as students and young professionals from Turkey. The event opened an interdisciplinary dialogue in which the participants were aiming to identify and understand different points of view concerning existing challenges, opportunities and needs to enhance the Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region. In the presence of this outstanding audience, the students presented and pitched their business ideas that were to be developed during the SMART Start-up Training.

 

 

The feedback collected so far

The event in Istanbul turned out to be a truly engaging and inspiring experience for the participants. Bringing together highly motivated students and a number of leading stakeholders and entrepreneurs from the sustainability field, created a dynamic and productive environment to explore and discuss sustainable business ideas. One of the participants of the training, Merve Tunalı said in her testimony, that

it was definitely one of the most amusing experiences about entrepreneurship, that she has ever had. It enabled participants to gain knowledge by doing. In this amazing training, one could find the keys to become a green entrepreneur.

Also the great impact the training had on the participants' private and professional lives was repeatedly emphasized. Betul Uralcan said that

the training and especially the topic were amazing. Throughout the training, I felt like in an adventure that contributes with several ways to my personal and professional life.

Jeremy Pingul stated that

the workshop was critical in getting him fired up to make his own venture ideas a reality

while Joris Depouillon added that it made him

think in a way that he sees opportunities, rather than problems. It brought him a step closer to his aim to set up his own green organization and gave him new valuable contacts and ideas.

His final message was:

Let yourself be inspired by entrepreneurs, the fellow participants, the great facilitators and the amazing atmosphere of the training course. A better world is possible. Starts with yourself! 

 

 

Background

The SMART Start-up Training and the Stakeholders Meeting in Istanbul was organized by the CSCP together with

 

• Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production (CP/RAC), 
• Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP),
• Boğaziçi University Sustainable Development and Cleaner Production Center, 
• Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization 

 

Plans for the future

Building on the positive feedback and the learning derived from the pilot application of the SMART Start-up in Turkey, the CSCP is looking forward to replicating the SMART Start-up Programme in other Mediterranean countries.