Europe’s largest climate action innovation summer school Journey kicks-off for 2017

More than 300 students will embark on Europe’s largest climate change education programme – the Climate-KIC summer school, the Journey.

The course will offer a unique combination of academic study and real-world business experience with the aim of creating the climate change leaders of tomorrow.

Encompassing 18 locations across Europe, this year’s programme is Climate-KIC’s largest summer school and is divided into eight separate groups. Students from each group will journey across three different European locations, gaining insight and experience from a selection of Europe’s best universities and most innovative businesses. It brings together students and young professionals all over the world. 

The programme culminates in a challenge where students pitch their ideas for solutions to real-world climate related issues. Based on their own creativity and climate change knowledge, students must present a detailed business plan to a judging panel consisting of venture capitalists, start-up entrepreneurs and scientists. 

This year will also be the second year running of the shorter three-week long summer schools which will journey to two locations before meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria to pitch their business idea.

Journey streams

The Journey is divided into eight different streams which travel across Europe before meeting up with another stream for their pitching finals. To help unravel the confusion of who is where when, below is a breakdown of each Journey stream and where it is headed. 

Journey 1:

Journey 1 kicks off 2017’s programme in Cyprus and is the first of our three-week long summer schools ending in Sofia, Bulgaria for their finals.

Journey 2:

Meeting Journey 1 in Sofia for the pitching finals in Journey 2 who kick off their three-week programme in Budapest, Hungary. 

Journey 3:

The first of our five-week long summer schools begins in Bologna, before heading to Munich and Helsinki for their finals.

Journey 4:

Joining Journey 3 in Helsinki for the pitching finals is Journey 4 who are starting in the Netherlands before seeing what Trondheim has to offer.

Journey 5:

Kickstarting their programme in Copenhagen is Journey 5 who are heading to their finals in Wroclaw via Zurich.

Journey 6:

Joining Journey 5 in Wroclaw for their finals in Journey 6 who are starting in sunny Lisbon and Valencia. 

Journey 7:

Beginning their programme in Hamburg, before heading to London and Riga is Journey 7 who begin their programme on 30 July. 

Journey 8:

The final Journey also starting on 30 July is Journey 8 who begin in Paris, travelling to Riga via Dublin.

Keep track of the Journey

Follow our Journey across Europe on social media #ClimateJourney17 and learn from our students, coaches, and experts about climate science, entrepreneurship, and innovation. 

You can also keep track of our blog which will feature updates from our students on their progress throughout the programme. Read about their insights and highlights as they Journey across Europe.