EIT Climate-KIC seeks start-ups with maritime solutions for climate mitigation in the Pacific Islands

6 December 2022, Fiji – A call for entrepreneurs to access funding, expertise, and mentorship via EIT Climate-KIC’s first accelerator in the Pacific Islands. The programme is focused on scaling climate solutions that support the growth of maritime activities of communities across the region. 

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, a healthy ocean has immense potential for climate mitigation and adaptation as highlighted by the UN-facilitated Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue.

The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator is open to Pacific Islander innovators addressing maritime activities such as fisheries, aquaculture, coastal and maritime tourism, desalination, renewable marine energy, maritime transport and infrastructure, waste disposal management or coastal resilience and protection.  

“Small businesses play a vital role in promoting economic growth and job creation in this important sector, although they are often constrained by the challenges in accessing financing for growth,” said Daniel Muñoz-Smith, GGGI’s Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu. ”The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator will address this by providing promising and innovative blue enterprises with grants to make their plans for business growth a reality, thus scaling up their social and environmental impact.”

EIT Climate-KIC has partnered with the international development organisation Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to accelerate 10 start-up teams residing in the Pacific Islands. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’), the six-month programme offers bootcamp and learning sessions, mentorship, market and investor linkages, and a grant of up to €10,000 for the implementation of business plans. The Blue Economy ClimAccelerator will run from January 2023 through May 2023.  

Applications are open from now until 16 December 2022 on the website: https://www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com/blue-economy-climaccelerator  

Information for Applicants:  

Eligibility criteria  

• The lead applicant must be a resident of one of the following countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna   
• The enterprise must be appropriately registered/incorporated to operate as a for-profit business (sole trader, private limited company, partnership etc.), civil society organization (CSO)/non-governmental organization (NGO), cooperative or trust in one of the countries listed above. 
• The enterprise must have its main operations in one (or more) of the following: fisheries, aquaculture, coastal and maritime tourism, desalination, renewable marine energy, maritime transport & infrastructure, waste disposal management or coastal resilience and protection (e.g. sustainable tourism infrastructure, sea walls, carbon sequestration).  

• The minimum age of the lead applicant is 18 years old. 

About the EIT Climate-KIC   
EIT Climate-KIC is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT Climate-KIC identifies and supports innovation that helps society mitigate and adapt to climate change believing that a decarbonised, sustainable economy is not only necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change but presents a wealth of opportunities for business and society.  

About ClimAccelerator  
ClimAccelerator is the main climate innovation solution provider in Europe with a 10-year track record, with over 1,500 solutions supported and nearly €1 billion of capital secured.   
For more info: https://climaccelerator.climate-kic.org  

About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’)  
Ireland’s development cooperation programme aims to reduce poverty, hunger and humanitarian need, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. By supporting long term development and providing humanitarian assistance, Irish Aid is helping to build better futures for some of the world’s poorest communities.  
For more info: https://www.irishaid.ie/  

About Green Growth Institute 
Based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, GGGI is a, inter-governmental organization that supports developing country governments transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI has a unique in-country presence and prominent role as a neutral, trusted advisor and strategic development partner embedded in Member and partner governments. GGGI’s operating model maximizes the potential to translate green growth strategies and policies (especially economic policies) into green investment plans, mobilizing green finance commitments. 
For more info: https://gggi.org/  
 

Contact Information  

For questions regarding the Blue Economy ClimAccelerator programme and application process please contact: pacificgreenpreneurs@gmail.com  

Ideas, opinions and comments formulated as part of this press release are entirely the responsibility of its author(s) and do not necessarily represent any official policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.