BLUE ECONOMY INNOVATION CHALLENGE
The Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility, in partnership with the Institute of Marine Affairs, is looking to provide support to selected Caribbean startups and innovative firms to create new products and services, improve their processes and scale their commercial models rooted in cutting-edge technologies that contribute to the sustainable management of oceans and coastal resources (or marine ecosystems) as the basis for livelihoods, food security and economic development of the Caribbean region.
We are looking for scalable and innovative business models that apply new technologies or solutions to foster the long-term sustainability of the ocean economy to be developed in the following 13 target countries: The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Individual start-ups or private sector firms - must be registered for at least three years in at least one of the 13 beneficiary countries.
AWARDS: Selected start-ups and firms will receive up to USD$160,000 in non-reimbursable technical assistance grants to implement their Blue Economy innovation project in one of the 13 beneficiary countries. The grant amount requested should not represent more than 50% of the total budget necessary to implement the project successfully-up to a maximum of US$160,000.
FINAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 25th, 2021 (6PM EST)
Visit https://www.competecaribbean.org/ for more on how to apply for this grant opportunity.
SAVE THE DATE! BLUE SOLUTIONS WEBINAR
MARCH 4TH, 2021 | 9:30 AM | ZOOM & FB LIVE
SAVE THE DATE!
AGRI-TECH GRANT & INNOVATION LAUNCH EVENT
MARCH 5TH, 2021 | 10AM - 12 NOON | ZOOM & FB LIVE
TECHNOLOGY EXTENSION SERVICES (TES)
Do you want support for business optimization, online marketing and digital bookings? Apply for a chance to receive free consulting services, as well as support to choose and adopt what's best for your business. At least two firms will be selected per country.
Criteria for selection:
Minimum of 5 employees
100K in revenues (latest fiscal year)
In operation
Free consulting services for winning firms equivalent to US$500 - US$15,000 (Amount of support will vary depending on your business' capacity to absorb technology and your business needs).
DEADLINE: March 1st , 2021
Eligible Sectors: Tourism | Hospitality
Eligible Territories: Antigua & Barbuda | The Bahamas / Barbados Belize | Dominica Grenada Guyana | Jamaica St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & The Grenadines Suriname Tobago
Training program to boost regional innovation and entrepreneurship systems
Self-paced Training Workshop Starts March 2nd!!
Training program to boost regional innovation and entrepreneurship systems. You will learn how to effectively develop innovation in your region, promoting transformation toward the knowledge economy.
What for? To identify the region's challenges and develop public policy that will promote innovation. For whom? Subnational public entities interested in promoting innovation in their regions.
When?
February 19/2021 - Registration
March 2/2021 - Virtual course
April 15/2021 - Regional Diagnosis Submission
May 4/2021 - Week of module practice workshop
Registration is done via Google Docs - click here to register now.
CALL FOR ENTREPRENEURS & BUSINESS - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
RESPONSE DEADLINE - 5PM EST Wednesday, March 3rd 2021
Compete Caribbean, in partnership with IDB Invest, is engaged in an ongoing corporate venturing pilot program. To date the program has identified several innovation opportunities for a few large firms across the region. We are now moving to identify potential suppliers to bring those innovation opportunities to reality in a way that can provide business and economic benefit to both the supplier and the large firm.
This Request for Information (RFI) has been issued to collect information from qualified and interested small to medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs that meet the requirements will be issued a Request for Proposal as the next step in this process.
Point of Contact: Requests for clarification and responses to this RFI may be sent to: Kieron Swift | Email: KIERONS@iadb.org
Click here to read more: https://www.competecaribbean.org/rfi/?inf_contact_key=385e8281bb26381faf77b9ecdc112c9b680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1