Deadline: 16 December 2022

The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator supported by EIT Climate-KIC seeks to promote innovative ideas to support the growth of maritime activities - fisheries, aquaculture, blue bioeconomy, coastal and maritime tourism, desalination, renewable energy (offshore, coastal & marine), maritime transport & infrastructure, ports, waste disposal management or coastal resilience and protection (e.g. sustainable tourism infrastructure, sea walls, carbon sequestration) and other related climate-positive activities in the Blue Economy.

1. Benefits

The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator is a free virtual program of training, mentoring, knowledge-sharing and investor linkages designed to support participants to build viable business plans.

• Bootcamp & learning sessions – Weekly online training bootcamps will provide core business training to further refine and develop USP, target market and business model and help entrepreneurs translate business plans into concrete value propositions. In addition, a series of blue economy-themed virtual learning sessions will be held to share insights, learning and experience of running successful blue economy businesses.
• Mentorship Program - Each selected enterprise will be assigned a mentor for the duration of the program. The mentorship program provides participants with opportunities to learn, connect and test ideas with experts.
• Market/Investor linkages - During and beyond the program, Pacific Greenpreneurs will have on-going opportunities to engage with like-minded entrepreneurs, providing opportunities for professional development, brand-building, and awareness, and more. A Demo Day event will be held at the end of the program to showcase innovations and business plans and serve to connect enterprises with investors.
• Grant funding – Enterprises will be invited to submit business plan/funding proposals during the program. Based on the assessment of the funding proposal submitted, grant amounts will be awarded accordingly to each start-up of between EUR 5,000 - 10,000 to implement their business plans.

2. Eligibility

• The lead applicant must be a resident of one of the following countries:  Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna 
• The enterprise must be appropriately registered/incorporated to operate as a for-profit business (sole trader, private limited company, partnership etc.), civil society organization (CSO)/non-governmental organization (NGO), cooperative or trust in one of the countries listed above.
• The enterprise must have its main operations in one (or more) of the following: fisheries, aquaculture, coastal and maritime tourism, desalination, renewable marine energy, maritime transport & infrastructure, waste disposal management or coastal resilience and protection (e.g. sustainable tourism infrastructure, sea walls, carbon sequestration).
• The minimum age of the lead applicant is 18 years old.
• You aim to create positive climate change and/or environmental impact through your product offerings, operations, or processes, while creating a profit.
• You are dedicated and eager to learn, and passionate about your cause.
• You have typically been in operation for less than 5 years.
• Your business is innovative and unique in some way.
• You have sound, technical understanding of your business or idea, but would like to learn more about how to build an effective and sustainable business model for success.
• You have sufficient access to internet and a computer to enable participation in the online program. You are committed to completing a 5-month program from January – May 2023.
• You are comfortable with written & spoken English language.

III. Assessment Criteria & Selection

• The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator is focused on supporting innovative enterprises in the blue economy to grow, generating positive environmental impact.
• Applicants for this program will be assessed against the following broad criteria: Climate impact, Business growth potential, Entrepreneur mindset  and social inclusion. Please keep these criteria in mind as you complete your application.
• The applications will first be screened against the Eligibility Criteria. Successful applications will then be scored and ranked according to the Assessment Criteria, from which the top enterprises will be selected.

IV. How To Apply?

• Interested in applying? Please, Click HERE
• For further details and information on the application process, please refer to the Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions.
• You can refer to the offline application form for reference, however please note that all applications must be submitted via Google Forms online.