First ClimAccelerator in the Pacific Islands sets up Blue Economy entrepreneurs for success
Climate change poses the single greatest threat to the livelihood of Pacific Islanders from rising sea levels, intensified storms and droughts, ocean acidification and damage to coral reefs and fisheries. At the same time, the Blue Economy is critically important to livelihoods in the Pacific, with the enterprises and start-ups supporting the growth of maritime activities and creating sustainable income streams, providing a safety net to rebuild after disasters and boosting climate resilience.
A pioneering initiative in the region, EIT Climate-KIC finalised the first Blue Economy ClimAccelerator in the Pacific Island, supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises focused on maritime activities. The programme offered innovative entrepreneurs learning sessions, mentorship, market and investor linkages and grant support.
EIT Climate-KIC partnered with a local international development organisation Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), to implement the programme, made possible by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’) funding. The six-month programme offered training sessions to start-up teams residing in the Pacific Islands from January 2023 through May 2023.
“We are so pleased with the results of our Blue Economy ClimAccelerator in the Pacific Islands. Collaborating to build climate innovation ecosystems is key to our work, and the Blue Economy ClimAccelerator programme has been a great first step for Climate-KIC as we build our presence and impact in the region,” said David Watt, the Strategic Programmes Builder from EIT Climate-KIC.
The project in detail
The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator is one of the dozens of entrepreneurship programmes currently running across the globe to foster innovation ecosystems and transform cities, regions and industry value chains. Each of the selected start-ups received grants of up to €10,000 to advance their businesses. The open call received more than 50 applications, followed by a rigorous interview process.
The selected innovations focused on coral tourism and restoration, ocean waste and recycling, desalination, farming of seaweed and sea cucumber, organic fertilisers, and carbon sequestration mangroves from the Pacific Island countries of Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Samoa.
The programme participants received accelerator support services from a pool of selected practitioners and coaches through the local delivery partner GGGI. Upon completing their training, the business owners were invited to pitch at a Demo Day co-organised by the Archipelagic and Island States Forum, where participants demonstrated programme learnings. Following the ceremony, the attendees had an opportunity to engage with various stakeholders working in the Blue Economy and green entrepreneurship, including business stakeholders, investors, government representatives, and international and national organisations.
The successful showcase event received attention from the local media outlets, Fiji Times, Fiji One News, and Fiji Sun, with recognition for its catalysing role in supporting and bringing together emerging climate innovators from the Fiji Government and the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communications.
EIT Climate-KIC continues to extend its expertise on climate innovation ecosystem building to local partners and start-ups in the Pacific Islands through the call for applications for ClimateLaunchpad, looking for entrepreneurs at their ideation stage in Papua New Guinea, with Fiji and Vanuatu applications soon to be announced.
Apply for ClimateLaunchpad 2023: https://climatelaunchpad.org/