New method
We have written about one of the tools, the entrepreneurial ecosystem quick scan tool in this Inclusive Innovation Guide.
Stories from 8 HUB-IN cities
This model and tool were designed with historic urban areas in mind. But there are ideas you can apply to help you tap into other entrepreneurial ecosystems too.
HUB-IN toolkit
- Understand the state of play
- Prepare to set up your hub of innovation (HUB)
- Set up and launch your HUB
- Test and grow
Entrepreneurial ecosystem quick scan tool
The tool is based on their entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) framework, which breaks down the EE into a range of ‘ingredients’ and ‘arrangements’ that help foster innovation in historic urban areas:
- heritage
- physical and digital infrastructure
- marketplace demand
- support organisations
- human resources
- knowledge
- leadership
- finance
- formal institutions
- urban culture
- entrepreneurial culture
- networks
Using the tool will help you:
- make use of existing strong relationships, and spot gaps where you need to make new relationships
- identify existing strengths of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and what you can do to improve things
- find out how open people will be to getting involved with your HUB, and how they might want to work with you
- understand the role of 3 possible approaches to regeneration initiatives: public, entrepreneurial and community
Further source reading
Centrinno – cartography
Understand your local ecosystem, communities and ecologies
CENTRINNO Cartography toolkit to get to know their area from two angles:
- By mapping their local context from a bird’s-eye view
- Diving deep into the network of local stakeholders and their resources.
(Note: one of HUB-Ins sister projects)
Source
The methods and case studies under the theme of Funding and Resources will help you:
- understand and gather the things you need to innovate in an inclusive way
- invest money and time wisely
Resources
Resources are the things you need to make something happen, like money, people, tools, and even ideas.
Let’s say you want to build a wooden treehouse. You’d need things like:
- Plans (ideas)
- Wood (materials)
- Hammer (tools)
- Friends to help (people)
Similarly, we need resources to make innovation work and change happen. This includes:
- People and skills – trained workers, teachers, or community leaders who can share knowledge and drive projects forward
- Technology – tools like computers, renewable energy systems, or apps that help track and improve sustainability efforts
- Technical resources – machines, equipment, or infrastructure like irrigation systems
- Natural resources – healthy soil, clean water, and forests that can be regenerated and protected
- Financial resources – money to pay for all of the above
Some communities don’t have enough resources, so it’s important to share and make sure everyone has what they need to take part in innovation.
For example, underserved communities often lack access to basic infrastructure like the internet or the right education, which are critical for innovation.
Funding and investment
Investment is like planting a seed to grow a tree. You use money, time, or effort now so that something bigger and better can grow in the future.
For example, if you want to help a community that doesn’t have good internet access, you might invest in building new towers or buying computers for them. This helps them learn, work, and create new things.
Investment isn’t just about money. It’s also about making sure the right resources go to the right places, especially to communities that need them most.
By investing in these areas, we can help more people have the tools and opportunities to innovate and grow.
Organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank emphasize the importance of targeted investments in marginalized communities to reduce inequalities and promote inclusive growth.
Investment is about using these resources wisely to create long-term benefits. Types of investment include:
- Time and effort – volunteering or training people to learn new skills, like sustainable farming or eco-friendly construction
- Infrastructure investment – building things like clean water systems, green energy grids, or accessible schools in underserved areas
- Ecological investment – restoring damaged ecosystems, planting trees, or protecting wildlife habitats to ensure a healthier planet for future generations
- Financial investment – putting money into projects to enable all of the above
By combining resources and investments, we can create systems that not only grow and thrive but also heal the planet and benefit everyone, especially those who need it most.
