For the past 13 years, Metabolic has worked to understand and influence the core systems that underpin modern society, such as food, energy, urban development, and finance. Across our extensive portfolio of projects and research, we have gained deep insights into the interconnected dynamics that shape these systems and how they are failing to meet human needs while pushing the planet closer to ecological collapse.
Our advisory work with governments, companies, cities, and purpose-driven communities has provided us with a unique perspective on the global economic system. The data and knowledge we have gathered, the relationships we have built, and the tangible interventions we have designed have consistently fueled our stubborn optimism — even in increasingly challenging and volatile times.
However, the urgency of the moment cannot be overstated. Since our founding in 2012, three additional planetary boundaries have been crossed, bringing the total to six out of nine. Systemic risks are accelerating, inequality is rising, and geopolitical tensions are escalating. Alongside these global trends, a worsening local context in Europe has reinforced the need for us to refocus our efforts on the most impactful solutions we can deliver.
In response to these challenges, Metabolic has renewed its focus. We are now concentrating our efforts on practical, systemic solutions that drive greater resilience and demonstrate viable alternatives to the current economic model.
We are launching exciting new activities focused on the following key areas:
- Implementing Place-Based Solutions: Our projects will prioritize solutions that are deeply rooted in local contexts, addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by particular regions. These place-based approaches will demonstrate tangible examples of how economic, social, and environmental priorities can be successfully aligned to build thriving, resilient regions.
- Developing Bioregional Hubs: We will create and support infrastructure that enables regenerative bioeconomies. Such economies require interventions in sensible order, a reimagining of local utilities, and a deep commitment to empowering local actors.
- Systemic Finance: We will work to reshape financial flows so that capital is actively directed toward building regenerative and resilient economies. This includes developing mechanisms that prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains, advocating for financial structures that move beyond extractive models, and enabling investment strategies that support genuine regional transformation.
Beyond implementation, we remain dedicated to sharing knowledge, tools, and methodologies that help accelerate broader systemic change. By documenting and disseminating insights from our work, we aim to support other changemakers in driving the transition toward regenerative and resilient economies.
As Metabolic sharpens its focus, we will continue to operate as an interconnected ecosystem of entities working toward a shared mission. Metabolic Institute will advance applied research into bioeconomies, urban transformation, and systemic interventions, while Metabolic Ventures will continue to incubate and support mission-driven businesses that act on key leverage points for change. These entities remain essential in translating knowledge into action, ensuring that transformative solutions are both grounded in rigorous analysis and capable of scaling real-world impact.
Through the Systemic Climate Action Collaborative and Systems Transformation Hub, we will identify opportunities to tailor our approach—leading in some cases, supporting in others. These collaborations ensure we can work efficiently while maximizing impact.
This evolution represents a return to our roots — putting our knowledge, tools, and experience into practice through implementation in key regions to support genuinely systemic transformation. We remain committed to our core mission to transition the global economy to a fundamentally sustainable state. We have taken time to assess how we can best add value towards this shared purpose. We believe that a shift in focus and a more adaptive mindset are needed to bring about transformative changes that prioritize resilience, equity, and long-term well-being within an increasingly challenging global context.
Through our projects, we will continue to demonstrate that our core hypothesis is possible. We can transform our global economic system, but to do so will require a renewed approach centered around clear, place-based examples. De Ceuvel continues to be one of the most engaged with examples of our implementation work because it represents the culmination of a shared vision to shape a small part of the world in the image of a future we wish to create.
This is our guiding approach. We aim to meet the needs of specific places, understand the context, and work with strategic partners to develop tangible alternatives. Through this work, we will apply our years of knowledge and expertise in regions where there is strong potential for long-term impact.
We look forward to keeping you updated and to sharing key findings as we embark on this exciting new chapter.
Get in touch
At Metabolic, our mission is to drive systemic change by bridging the gap between ambition and implementation via research and analysis to venture-building and place-based interventions. If you are interested in understanding more about how we are approaching these focus areas, we encourage you to reach out.
