Innovation

The interesting innovation is HelloScience, a new online collaboration network that operates in many countries with the purpose to develop solutions addressing water purification, wastewater, and water contamination. It was created by Novozymes to primarily discover new sustainable solutions to the challenges of today’s world. Novozymes works through Business for 2030 in partnership with Jaaga, Grundfos, Climate-KIC, and C-CAMP to accomplish this aim.

HelloScience provides a network for innovators, entrepreneurs, and even students to share solutions, get feedback and access to industry experts, and even perhaps have a joint development opportunity. It aims at fostering teamwork across borders, expertise, and technologies in solving the UN Sustainable Development Goal number 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. HelloScience provides a timely opportunity to bring new innovative solutions into the world of water and wastewater treatment.

There are also benefits for collaborators who get involved in the idea sharing process. Everybody with an interest in water can suggest ideas on the online collaboration platform. Start-ups and small companies are the primary target group, but water experts, university researchers, corporations, non-government organizations, investors, students, and others are also welcome to take part in the process.

Inspiration

Afred Biregaard Hansted is the head of HelloScinece. "The inspiration came when I started working on my Ph.D. thesis on collaboration between Novozymes and Philosophy of Science and Technology,” he said. His only worry was how Novozymes could accelerate with the external world. He started traveling the world starting in California, the birthplace of modern technology, where he interacted with leaders and pioneers in the field. Hansted spoke with and got ideas from area university professors including those at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2017, with a team of creative minds, he was able to translate the theoretical and practical insights into HelloScience.

The network started out in Copenhagen, Denmark with version 1.0. This was an open innovation platform that was created to address SDG 6 and this brought people from all over the world together to share ideas. In 2018, version 2.0 was launched which focused more on user interaction. The highlight was on the live lab in Bangalore which combined digital and physical collaboration to address SDG challenge 6. Early 2019, version 3.0 was launched and this focused mainly on developing digital collaboration around strong-tied networks and diverse ecosystems.

According to Thomas Videbaek head of Research Innovation and Operations at Novozymes, the aim for SDGs goal 6 will not be achieved by 2030 because experts in the field were relaxed. "So, this innovation or fantastic tool was created in getting people inside and outside the company to talk together and forward ideas,” Videbaek said.

Overall impact

Novozymes created this innovation to encourage a collaborative approach around the SDGs with technology and knowledge freely being shared to solve big problems. This innovation through its platform has gotten ideas to help come up with a clean water system in the Bangalore area. In return, HelloScience has helped six collaborators who have proposed promising solutions to the water challenges, with technology and expert business guidance. This is the short-term impact of the innovation.

The long-term effect of HelloScience will be an online network known and used worldwide. This network will have individuals sharing and exchanging ideas not only on goal 6 but all 17 goals to help make the environment a better place for both current and future generations to come.

Business benefit

To Novozymes, HelloScience was their first innovation that was following the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The company became part of the top 6% of biiotech companies that have come up with the best initiatives towards achieving the UN's SDGs. The company also received awards for their contributions towards the SDG goals. Novozymes has gained recognition from many organizations and companies around the world for their contributions. From this recognition, some companies have partnered with Novozymes to help accomplish this goal of ensuring clean water and wastewater management.

In 2017, Novozymes saw increased demand for their biological solutions. In October 2017, Science Magazine recognized Novozymes as the world’s second-best employer in its 2017 Top Employers Survey. This survey showed their employees are motivated by the company’s purpose of finding biological solutions to global challenges.

In 2019, Novozymes has been awarded Denmark's Most Prestigious SDG Award. This award recognizes the company's ability to create a collaborative platform that is geared towards the achievement of the UN's SDG 6.

Social and environmental benefit

Since 2017 when this innovation came about, the HelloScience team has been working tirelessly to achieve the goal of creating a healthy ecosystem around SDGs. With this initiative, places around the world have gained access to clean water systems and information on wastewater management which in the end has benefited these communities.

For the people of Bangalore who form the main stakeholders of the HelloScience Live Lab, this was a good idea because they were expecting to get clean water systems in their area. In collaboration with Uravu Lab, HelloScience became a success in the Bangalore area. Novozymes also posted it on their website announcing that they were accepting applications from people who are interested in the live lab where individuals will work alongside local and global partners and experts to develop new innovations for water issues.

This online platform encourages collaboration in technology and knowledge by posting ideas for sustainable solutions. This will enable entrepreneurs to receive advice, microgrants, partnership opportunities and business guidance. After showcasing solutions, individuals will receive direct one-on-one feedback from design, business experts. At the same time, the Bangalore community will gain access to a good water system and wastewater management.

Interview

Alfred Birkegaard Hansted, Ph.d. in Philosophy, Head of HelloScience, Novozymes