Companies with the most innovative ideas to preserve biodiversity can win $15,000

For the third time already this year, the innovate4Nature ideas competition of WWF Austria will take place in collaboration with the Impact Hub Vienna. This time, the competition is looking for profit-oriented as well as non-profit ideas from young companies and startups in the field of insect protection.

If you want to find out more about the contest for innovative ideas organized by WWF Austria in collaboration with Impact Hub Vienna, download for free our companion app. The Born2Invest business news application will bring you the latest, breaking news from a trusted global network of journalists. Updated throughout the day, Born2Invest is a professionally curated digest of business, finance, and impact investment news summaries from the most reputable news organizations around the world.

The preservation of biodiversity as the focus of the competition

The focus of the project should be on the preservation of biodiversity and species diversity. In particular, the focus will be on insects and their habitats. From apps to monitor endangered insect species to crowdfunding initiatives for flower strips, many things are conceivable.

The initiators named the following topics as suggestions and orientation for possible submissions:

• Alternatives to pesticide use
• Habitat and soil protection
• Gentle light or lighting solutions
• Organic farming
• Insect-friendly forestry
• Insect-friendly solutions for hydraulic engineering measures and water management
• Insect-promoting measures in tourism and leisure activities
• Insect-friendly “green infrastructure”
• Awareness-raising measures

Why is the preservation of insects so important for the organizers?

According to the WWF, insects are not only pollinators of flowers. They are natural opponents of crop pests, are considered “nature’s garbage disposal” and are also a source of food for many animal species. “Accordingly, they are important for the balance of the ecosystem,” explained Elisa Gramlich, project manager at WWF Austria.

According to a recent survey by the United Nations, up to one million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction. One of the reasons for this is shrinking habitats due to the high land consumption of agriculture and forestry. “The loss of biodiversity is, together with climate change, the greatest global environmental threat of our time,” the European Commission stated already in 2011. According to the WWF, biological diversity is currently also massively threatened in Austria.

The cooperation with startups makes a lot of sense for WWF, as it is said: “New solutions and a sustainable transformation of the economy are needed. Start-ups can change the market from within with their innovative ideas,” said the environmental protection organization. It is important to work together with all stakeholders, both politicians, businesses, and consumers. “Everyone must pull together,” said Gramlich.

Projects can be submitted until May 27th

Ideas and projects can be submitted until May 27th, directly on the corresponding website. All individuals and teams from 18 years of age and over with their main residence in Austria are eligible to participate.

The prize is a total of $15,000 (€14,000) in start-up capital and free participation in a start-up program lasting several months, in which the best submissions are accompanied by experts during the development and implementation phase.

__

(Featured image by cocoparisienne via Pixabay)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in futurezone, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Born2Invest assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Born2Invest is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.