Innovation Partnerships

Stop treating your CRO like a vendor - and start treating them like a partner. CROs aren't just service providers you hire and forget. Instead, they are strategic partners who can make or break your study success. Instead of: "We hired them to execute our plan."   Think: "We partnered with them to achieve our shared goals." But - what does make a sponsor-CRO relationship successful? Trust: The basis for solving problems together. When a site is struggling with enrollment, the partners brainstorm solutions as a team rather than playing the blame game. Transparency: The best sponsors give their CROs full context and not just task lists. The better I know the sponsor's goals, the better I can manage (my/your) our study. The partners have a common goal. Flexibility: We need to acknowledge that protocols may change, timelines shift, and unexpected challenges arise. The better the risk assessment, the higher the accepted need for flexibility. Respect: We must not forget that success is collective. Partnering on the sponsor side means: Choosing CROs based on capability and cultural fit, not just the lowest bid.  Investing time in relationship building, not just contract negotiations. And providing regular feedback, not just when problems arise. And CROs? They should think like owners, not contractors. They bring solutions and consult in case of challenges. They communicate proactively, especially when things go wrong. Let us be honest: Most CRO professionals entered this industry for the same reason as pharma, biotech or medtech professionals: Namely to help bringing life-changing treatments to patients. What does partnership look like in your sponsor-CRO relationship? #ClinicalResearch #SponsorCRO #Partnership #ClinicalTrials #Collaboration 

**Our new model for coordinating national sustainable finance objectives!** Reaching national climate goals demands coordination on climate action across governments, financial institutions, corporates, and societies! We put together a gameplan for this all-hands-on-deck strategy to improving climate action and climate risk management: the consortium approach. This accessible guide will help national actors develop sustainable finance consortium in their countries! 🔍We show case studies from the successful implementation of sustainable finance consortiums in four diverse countries: Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and Nigeria.    🔍 The report focuses on the pivotal role these consortiums play as platforms where financial institutions and business corporations collaborate to pursue climate-related financial disclosures.   🔍 It delves into the experiences of these jurisdictions in setting up consortiums and leveraging them to support the adoption of climate disclosure frameworks, such as #ISSB and #TCFD. Key objectives of the report: 🎯 Learn from successful models: Extract valuable insights from the experiences of jurisdictions that have successfully developed consortiums related to sustainability and climate disclosures.  🎯 Understand benefits and challenges: Gain a nuanced understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with establishing #sustainablefinance consortiums.  🎯 Provide a roadmap for implementation: Offer a comprehensive roadmap for entities seeking to establish their own consortiums, facilitating the integration of #sustainability and #climate disclosure frameworks.   "The Consortium Approach to Sustainability Reporting” is tailored for ✅ Financial institutions ✅ Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) ✅ Large companies in the private sector ✅ Industry associations ✅ Stock exchanges ✅ Financial regulators ✅ Government authorities and other stakeholders who are committed to enhancing sustainability and climate reporting within their organizations and the broader business environment. https://lnkd.in/eAqd2jBE #climatefinance #cop28 #climateaction #sustainablefinance #climaterisk   UNDP UNDP Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

Sustainable Finance Catalysts 🌎 Scaling climate finance requires capital and an enabling system of actors that can align incentives, reduce risks, and mobilize resources at scale. The table developed by S2G Ventures is a great tool to understand the different players within this ecosystem and the roles they can take. Governments are critical. Through regulation, taxation, subsidies and policy signals they shape investment flows. Convening organizations accelerate collaboration. By establishing standards and connecting stakeholders they support the adoption of best practices. Academia and think tanks provide evidence and research. Their independent insights inform asset owners and policymakers. Consultants support strategy. They guide asset owners through change management, design of frameworks and operational alignment. Catalytic capital helps de risk investments. Philanthropy and concessionary finance can crowd in private capital for climate projects. Corporates act as recipients and enablers. They bring knowledge of transition risks and opportunities while offering investable projects. General partners and intermediaries implement strategies. They build track records, design innovative structures and connect asset owners to opportunities. The strength of this system lies in its interdependence. No single actor can scale climate finance alone. Impact emerges when these roles reinforce one another. This perspective reframes the challenge. Climate finance is an ecosystem effort that requires coordination across actors. Recognizing and strengthening these catalysts is essential to mobilize capital at the scale required for the transition. #sustainability #business #sustainable #esg

The World Meteorological Organization and Met Office just issued a new Update on global temperatures over the next five years 2025-2029. We expect them to continue at record levels. These are more than just statistics. Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels. This report is one of a suite of WMO climate products which provide reliable scientific information to inform decision-makers, based on open data, shared standards, and international trust. This year’s Update includes 220 ensemble members from models contributed by 14 different institutes, including four Global Producing Centres: Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, Deutscher Wetterdienst and the Met Office. No country can manage climate risks alone. WMO helps each one contribute what it can — and benefit from what the world knows together. https://lnkd.in/diwctZbV

