We need innovative, passionate leaders to foster a sustainable blue economy and ensure a healthy future for our seas. Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative—with support from Destination Canada—is excited to host the third annual Ocean Changemakers Challenge, a competition showcasing leading changemakers working to develop business solutions to ocean-related sustainability challenges. It is aimed at early-career researchers or professionals.
How to enter
Deadline to apply: entries will close on Friday, August 19th 2022.
To enter the Ocean Changemakers challenge, applicants need to submit a short video of no longer than 1 minute in which they address the following question:
“How are you contributing to the sustainable development of the ocean economy? How would you benefit from an ocean leader as a mentor?”
The video should highlight how your work or academic study is creating innovative, viable, scalable and action-oriented business solutions to sustainable blue-economy challenges.
The video should be sent as an unlisted video link on YouTube or Vimeo, or uploaded in a common video format, such as AVCHD, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, MP4, WEBM or WMV.
Selection criteria
A panel of judges from both the World Ocean Initiative and the wider ocean community will review the videos and select a shortlist of 12 entrants. The videos of the shortlisted applicants will be posted on the World Ocean Initiative website and social media channels (#OceanChangemakers). Applicants will be judged according to how well their ideas meet the following criteria:
Impact on blue economy: clear link with sustainable development of the ocean
Innovative: original idea—or clear improvement on existing idea—focused on progress
Viable: should be feasible in the medium to long-term
Scalable: can be scaled up and applied in different contexts
Investable: offers opportunities for growth
Terms and Conditions
Winning entries
The judges will select three winning applicants, each of whom will receive:
Travel and accommodation, in order to attend the World Ocean Tech and Innovation Summit in Halifax, Canada, in October 2022;
An opportunity to present the innovation to the World Ocean Tech and Innovation Summit audience during a dedicated session;
A dedicated “pod” where they can introduce and showcase their innovation to the World Ocean Tech and Innovation attendees; and
Mentoring from a high-profile ocean mentor, who will work with them over a 12-month period to help refine their ideas and shape their leadership skills.
Next steps
Entries will close on Friday, August 19th 2022.
Please read the terms and conditions. If you have any questions about the challenge please check the FAQs below. If you cannot find an answer to your query, email oceanchangemakers@economist.com.
