NORTH ATLANTIC BLUE INNOVATION CAMP
THE NORTH ATLANTIC YOUTH BLUE INNOVATION CAMP
Calling all young visionaries and ocean enthusiasts! Prepare for an exhilarating journey into the world of blue innovation at the North Atlantic Youth Blue Innovation Camp, set against the stunning backdrop of Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
From 15th till 19th of April 2024, this immersive event will bring together bright minds from Greenland, coastal Norway, Faroe Island, and Iceland, aged 18 to 30, to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of the blue economy.
Who is it for?
If you are living in coastal Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland or Greenland and are between 18 and 30 years old and have a passion for utilizing knowledge to collaboratively tackle challenges in the Blue Economy, then the North Atlantic Blue Innovation Camp is the perfect opportunity for you.
Whether you have professional expertise in fields such as design, data science, marine research, coding and software development, communications, ocean policy, environmental management, innovation, or business, or if you're a student aspiring to develop these skills, there is a team eagerly awaiting your talents, ingenuity, enthusiasm, or expertise.
The North Atlantic Innovation Camp warmly welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds. Don't let a lack of experience discourage you! Our exceptional team of Mentors from the North Atlantic region will provide you with guidance and support every step of the way.
Unleash Your Creativity:
Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of ingenuity, where inspiration flourishes and boundaries are shattered. Throughout this intense five-day camp, you'll have the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the ocean, its untapped potential, and the sustainable growth of the blue economy.
Expert Mentorship:
Benefit from the guidance and expertise of accomplished mentors who have carved their paths in the blue economy. These seasoned professionals will provide invaluable insights, challenge your thinking, and help refine your ideas. Prepare to be inspired, motivated, and equipped with the knowledge to turn your visions into reality.
Pioneering Challenges:
Embark on a series of cutting-edge challenges designed to stimulate innovation in the blue economy. From sustainable aquaculture to ocean plastic pollution, renewable energy, and beyond, these thought-provoking challenges will test your creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to develop sustainable solutions for a healthier ocean.
Breathtaking Location:
Nestled in the enchanting archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, the camp's picturesque setting will serve as the backdrop for your transformative experience. Explore the rugged coastline, witness awe-inspiring marine life, and discover the profound beauty of Iceland's natural wonders.
Cultural Exchange:
Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant North Atlantic culture. Engage with fellow participants from Greenland, coastal Norway, Faroe Island, and Iceland, fostering lifelong connections and friendships. Exchange ideas, share perspectives, and embrace diversity while working towards a common goal—the sustainable future of our oceans.
Empowering Impact:
By participating in the North Atlantic Youth Blue Innovation Camp, you'll be at the forefront of a movement striving to make a tangible impact on the blue economy. Your innovative ideas have the potential to shape industries, protect ecosystems, and drive sustainable growth, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
THE CHALLENGES
The challenges will focus on three themes
Coastal resilience, social innovation and local communities
Sustainable Ocean-based Tourism
Sustainable Ocean Food and Sustainable New Ocean Industries
#1
Coastal resilience, social innovation and local communities
This challenge aims to empower young individuals in coastal areas by identifying solutions to overcome barriers they face. Participants will leverage their skills to inspire social innovation and participatory governance, addressing challenges and restoring the ocean. The challenge aims to increase interest in the blue economy and engage citizens in protecting marine ecosystems.
#2
Sustainable Ocean-based Tourism
This challenge aims to transform coastal and ocean-based tourism into sustainable, resilient practices. It focuses on enhancing the infrastructure and activities related to tourism and leisure while prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and the conservation of marine ecosystems. Additionally, it encourages the integration of nature-based solutions for sustainable tourism infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and promote resilience.
#3
Sustainable Ocean Food and Sustainable New Ocean Industries
This challenge aims to transform ocean industries into more environmentally responsible and economically inclusive sectors. It emphasizes on exploring cross-sectoral activities, promoting fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, and advancing carbon capture and storage. The challenge seeks innovative solutions to drive sustainable growth and harness the potential of the ocean economy.
FOLLOW UP
After the camp Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar will support and promote both local, North Atlantic and European emerging talents through personalized support that will include yearlong access to tools, knowledge and expertise in both digital fabrication and project strategy.
The process includes an intensive maker-to-market bootcamp where participants will have access to cutting edge tools and sessions on topics such as business development, communication and supply-chain management, amongst others.
The provided support will be adapted to the participants’ needs, and include both in-kind and financial support to increase community -building around their projects, support their internationalisation and the creation of new models for revenue streams.
Special emphasis will be put on supporting projects and creators who make relevant contributions to the open source and distributed design field., as well as to projects that can contribute to long-term visions such as the Green New Deal with concrete solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
Participants will be selected by a jury of professionals from the distributed design network who will evaluate the potential and relevance of all potential candidates taking in account to which degree their projects are distributable, reproducible and/or add ecosocial value.
Once the selection is completed. A first round of diagnosis interviews will take place, to detect specific needs that could be addressed in both the bootcamp and the year-long support.
Íslenska