The era of subtle interventions and one-off climate fixes is behind us. What we need now are bold, integrated solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously. Seaweed—specifically, sargassum—is an interesting and not-so-obvious example of what I’m talking about. Algae blooms are surging as oceans warm. Caribbean sargassum hit a new record in 2022, up 20% from 2018. When rafts of sargassum reach the shore, they harm aquatic ecosystems by reducing dissolved oxygen, blocking sunlight needed for photosynthesis in corals and grasses, and elevating water temperatures. But here’s where perspective matters: sargassum inundation isn’t just an ecological problem—it’s an emerging, multi-sector opportunity. 🔬 At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, R&D is underway to convert sargassum into renewable biofuels, including jet fuel that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. 🐄 Researchers at Penn State University are exploring how sargassum can be used as a livestock feed additive to reduce methane emissions. Other studies have also shown promising results for its use in poultry feed and aquaculture. Desalinating it is a hurdle, but innovators like Phyto Corporation are already pioneering techniques with other salt-tolerant crops that could potentially be adapted to sargassum. This is what climate leadership looks like: connected thinking, integrated action, and solutions that cross sectors. Sargassum inundation isn’t just a symptom—it’s a signal. It shows us that complex problems require multifaceted, systems-level answers. In a world of converging climate crises, it's crucial to connect the dots and turn today’s threats into tomorrow’s solutions. Let’s reframe what’s possible: climate solutions can be systemic, scalable, and profitable. But only if we lead boldly and think holistically. #Innovation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GreenInnovation #RenewableEnergy #TechForGood

What if green finance could scale decarbonization for SMEs? 🚀🌱 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) contribute about 40% of business sector emissions. However, many face significant barriers in accessing the necessary tools or funds to transition to Net Zero. Today, we are proud to have partnered with HSBC in the UK to help accelerate their transition ! Taking a step back, here is an overview of various ways in which finance can help scale the energy transition 🌱🚀: 💰 Green Loans and Equity Financial institutions are now offering tailored green loans & equity investments to invest in projects like renewable energy installations and energy efficiency upgrades at favorable terms. In 2022, green loans in Europe alone totaled over $150 billion, showing a substantial increase in availability. Green equity is rapidly growing, with venture capital for green projects reaching $10 billion in 2023. 🤝 Public-Private Partnerships Public financial institutions can offer credit guarantees and direct financing, which reduce the risk for private investors. For example, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provided over €5 billion in guarantees for green projects in 2022, mobilizing an additional €20 billion in private investment. 🌍 ESG Integration In 2023, about 60% of global asset managers incorporated ESG criteria into their investment processes. This includes exclusionary screening, where investments in industries harmful to the environment are avoided. 🔧 Innovative Financial Instruments Transition Bonds help high-emission industries ("brown" sectors) transition to greener operations, unlike green bonds, which fund entirely green projects. They support incremental improvements towards sustainability in sectors such as mining, heavy industry, and utilities. In 2022, their issuance reached $20 billion. It works for SMEs too Blended Finance: This involves using public funds to attract private investment in sustainable projects. By pooling resources, private investors reduce risks, unlocking significant capital for green initiatives. In 2022, blended finance transactions mobilized over $30 billion for sustainable development projects globally. 📚 Non-Financial Support SMEs often lack the expertise and resources to navigate sustainable finance. Public and private institutions can provide essential non-financial support, including training, information on sustainable technologies, and tools for measuring and reporting environmental performance. For instance, the SME Climate Hub offers resources and training programs that have reached over 10,000 SMEs worldwide. This is also where Greenly | Certified B Corp comes in, now offering HSBC's customers in the UK a rapid way to track their emissions. Thank you for your trust Emily Bailey Pedro Anaya Natalie Blyth ! Of course, green finance still needs to grow 100X fold, so join the movement now... https://lnkd.in/eW53NhYs

