BiodiverCity - Innovation cooperation with Nigeria

Purpose and goal

Project goals were to investigate possibilities for export of services to Nigeria, and to understand what adaptations of our concepts that would be necessary for export. We consider the goals fulfilled since we have been able to identify a demand for the kind of knowledge that has been built within the BiodiverCity project in two different cases in Nigeria. Understanding of adaptation of our concepts has taken place on different aspects; climate, plant material, investments, demand and availability of local products.

Expected results and effects

Knowledge on the Nigerian market for urban green solutions has been gained. An extensive web of contacts has been built within urban planning in practice, nature conservation, and research and development within green roofs, urban planning and plant material. The step to establish on the Nigerian market, however, is still a large one. One reason is the insight that communication and contacts must be managed in place in Nigeria and not through e-mail and telephone. For that and other reasons we are not expecting an immediate export as an effect of the project, further support is necessary.

Planned approach and implementation

During the project a comprehensive work has been donet to identify interesting possible partners in Nigeria, to arrange meetings with them and to meet the in place in Nigeria to discuss conditions for possible future cooperation. The vast majority of Nigerian partners were interested in cooperation of some kind, and the Swedish delegation gained large understanding on Nigerian urban planning, demand for green solutions and Nigerian views on sustainability. If the project will be given the chance to continue, good conditions has been built during this pre-study.