5th Edition of the INSURE.Hub Club: Regeneration and Natural Intelligence in Focus
Regeneration and Nature Intelligence – business innovation inspired by nature – were at the centre of the discussion during the 5th edition of the INSURE.Hub Club. The event featured Artur Branco, alumnus of the School of Biotechnology and Executive Director of the Leça River Corridor, an inter-municipal association aiming to restore the ecology and enhance the landscape of the Leça River from its source to its mouth; and Leen Gorissen, a biologist specialising in ecology, regenerative design, and nature-inspired innovation. She is the founder of Centre4NI and coordinator of the regenerative thinking and design framework developed for the Belgian Presidency of the EU in 2024.
Leen Gorissen explained how nature holds the key to the planet’s future and advocated for the concept of Natural Intelligence (NI) as a more sustainable and effective alternative to the current obsession with Artificial Intelligence. NI refers to the intelligence that nature has accumulated over approximately 3.8 billion years of evolution — continuously innovating, adapting, and regenerating without causing depletion or pollution.
She also presented real-life examples of this Natural Intelligence already being applied: a method of producing cement inspired by the way coral builds reefs; green roofs capable of regulating temperature; synthetic fibres modelled on spider silk; and forest floor carpets, among many others. Gorissen argued for a regenerative approach, where each solution contributes added value to the system as a whole.
Artur Branco presented a case study on the implementation of the Leça River regeneration project. The Leça River extends for 46 kilometres, from its source to its mouth in Matosinhos. For decades it was regarded as one of the most polluted rivers in Europe, but in recent years it has been the focus of a regeneration programme. The Leça River Corridor is an initiative involving the municipalities of Santo Tirso, Valongo, Maia, and Matosinhos, aimed at promoting the river’s ecological recovery and enhancing the surrounding territory. As a result of this collective effort, several parks, a cycle path, and pedestrian routes are now accessible, encouraging closer contact with nature and offering new mobility opportunities along the river.
The event concluded with an open discussion between the guest speakers and attendees, moderated by António Vasconcelos, co-leader of INSURE.Hub, and Graça Borges, Director of Communication, Institutional Relations and Sustainability at the Super Bock Group. Held on 13 June at the Super Bock Group headquarters, the event was also attended by Conceição Silva, Associate Dean of Católica Porto Business School and member of the INSURE.Hub Strategic Board, and Rui Lopes Ferreira, CEO of the Super Bock Group, and brought together around 50 participants.