In a few years, the Greenhouse for the Future will open its doors on the Westland Flora Campus. In this fieldlab, companies, educational institutions, and local authorities will collaborate on innovations for the greenhouse horticulture cluster. What these innovations will be is not yet known. For this reason, the Greenhouse for the Future is launching a pitch contest. Everyone, both within and outside the horticultural cluster, can participate in The Competition You Can’t Lose.
The Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future will become the vibrant heart of the Flora Campus, right next to the World Horti Center. The Fieldlab is an initiative of Vertify, Glastuinbouw Nederland, Harry Wubben Flowers, World Horti Center, Tomatoworld, and Greenport West-Holland. Tomatoworld has the ambition to house its activities within the Fieldlab, and Vertify also intends to play an active role. The Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future will also collaborate intensively with the World Horti Center.
The Competition You Can’t Lose
To realise the Fieldlab, the involvement of many different stakeholders is needed. The initiators are therefore looking for organisations that share their dream and want to contribute proactively – in whatever form. After all, together you go faster and further. That’s why this week marks the launch of The Competition You Can’t Lose.
Participation is open to anyone with a good idea: property developers, (venture) investors, designers, (greenhouse) builders, operators, researchers, educational institutions, students, ongoing innovation programmes, NGOs, citizens, and companies from both within and outside the sector and from all links in the chain. Collaborations are also welcome to submit a proposal together. Submissions must be received by 7 October 2024 at the latest.
Dragons’ Den
Submissions that fit within the concept of the Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future will be invited to a Dragons’ Den event on 17 October at the World Horti Center. Entrants will then have the opportunity to pitch their idea to a jury and the audience. The ideas will subsequently be assessed by the steering committee of the Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future project and representatives of the initiators. This assessment will be based on criteria such as alignment with the concept, creativity, experience with open innovation, willingness to collaborate, financial strength of the applicant(s), and investment willingness.
Business Plan Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future
Based on that business plan, the initiators – together with the creators of the ideas – will work on aspects such as implementation, financing, and planning. More information about The Competition You Can’t Lose of the Fieldlab Greenhouse for the Future can be found here.