Research design

The InnoFiNS research project starts from the observation that Flemish cities and municipalities have an important role to play in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. More specifically, they can develop nature-based solutions (NBS) with green, blue and hybrid urban infrastructure that approach climate change in an integrated, systemic and sustainable way.

However, public budgets are often insufficient, while a lot of private investment funds are available. NBS projects admittedly have very high initial costs and have very diffuse long-term benefits that are not easily translated into revenue streams. Therefore, there is a need for new revenue models that can activate private investment.

The InnoFiNS project brings researchers from various disciplines together with stakeholders and users around specific cases in four urban living labs.

- Living lab Genk: a fund as financial arrangement to accelerate the implementation of the Stiemer project in an integrated way. It involves a combination of structural co-financing by the (semi-)public partners involved and impact-based crowdlending with local citizens and companies.
- Living lab Turnhout: different types of taxes and charges that capture potential increases in land value and buildings as a financing instrument for deficits in urban green space. This to help realise a shift in land use and prevent further urban sprawl.
- Living lab South-West Flanders: payment for ecosystem services links beneficiaries belonging to the local food supply chain (supermarkets, food processing companies, other farmers, citizens, etc.) to the providers of the ecosystem service (often farmers).
- Living lab Antwerp: corporate social responsibility budgets from private companies are suggested for voluntary funding of local green infrastructures. This can be done through a platform or digital infrastructure that increase transparency and scalability.