Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge
THE MONACO OCEAN PROTECTION CHALLENGE
The Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge is an international competition aimed at students and young entrepreneurs which aims to provide concrete support for the creation and development of start-upsups capable of demonstrating a positive impact on ocean preservation in the short to medium term.
One of the aims of the competition is to support the winners in their professional project , by providing advice and support, giving them access to contacts and knowledge within within the professional networks of partner companies, particularly those involved in incubating, accelerating or financing start-ups.
The competition is open to two categories of candidates:
“Students” category (open to undergraduate and graduate students of any specialization, or recent graduates, from business schools, engineering schools, science schools, design schools, art schools, communications schools, etc.)
“Start-ups” category (open to all entrepreneurs who create or have created after June 2022)
The 7th Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
On Wednesday June 19, the three winners of the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge (MOPC) were honored by HSH Prince Albert II. Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Grand Final , held at the at Monaco ‘s Oceanographic Museum, in the presence of numerous guests. This international competition, co-organized by the International University of Monaco, the Oceanographic Institute (Fondation Albert Ier, Prince of Monaco ), the Monaco Impact association and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, brought together over 90 students and young entrepreneurs from all over the world. This international competition, aimed at students and young entrepreneurs, aims to provide concrete support for the creation and development of start-upsups capable of demonstrating a positive impact on ocean preservation in the short to medium term.
After an afternoon of presentations in the presence of the public, followed by the jury ‘s deliberations, the three prizewinners were presented with their awards by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.H.S. H. Prince Albert II of Monaco , who declared: “I want to thank the candidates whose inventiveness and spirit have made a huge difference within this competition. This spirit and the incredible responsibility that we have towards our planet and more importantly in the marine environment are often overlooked and neglected and are victims of the excessive human activity, so we thank you for your input in trying to find the best solutions for it ”.
The hundred or so participants, from 24 universities and representing nearly 25 different nationalities (USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France…), worked from midJanuary to the end of April 2024 ona business plan to present new business concepts for a more sustainable Ocean.
A total of 40 projects were submitted, and after two selection stages, 6 were selected for the Grand Finale, in the ” Student ” and “Start-up” categories. Like a pitch competition, the finalists were invited to present and defend their project on stage in the Oceanographic Museum ‘s conference room, to convince the jury.
The final jury
- Vincent Thomas, Deputy Managing Director , CFM Indosuez Wealth Management
- M. Bertrand Charron, Global Director of Research Insights de Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
- Mme Véronique Raoul, Chief Executive Officer, Inalve
- Ms Sylvie Lienhart, Mediterranean Sea Pole Steering Committee, Officer of the Order of Maritime Merit
- Mme Birgit Liodden, founder and CEO of Ocean opportunity Lab, Oslo
THE WINNERS OF THE 6th EDITION 2023 :
“Students” category
NEMA (Université de la Côte d’Azur; nationality of project initiators: American) – An innovative blue energy provider, which transforms mechanical marine energy (waves and currents) into a sustainable and reliable electricity-generating system.
Donation :
- Two €1,000 cheques donated by CFM Indosuez Wealth Management and Inalve;
- A half-day introduction to freediving for each team member, courtesy of BLUENERY ACADEMY ;
- A photograph by Greg Lecoeur, courtesy of its author.
“Start-ups” category
INNOVSEA ( Registered in France) – An innovative and eco-responsible in vitro ecotoxicity test to help formulate products that are more respectful of the marine environment, founded within the Institut de Recherche sur le Cancer et le Vieillissement de Nice (IRCAN).
Donation :
- An “Accelerator Program: Investment Ready Service” ( worth €7,000 ) and a “Virtual Spotlight Event”, courtesy of White Castle Partners;
- A cheque for €5,000, donated by Monaco Impact.
“Heart” prize
AQUA (International University of Monaco; nationalities of project leaders: German and American): Harnessing cutting-edge drone technology and artificial intelligence to clean up the oceans, ensuring a more sustainable future.
Donation :
- A cheque for €2,000 from CFM Indosuez Wealth Management ;
- The opportunity to present the project to the CFM Indosuez Wealth Management Executive Committee in Monaco
Each winner was presented with a trophy in the form of a work of art specially created for the Grand Finale MOPC 2024 and made from recycled materials by jewellery designer Alberto Domenico Vitale, Managing Director of Vitale 1913 Monte-Carlo, committed to ocean preservation and sustainable business since 2014.
Success Story
Ittinsect , winner of the 2021 competition, is developing insect-based feeds for aquaculture in order to reduce dependence to fishmeal made from wild fish. Thanks to the visibility offered by the MOPC, the company was able to raise 1.5 million euros and aims to raise a further 4,5 million in 2024, with two objectives: to produce 500 tons of food and consolidate its product range. An ongoing success story for this young company in the blue economy!
A competition supported by 4 institutions:
THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MONACO
IUM’s mission is to prepare new generations of managers and and entrepreneurs for the challenges of today’s and tomorrow ‘s world. The major themes of digital transformation and social and environmental and environmental responsibility are integrated into all our curricula: “Bachelors, Masters, MBAs, DBAs and continuing education programs.
OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE, ALBERT Ier FOUNDATION, PRINCE OF MONACO
The mission of the Oceanographic Institute, a public interest foundation, is to make the Ocean known, loved and protected. It contributes to a lasting relationship between mankind and the ocean by encouraging political, social, technological and economic transformations informed by science, technological and economic transformations informed by science.
MONACO IMPACT
Monaco Impact aims to promote Monaco’s image as the global center for philanthropy and social impact investment. As part of this agreement, Monaco Impact is sponsoring a competition involving IUM students, rewarding the best project aimed at developing social media tools to attract and raise awareness among Generation Z of the importance of protecting the oceans.
PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO FOUNDATION
Founded by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2006, the eponymous Foundation is a global non-profit organization, committed to advancing global health for present and future generations.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation focuses its efforts on the following major geographical regions: the Mediterranean basin, the polar regions and the least developed countries. The Foundation has already granted + 110 million euros to finance more than + 780 projects aimed at limiting the effects of climate change, promote renewable energies, protect the oceans and preserve biodiversity, manage water resources and combat deforestation.
Monaco Ocean Protection is supported by :
Main sponsor of MOPC
CFM INDOSUEZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT, main sponsor of the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge :
A leading banking institution and pioneer of responsible finance in Monaco, CFM Indosuez Wealth Management has joined the circle of companies supporting the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge in 2023. In addition to financial support for the initiative, CFM Indosuez is offering the lucky winner of the ” Prix Coup in the student category a cheque for of €2,000 and an opportunity to present their project to the CFM Indosuez Executive Committee. CFM Indosuez is also offering a cheque for €1,000 to the winner in the student category.