I am happy to co-author this article with Beatrice WEDER DI MAURO, President of the CEPR - Centre for Economic Policy Research, reflecting on the urgent need to engage in collective thinking and action to adapt our response to the challenge of insurability in the face of escalating climate risks. This article, which captures key convictions from our joint workshop hosted at Collège de France by the AXA Research Fund and CEPR - Centre for Economic Policy Research, couldn't have been more timely.   Devastating floods in Valencia, the wildfires in Los Angeles, the typhoons in Mayotte and La Réunion... These recent climate catastrophes show a clear reality: climate risks are intensifying and the protection gap for local communities and economies are becoming evident. Global economic losses from extreme weather events reached $320 billion in 2024, while in Europe, only 25% of economic losses were insured - leaving individuals, businesses, and communities vulnerable.    To address this, we need to enhance risk-sharing mechanisms and promote partnerships between public institutions and private companies.   Ensuring insurance accessibility and effectiveness is crucial. This can be done through: ➡️ Hybrid models, combining market mechanisms with public-private partnerships, to help ensure broad coverage and affordability. France’s CatNat regime and Switzerland’s hybrid model offer valuable insights. These models can be adapted to regions facing extreme exposure, such as sea level risks. ➡️ Greater investment in prevention and risk-sharing mechanisms. Initiatives like local municipal risk assessments can help small municipalities assess and mitigate local climate risks. ➡️ Impact underwriting, where insurers incentivize policyholders to adopt risk-reducing measures in exchange for lower premiums. ➡️ Public education on climate risks and stronger coordination between insurers, governments, and consumers to ensure preventive measures are taken seriously.   As we move forward, it's clear that policymakers, insurers, and society must work together to strike a sustainable balance between affordability and fiscal viability. This is not just about who pays the bill. It is about how we manage risk in an increasingly uncertain climate landscape. Let's continue to foster collaboration and innovation to close the protection gap and build a resilient future. 👇 https://lnkd.in/er6BkrtZ

Is climate activism about shouting down your opponents? Or is it about helping under-represented communities find their own voice? Is it about winning at any cost? Or is it about ensuring a 'just transition', so people aren't simply cast aside? A recent Greenpeace UK webinar got me thinking deeply about this. It revealed a sophisticated, modern strategy built on a surprising foundation: patient coalition-building, often with the most 'unusual allies'. The most striking example was their work with small-scale UK fishers. For years, the two groups were adversaries. But after a simple conversation, they realised they had 90% common ground. Greenpeace's role then shifted. They didn't just campaign 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 the industry; they helped the small fishers – who made up 80% of the fleet but had no voice – form their own union and get a seat at the table. This photograph by Suzanne Plunkett is the perfect visual evidence for this story. It shows the outcome of that patient coalition-building: French and UK fishers, united with a single voice against destructive fishing. It's a brilliant capture of what that shared purpose looks like in action. It's a compelling model for the complex, multi-stakeholder challenges we face here in Australia. It shows that the most effective activism is often about building bridges, finding shared values and amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines. This philosophy is the very reason I co-founded Climate Crew. It's a space designed to foster exactly this kind of collaborative spirit on the ground. Let's start thinking less about confrontation, and more about connecting and collaborating. 💚 #ClimateActivism #SystemsChange #CommunityBuilding #JustTransition #Photojournalism

Fast-P. The 1st steps have been taken to raise eventually up to US$5 billion. Now to get actual projects funded and off the ground. "The government will match every dollar, up to US$500 million, of concessional capital committed by other partners involved in the initiative, known as Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (Fast-P). Blended-finance programmes feature a mix of grants and concessional loans designed to lower the cost of capital, thereby attracting more commercial capital." "If other partners – be they sovereign governments, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks or philanthropic foundations – can match Singapore’s commitment, Fast-P will be able to build up a pool of concessional capital of up to US$1 billion, said Ravi Menon, the ambassador for climate action, at the launch of the Singapore pavillion. This pool can then be utilised to crowd in up to US$4 billion of commercial capital, ultimately bringing the total to US$5 billion." "As the Republic is not obligated under the Paris Agreement to provide funds for climate action, this commitment of US$500 million is voluntary." “A number of other partners are close to finalising their investment due diligence to commit concessional capital, which will be matched by the Singapore government. With this strong support, Fast-P aims to commence commercial fundraising early next year, and make its first investments by the next COP,” he added. An infrastructure debt programme for industrial transformation was also launched. It is the third fund under the Fast-P initiative and will focus on hard-to-abate sectors, such as cement and steel, and technology solutions like carbon removal. The first two funds were announced last year at COP28. The first one is a green investment partnership between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), state investor Temasek, the Allied Climate Partners, and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). The second fund is a partnership between the Asian Development Bank and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to finance Asia’s energy transition. In a separate statement on Tuesday, MAS said it has already engaged asset managers to implement the three programmes under Fast-P. In addition to these early joiner partners, the network has expanded to prepare for capital raising and deployment in 2025, MAS added. The new partners include AIA, BlackRock, IFC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance; they have signed an agreement at COP29 indicating their intent to collaborate on the third programme." https://lnkd.in/g4BeBveM

In our latest report in collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s CEO Action Group for the #EuropeanGreenDeal released this week at #WEF24, we look at the vital role of the private sector in this transformative journey towards climate neutrality.   The key learnings here are that to navigate the challenges ahead, a synergistic approach is essential. Policy-makers need to provide a clearer regulatory landscape, while the private sector must be empowered to innovate and invest in sustainable technologies.   The report offers pragmatic recommendations for both policy-makers and businesses, including enhanced #sustainability reporting, streamlined #energy project permitting, and development of cross-functional sustainability skills. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ3uGyye