Duration of the Call: 14 November – 18 November 2022
A “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” is the first competition for young innovators who are skilled and eager to make a difference in the Blue Economy sector activities locally, nationally, or regionally.
Event is funded by ERASMUS+ project “Sustainable development of BLUE economies through higher education and innovation in Western Balkan Countries – BLUEWBC” (Ref. no. 609693-EPP-1-2019-1-NO-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP, GA ref. no: 2019-2009/001-001).
A “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” is an idea of the Center for Researches, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor (University of Montenegro) that reflects the Center’s main goals:
- to promote research and innovation activities;
- to initiate, participate and manage projects;
- to strengthen cooperation of academia with business sector;
- to provide access to Center’s available resources to the business environment;
- to organize conferences, workshops, seminars, lifelong learning courses, etc.
Are you eager to overcome the obstacles and challenges in the Blue economy sector activities? Have you a clear vision and idea? Are you ready and enthusiastic to present your innovative project to the BLUEWBC network? Do you want to make connections with organizers, co-organizers and participants on the “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE”?
Take advantage of this opportunity by submitting your team’s application by 18 November 2022 (4:00 PM).
Check out the guidelines below and sign up your team right now! If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact uom.bluewbc@gmail.com.
1. Who can apply
A “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” is open for students and young professionals interested to design and present innovative methods, models and solutions in order to accelerate and scale up sustainability of the key Blue economy activities on the local, national and regional level.
2. Selection criteria for the applicants
Next are specific selection criteria:
- teams should consist of 3-5 members;
- each team member should be between the ages of 18 and 28;
- teams with female innovators are strongly encouraged;
- leader of the team must be nominated.
3. How to apply
Appointed team leaders should submit the application form by 18 November 2022 (4:00 PM).
4. Team obligations during the event
Each team should follow Agenda provided HERE and submit next documentation on email address uom.bluewbc@gmail.com by 28 November 2022 (4:00 PM), one day prior to evaluation:
- Presentation of “Innovative idea/solution” in PPT document format (TEMPLATE) with minimum next specificities:
- addressed problem in the blue economy sector;
- innovative idea/solution for overcoming addressed problem. Level of innovativeness – new or enhanced existing solution;
- justification of innovative idea/solution (maturity of innovative technology/methodology, financial sustainability, etc);
- action plan for implementation of innovative solution;
- potential obstacles in implementing innovative idea/solution;
- Abstract of “Innovative idea” presented in one-minute video recordings.
Presentation of “Innovative ideas/solutions” will be performed at the premises of Center for research, innovation and entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor or online. Each team will have maximum 15 minutes for presentation.
5. Official Languages
English and Montenegrin are the working languages for a “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” 2022. However, all the documents shall be prepared in English, including PPT and short video presentation, while in-vivo oral presentations may be conducted in Montenegrin.
6. Supervisors & Evaluators
Team supervisors will include academic staff from the Center for Researches, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor, University of Montenegro.
Team evaluators will include experts from academia and business/innovation sector.
7. Evaluation criteria
The best performing teams will be selected by evaluators based on the following assessment criteria:
| Team multidisciplinarity | max. 10 points |
| Gender equality on the team | max. 10 points |
| Level of inventiveness | max. 50 points |
| Quality of idea presentation | max. 30 points |
| Total | max. 100 points |
8. Benefits for participants
Participants of the “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” will benefit from:
- 5-days professional development focused on brainstorming, idea generations, experimenting, etc;
- access to the premises, equipment, and resources of the Center for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor (University of Montenegro);
- networking opportunity with experienced innovators and entrepreneurs;
- opportunity for promotion of innovative ideas through Blue Economy Knowledge Sharing HUB https://www.bluehub.ucg.ac.me/;
- becoming an alumni of the “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE”;
- receiving a reward for good innovative solution.
9. Structure of the Organization
Organizer: Center for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor, University of Montenegro
Co-organizers: Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis
With support from: Erasmus + BLUEWBC Consortium
10. Data Protection
Organisers give great importance to the responsible and transparent management of personal data.
Click HERE to apply. See you on a “Week of BLUE CHALLENGE” @ Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor from 23 November to 29 November 2022.
