Zagreb School of Economics and Management recently hosted a full-day Biomimicry Masterclass as part of the 4InnoPipe2 project, organized by ELEKS. The interactive program brought together students and participants interested in innovation, sustainability, and nature-inspired approaches to solving complex challenges.

The masterclass explored biomimicry as a transformative framework for innovation, encouraging participants to rethink conventional approaches and learn directly from nature’s time-tested strategies. Through a combination of theoretical insights, practical activities, and outdoor observation, participants discovered how nature can inspire solutions that are efficient, resilient, adaptable, and sustainable.

At the heart of the program was one essential question: What would nature do? Over billions of years of evolution, nature has developed solutions to many of the challenges humanity faces today – from resource efficiency and resilience to growth and sustainability. Participants were encouraged to critically evaluate their ideas through the lens of market fit, scalability, problem-solving impact, and their ability to create conditions conducive to life.

The masterclass was led by Jessica Berliner and Alistair Daynes, who guided participants through an engaging learning experience focused on curiosity, observation, critical thinking, and innovation inspired by natural systems.

One of the key takeaways from the masterclass was the shift in mindset it encouraged among participants – moving beyond innovation for its own sake toward solutions that work with the natural world rather than against it.

Throughout the day, participants developed practical skills applicable across a variety of contexts, from reframing challenges to implementing nature-inspired solutions in business, entrepreneurship, and innovation projects.

At the end of the program, participants received certificates issued by Learn Biomimicry in collaboration with the 4InnoPipe2 project and Flames@SmileHigh.

Special thanks go to the lecturers, the 4InnoPipe2 project team, and all students who participated both onsite and online, contributing to an engaging and thought-provoking learning experience.