Kickstarting businesses and development in emerging markets
The lab of tomorrow is one of the services for private sector cooperation of the Agency for Business & Economic Development (AWE). AWE operates as part of the business and development network Partners in Transformation.
Partners in Transformation is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to actively promote and strengthen cooperation with actors in the private sector: companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations
and other interest groups. Partners in Transformation emphasizes the partnership between the private sector and development cooperation, with the shared goal of achieving a social and environmental transformation in BMZ’s partner countries.
The programmes work with companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations and other interest groups.
Find out more at Private sector | BMZ (German only)
📢 Manuel disponibles en français!
Our track record
The lab of tomorrow has been the programme of choice by GIZ projects, the Austrian and the Swiss Development Agencies as well as companies to solve specific development challenges all over the world.
Your opportunities
Learn how you can benefit from the lab of tomorrow programme.
Solve your development challenge
The lab of tomorrow programme activates the private sector to achieve SDG impact. Your advantages of initiating a programme include:
- Let the private sector solve your development challenge – we help you identify unmet needs with business potential.
- As an initiator, you steer the programme and bring in all the people necessary for success.Â
- Benefit from our network and gain access to business partners, development agencies, investors, mentors and policy makers.
- The impact created by the lab of tomorrow programme goes beyond development cooperation project lifespans.
Develop your business in emerging markets
Expand into emerging markets together with new business partners! Your benefits of participating in the programme include:
- Business case sourcing: We identify business opportunities in emerging markets for you to choose from.
- Participant sourcing & matching: We match you with relevant local and international companies in interdisciplinary teams.
- As a team, you co-create a new product or service and benefit from business development coaching.
- Partner network access: you gain access to business partners, investors, mentors and policy makers.
Invest in solutions and support innovations
Gain access to impact investment opportunities in various markets and sectors! Your benefits in supporting our ventures include:
- Be the first to know about investment opportunities in untapped markets.
- You become part of our strong network of innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Receive access to invest in our ventures at different stages. We invite you to pitch sessions, demo days and share our dealbook.
- Bring in companies from your portfolio and offer them interesting business development opportunities.
How it works
Find out how sustainable and profitable business models are created in a lab of tomorrow programme and what’s in it for you.
Challenge in spotlight
Take a glance at our most recent lab of tomorrow business opportunities.
From waste management to circular economy in Kosovo
Ready to create impact?
Currently running challenges
Take a look at our currently running challenges and the potential business opportunities they present for you.
From waste management to circular economy in Kosovo
This challenge is in phase: Understand target
How might we improve recycling, treatment & recovery of construction and demolition waste in Kosovo in order to reduce illegal dumpsites in all seven regions?
Construction and demolition waste is a major contributor to the overall waste generated in Kosovo, and usually ends up in illegal dumpsites, which poses significant environmental and social risks. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of education and awareness about proper waste disposal practices. Addressing the challenge also calls for a transition towards a circular economy model. By viewing waste as a resource and encouraging the recycling and reuse of construction materials, the country can move away from the linear approach, thus reducing the burden on natural resources and waste generation. Therefore, the objective of the 19th lab of tomorrow programme is to close the loop between producers of waste and municipalities by creating innovative products that reduce pollution and other negative environmental impacts.Â
01
Understand
At present, Kosovo generates approximately 620,000 cubic meters of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW), equivalent to 515,000 tons annually. This amount is expected to substantially increase by approximately 70% until 2040. The waste is disposed of either at sites designated by local authorities (with 22 temporary storage sites identified) or at one of the approximately 760 illegal dumpsites across Kosovo.
There is minima recycling of materials, with only few initiatives by the private sector in place. Therefore, the 19th lab of tomorrow program focuses on improving the C&D waste management system regarding re-use, recycling and upcycling, towards viable structures of circular economy. The program will focus on improving the entire value chain from CDW creation, to collection & transport, sorting, treatment, selling and further use of these materials while identifying further business opportunities and raising awareness for a new market with great opportunities.
We believe that tackling these issues can lead not only to decreasing randomly disposed CDW in landfills across Kosovo, but can also reduce the use of natural resources and related CO2-emissions, create new jobs and addresses opens opportunities for export of recycled CDW materials.
From waste management to circular economy in Kosovo
This challenge is in phase: Understand target
How might we improve recycling, treatment & recovery of construction and demolition waste in Kosovo in order to reduce illegal dumpsites in all seven regions?
Construction and demolition waste is a major contributor to the overall waste generated in Kosovo, and usually ends up in illegal dumpsites, which poses significant environmental and social risks. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of education and awareness about proper waste disposal practices. Addressing the challenge also calls for a transition towards a circular economy model. By viewing waste as a resource and encouraging the recycling and reuse of construction materials, the country can move away from the linear approach, thus reducing the burden on natural resources and waste generation. Therefore, the objective of the 19th lab of tomorrow programme is to close the loop between producers of waste and municipalities by creating innovative products that reduce pollution and other negative environmental impacts.Â
01
Understand
At present, Kosovo generates approximately 620,000 cubic meters of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW), equivalent to 515,000 tons annually. This amount is expected to substantially increase by approximately 70% until 2040. The waste is disposed of either at sites designated by local authorities (with 22 temporary storage sites identified) or at one of the approximately 760 illegal dumpsites across Kosovo.
There is minima recycling of materials, with only few initiatives by the private sector in place. Therefore, the 19th lab of tomorrow program focuses on improving the C&D waste management system regarding re-use, recycling and upcycling, towards viable structures of circular economy. The program will focus on improving the entire value chain from CDW creation, to collection & transport, sorting, treatment, selling and further use of these materials while identifying further business opportunities and raising awareness for a new market with great opportunities.
We believe that tackling these issues can lead not only to decreasing randomly disposed CDW in landfills across Kosovo, but can also reduce the use of natural resources and related CO2-emissions, create new jobs and addresses opens opportunities for export of recycled CDW materials.