Biomimesis: A multidisciplinary proposal to face post-covid sustainability challenges
07/08/2021 – 07/09/2021
The world economy must implement processes of transformation in its forms of production of goods and services because it is in a finite world, since the fundamental premise that sustains it of indefinite growth is impossible to achieve, therefore companies must be the engine of such change, with a commitment to achieve convergence towards a circular economy of materials, renewable energy efficiency and knowledge. This is achieved through a dynamic, dialectic, reflexive and inclusive process related to the possibility of producing, transforming, commercialising and consuming goods and business services that simulate the economy of nature, since it does not produce waste but nutrients, internalising everything in the ecosystem process at the level of the terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere.
Today’s companies and institutions have to adapt to the requirements of the new knowledge economy. To this end, the new educational and human training processes related to the company must foster business entrepreneurship processes based on natural models based on reflective, critical and complex thinking.
From the biomimetic perspective, the central premise is that respect for nature and biodiversity must be the driving force for the transformation of the economy. In view of this scenario, a scenario is provided for reflection and practice in which it is proposed to emulate nature and strategies are proposed so that socioeconomic systems can emulate “the economy of nature”. The fundamental premise is based on the fact that nature has its own economic structures that are highly efficient in sustainable terms by providing closed cycles of materials and energy. The human economy, in order to be viable in time and space, must be based on bio-inspired business innovation (eco-innovation). To this end, it is proposed to take as a source of inspiration the efficient use of natural resources in natural processes.
This “Bioinspired Business Innovation” Summer Course aims to raise awareness of Biomimicry through theoretical and practical sessions with the active participation of those attending in order to promote understanding and integration of the discipline into professional training in the disciplines of administration, economics and engineering, among other areas of scientific and social knowledge. For optimal use of the course, online resources and specialized technical literature, seminars, workshops, among other educational resources are provided. The Summer Course is led by researchers from a specific research network on the subject (the Ri3 Biomimicry Network), which includes a group of professors from several universities and research centers as speakers. It is also supported by the UPV/EHU Economic and Employment Sciences Institute.