Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge - Grand Finale Winners 2020

The 3^rd edition of the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge comes to an (exciting) end

The third edition of the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge organized by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the Monaco Impact Association and the International University of Monaco has now come to an end. Like the two previous editions of this Challenge dedicated to enabling the young generation to come up with innovative ideas to protect our oceans, the future of the projects presented is promising and exciting.

The 2020 edition was the first one open to students from universities all around the world.

It was also the first year that in addition to the traditional Entrepreneurship Challenge for which students have to develop a business plan presenting an innovative idea to protect the ocean, a Corporate Challenge was also offered. The question of the Corporate Challenge was defined by the Oceanographic Institute who is working on a “Party without Balloons” campaign. The participants then has to present a communication campaign to support the initiative.

Despite the difficult situation, the 2020 edition was a real success. Over twenty teams registered from six different universities registered. The pre-selection jury allowed five teams to go through to the Finale with participants from France, Italy, Spain, China and Mexico.

Like for the previous editions, each team was put in contact with an experienced teacher or entrepreneur to be mentored.

FINALE

The finalists presented on July 09 their innovative project during a well-organized and joyful livestream in front of a jury of experienced entrepreneurs and ocean protection specialists (to view the livestream recording, click here).

JURY

Were part of the jury Peter Kütemann, Founder & Chairman of Monaco Impact, Jean-Philippe Muller, General Director of the International University of Monaco (IUM), Olivier Dufourneaud, Ocean Policy Vice-President of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, Margaret Hepburn, Founder & CEO of Hepburn Biocare, Thomas de Williencourt, Director of the Pure Ocean Foundation and Marianne Josselin, Exhibitor and Innovators Manager of the Change Now Summit.

REWARDS

Several rewards were given to the teams.

• The Exploration Pass was given to all teams to thank them for their participation during these unprecedented times. This pass is a card from “Les Amis du Musée Océanographique” that will give them unlimited access to the museum, invitations to events and reduced prices at the Museum store.
• Venustus Couture and White Water, two teams from IUM were awarded with a Coaching Pass for some mentoring regarding their branding so that they can further improve their projects.

Venustus Couture presented a business plan to produce luxury jewelry in Monaco with recycled minerals from e-waste while White Water introduced a concept to recycle grey and dark waters on boats to generate clean water and electricity.

• Team Manta from SKEMA Business School, the only team who presented for the Corporate Challenge, won the Monaco Impact Young Membership, which gives access to their events and network. Manta presented a 3-steps communication strategy to address the inflatable balloon pollution problem with (1) an online survey, (2) the use of events to collect inflatable balloon by the Oceanographic Institute and (3) the reuse of these balloons by artists to create an exhibition at the Oceanographic Museum.

• The Change Now Pass was then awarded. With this pass, two teams will be able to attend the International Summit Change Now in 2021, present their business concepts and have part of their travel expenses to Paris covered.

Monaco Boats, a team from IUM, received the Public Prize for Best Presentation and was therefore awarded the first pass. Monaco Boats aims to offer high-end electrical boats to tourists from Monaco in order to reduce ocean pollution and noise.

1. I Save the Ocean, a team made of students from Tec de Monterey and SKEMA Business School won both the second Change Now Pass and the Monaco Impact Pass to receive 5,000 euros funding to kick off their activity.

This team presented a business plan to produce phone cases made of recycled ocean waste featuring an artsy designed of endangered species.

2021 EDITION

We are now looking forward to the 2021 edition for which we have even greater ambitions!

We hope to gather students from more schools all around the world

For more information on the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge, visit our website https://www.monaco-opc.com/ or write an e-mail to info@monaco-opc.com