EBRD Agribusiness team is inviting guests to a panel at the FAO’s annual World Food Forum, titled ‘Shifting mindsets, fostering connections: Innovation with private sector’.
Open Innovation is trending, as large corporates realise the benefits of looking outside only their own R&D and look across the industry to discover new ideas. As companies face pressure from the oncoming climate crisis as well as from increased competition, shortening product life cycles and growing product complexity, many are finding they need to change the way they develop new technologies, products and services. Within this environment start-ups can be an important source of ideas for larger companies. Technology-based start-ups typically lack the strategic and operational rigidities that can stifle innovation in established firms. On the other hand, start-ups often have limited resources and often struggle to access the complementary assets they need to get their ideas to market.
When start-ups and corporates come together, there is a great opportunity for innovation and mutual benefits for both. Opportunities open for start-ups to access mature markets, and corporates have a chance to partner with disruptors, bringing value and a competitive edge. But how do we do it? How do corporates and start-ups both develop productive innovation mindset? What are the benefits and pitfalls to watch out for both parties.
Connecting different organisations brings outstanding value – through our work at EBRD and FAO Innovation Centre, we are delivering on that, we wanted to connect more large companies, more research institutes and innovation experts to create further synergies. At this event start-ups and established corporates will discuss Open Innovation along with the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge and innovation experts from the FAO Innovation department to explore navigating the benefits and pitfalls of open innovation in the agri-food sector.
Programme
Moderator:
- Nemanja Grgic, Principal Manager, Agribusiness Advisory, EBRD
Panellists:
- Dr Letizia Mortara, Associate Professor, Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing
- Andriy Pishyy, Chief Information Officer, Kernel Group
- Dr Yasmin Maghraby, Adjust Assistant Professor of Chemistry, American University of Cairo
- Cortney Price, Lead for Behavioural Science, FAO
- Baran Baykurt Emiroglu, Co-founder & CEO, FreshSens OÜ
With introduction and conclusion from Mohamed Manssouri, Director of FAO’s Investment Centre and Natalia Zhukova, Director of Agribusiness, EBRD
Organisers: Jamie Macadam, Agribusiness Advisory
For logistics and other enquiries, you can contact Sophie James StarkSo@ebrd.com
