Green Horizon Lab: Leveraging Innovation to Navigate Uncertainty

Yesterday’s announcement from the New Brunswick government highlights the urgent need for businesses to adapt in response to new U.S. tariffs. As Premier Susan Holt stated, these tariffs threaten our workers, businesses, and communities. However, disruption also brings an opportunity for innovation—and that’s where the Green Horizon Social Innovation Lab comes in.

 

A collaborative Approach to Business Resilience

The Green Horizon Project, led by the Pond-Deshpande Centre and supported by Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is more than just a sustainability initiative—it’s about co-creating practical, scalable solutions to both economic and environmental challenges. Through a social innovation lab, we will bring together 20-25 multi-sectoral participants, including business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, to design and test solutions that make New Brunswick’s SMEs more resilient and competitive.

Leveraging the Government’s Action Plan

The New Brunswick government’s four-pillar response to tariffs presents a unique opportunity for SMEs to participate in shaping the province’s economic future. The Green Horizon Social Innovation Lab aligns with and expands on these efforts by engaging on these efforts by engaging businesses in designing solutions that:

Strengthen Local Supply Chains

How might we support the ”NB Made” campaign by helping SMEs collaborate and create new local supply chains that reduce dependence on U.S. markets?

Innovate for Competitiveness

How can we leverage the working capital loans of up to $5M to help businesses implement sustainable, cost-saving practices that improve operational resilience?

Expand Interprovincial Trade

What barriers still exist for New Brunswick businesses seeking to expand within Canada, and how can we co-design solutions that enhance trade and mobility?

Unlock Green Financing

How might we connect SMEs with the right funding opportunities to transition toward sustainable and low-carbon business practices while mitigating risks from tariffs?

Join the Social Innovation Lab

The Green Horizon Social Innovation Lab is a platform for SMEs to actively shape their future. Over the next year, we will:

  • Identify key challenges through research and business engagement.
  • Co-design and prototype practical solutions in collaboration with business and government stakeholders.
  • Test and scale successful ideas with real-world application.

Now more than ever, New Brunswick businesses need collaborative, forward-thinking solutions. The Green Horizon Social Innovation Lab is an opportunity to not just respond to change—but to lead it. Together, we can design a greener, stronger, and more resilient New Brunswick.

Are you a business owner/decision maker, policymaker, or industry expert who wants to take part?

Fill out our form to express your interest