The MarENet (Atlantic Maritime Ecosystem Network) project consortium, led by the Marine Research Centre of the University of Vigo through Campus del Mar, has just launched the Blue Entrepreneurship 2021 Program, which aims to promote sustainable business ideas in the Blue Economy sector.
MarENet is Co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the European Commission and closely linked to the Blue Growth strategy of the Port of Vigo. It aims to strengthen cooperation between academic institutions and companies in the marine sector in order to improve the visibility of training and professional opportunities in the Blue Economy sector. The MarENet consortium is made up of different national and European entities, including the Vigo Port Authority, the Galician Naval Industrial Association (ACLUNAGA), the Institute for Sustainable Business Growth (ICSEM), and Munster Technological University (MTU , Ireland) and the Marine Institute- Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO, Ireland), the University of La Rochelle (France) and the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA). It will select some thirty entrepreneurs with potential business ideas related to the marine environment to participate in the blue entrepreneurship program.
This training and mentoring program for entrepreneurship will last approximately 9 months -from February to October- and aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of entrepreneurs, as well as provide them with the necessary tools to turn their business ideas into potential real projects. Through this program, the entrepreneur will have access to an online training plan that will allow them to improve their entrepreneurial and business skills, as well as expand their knowledge of the blue economy, interact with real entrepreneurs and learn first-hand about their experience in the business world.
In addition, participants will have the possibility to create their real business plan with the help of a team of specialists and present their project to the Evaluation Committee. Fifteen proposals will be select to participate in the BLUE HACKATHON in Cork (Ireland). This event, which will take place approximately in the month of June (subject to changes due to the current health crisis situation) will provide participants with the opportunity to interact and strengthen ties with industry, academic and research institutions, confederations, associations, as well as other public institutions related to the marine environment in Spain, France and Ireland.
Finally, the entrepreneurship program will advise the three best business proposals in the search for financing channels, public calls and the creation of synergies with potential private and public institutions in their sector to be able to implement their business plans.
participation:
The MarENet consortium encourages anyone who has an idea that responds to some of the challenges of the marine environment to participate and enroll in this blue entrepreneurship program with the aim of contributing to the development of a sustainable and innovative blue economy.
For more information about the program and participation, the brochure is available for download at the following link: http://www.marenet.org/home/index. php/ blue- entrepreneurship- programme-2021- open- call- for- proposals/
To register in the program, you just have to fill out the online form, available at the following link: https:// forms. gle/ utco5 zSEZvxZLMrk8.
Registration open until February 28th.
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