GENGREEN
Closing the Small-Business and Gender Gap through education for green sustainable and competitive growth
Branch: Chemistry and bioeconomy
Duration: 31.12.2023-30.12.2026
Region: Central Ostrobothnia / International / North Ostrobothnia
Financed by: Interreg Aurora ja Lapin liitto
Project Manager: Mira Valkjärvi
The project’s main objective is to develop a cross-border recognized program for green entrepreneurial training directed to women (including women belonging to minority communities, immigrants, and elders) organized in cross-border living labs and online learning platforms based on professional mentoring, sharing of best practices and various online and live events.
The project aims at supporting green (female) entrepreneurship, specifically micro and small/medium size enterprises (MSMEs), in South/Central Ostrobothnia, Lapland, Norbotten, Troms and Finnmark through several activities such as establishment of 5 Cross-border Living Labs (CLLs), 4 main online training modules (business management, sustainability, innovation and cross-border training) and several correlated professional activities and outputs (such as workshops, webinars, data collections, guidelines, cross-border cooperation tools and field visits). The target group is women at different stages of their entrepreneurial activity i.e., from recent graduates with an interest in starting a green business, via women who are in the development stage of their green business activity (less than 3 years of operation) up to women with a mature business who are interested in improving its environmental sustainability practices.
The project will focus on building and increasing competencies in green and sustainable business management, digital skills, tech and product innovations, organic methods, and cross-border cooperation as well as other topics identified by the needs analysis conducted in the project. The project will adopt an interdisciplinary approach and use the multiplying network of its partners and CLLs to ensure that its outputs are validated to achieve a long-term effect in fostering sustainable, women-led enterprises. A key aspect will be the connectivity and how to create synergies among Nordic women to achieve knowledge and practice sharing. Data produced within the project will be open and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). The project’s mission is at large to contribute to resilient, inclusive, smart, and green Nordic societies and bring social and economic benefits.
Upcoming events
Webinar: 12.3. 13-15 Flipping the Script – How to Turn Sustainability Challenges into New Business Ideas?
Kokkola
COFFEE TALKS
Coffee talks will address topics selected by the participants.
Join us and network with others!
Kokkola main library, Lukuseuran huone
30.1. 14.00-15.00
19.2. 14.00-15.00
27.3. 14.00-15.00
24.4. 14.00-15.00
22.5. 14.00-15.00
Other events
7.3. 14.00-19.00 After Work TALK: over Blooms, Bubbles & Light Bites! For professional women
MARCH Environmental Initiatives – Kokkola – TBA!
MAY Environmental Initiatives – TBA!
Pietarsaari
COFFEE TALKS
6.3. 9.00-10.00 Social sustainability / Jämställdhet & Social hållbarhet / Tasa-arvo & sosiaalinen kestävyys
8.5. klo 09.00–11.00 Aamukahvit/Morgonkaffe: Lasketaan yhdessä hiilijalanjälki yrityksessäsi. Vi räknar ut koldioxidavtrycket för ditt företag.
5.6. klo 09.00–12.00 Hyvinvointia riippumatossa / Välmående i hängmattan / Wellbeing in a hammock
To sign up for Coffee Talks in Pietarsaari, please get in touch with Johanna Österberg-Högsted: johanna.osterberg-hogsted@centria.fi
Other events
26.3. klo 09.00–12.00 WORKSHOP storytelling & pitching: Kuinka kerron toiminnastani? Hur berättar jag om mitt företag? Pietarsaari
10.9 klo 09.00–12.00 WORKSHOP: Kestävä talous / Hållbar ekonomi / Sustainable economy, Pietarsaari
More details on the events will be updated closer to the date. Sign up for our mailing list to receive the latest information in your inbox!
Welcome to the first learning module in GENGREEN!
Sustainability module – a course that introduces you to the basics of sustainability, circular economy and sustainability in practice.
By finishing the course, you will receive an open badge certificate. The end webinar of the course will be held on
March 12.3.2025 13.00-15.00.
Learn how to sign up for DigiCampus from here !
One pager
Visual theoretical framework
Impact pathway map
University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute (EU Lead)
Sør-Varanger Utvikling AS (Norway Lead)
Inari municipality (FI)
Luleå University of Technology (SV)
Centria University of Applied Sciences (FI)
Lapland University of Applied Sciences (FI)
Kehittämisyhdistys Liiveri ry (FI), Into Seinäjoki Oy (FI)
Arctic Economic Council (NO)
The project tackles the following themes: sustainability, green transition, circular economy, entrepreneurship, profitable business, female entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
The Sustainable Development Goals
