Apply for Climathon Podgorica

Eligible for the competition are educational programs, software solutions, and any new products or services that would make Podgorica a cleaner city, which the applying teams wish to implement, either through a business or a non-profit organization.

(Podgorica, November 4, 2020) – Montenegro will host its first Climathon on november 28 and 29, a globally recognized environmental competition dedicated to climate change. It is a 24-hour hackathon where participants propose innovative solutions for urban problems related to the climate crisis. The first Climathon in Montenegro is organized by the NGO “Gnijezdo,” under the patronage of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Telenor, the Capital City, the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Erste Bank, and the Petrović Njegoš Foundation.

The competition is open to anyone between the ages of 15 and 45 who can form teams of up to five members. A team can apply with one idea, and preference will be given to teams with new ideas and solutions that have not been previously launched and/or funded through other competitions. The deadline for team registration is from November 4 to November 18. One person from each team must fill out the form at the following link: https://bit.ly/3jUMSJw. Ten teams will be selected to compete in the first Climathon in Montenegro.

“Less than ten weeks remain until the end of the year, which is more than enough time to gather the best ideas for solving waste-related problems in the Capital City, prepare them for action, and reward them. If you love competitions and want to do something about this challenge, apply for Climathon Podgorica,” says the NGO “Gnijezdo.”

So far, Climathon has been organized on six continents, in 56 countries, and 145 cities. It was launched in 2015 by Climate KIC, the environmental branch of the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT), an EU body, to allow local institutions and citizens to come together and jointly propose solutions to ecological challenges faced by their communities.

The European Union delegation to Montenegro decided to support this unique event in Podgorica because the fight against climate change is one of the EU’s top priorities.

“We face the consequences of climate change on a global, national, and local level. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change, and events like this can be the starting point. We are pleased that Climathon is now being organized in Montenegro, and we are sure it will bring many great ideas that will make the Capital City an even better and healthier place to live,” said the EU Delegation.

Prizes of 1,000 to 3,000 Euros

What will Climathon Podgorica look like on November 28 and 29? During the 24-hour program—12 hours each day—the selected 10 teams will develop the ideas they apply with, supported by experienced mentors and trainers who are well-versed in ecological activism, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the community. At the end of the event, the teams will present their ideas, and a jury will select the winners, who will receive valuable prizes:

• First-place team: 3,000 Euros
• Second-place team: 2,000 Euros
• Third-place team: 1,000 Euros

What kinds of ideas are eligible? Teams can apply with any idea for a product or service that, when implemented, would contribute to waste management in the local community, including:

• Prevention of waste generation (so-called “zero-waste” solutions); • More efficient disposal and/or treatment of waste (e.g., addressing illegal landfills or the low popularity of recycling, etc.); • Reusing materials previously discarded (e.g., composting organic waste, creative recycling—so-called upcycling, etc.); • Any other waste management issue (e.g., food waste) that your team wants to tackle!

Eligible solutions include educational programs, software solutions, and any new product or service that, when implemented, would help make Podgorica a cleaner city, which the teams want to implement through either a business or non-profit organization. In addition to the main event, which will take place on the last weekend of November, a preparatory training will be organized on November 21 for the 10 competing teams. Besides cash prizes, the best solutions will receive support and mentorship from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to further develop and implement their ideas.

The events will be held at the “NEST” multifunctional coworking and conference space. For more information about the event, you can find it on [insert link or source Climathon Podgorica Instagram the page, and for any additional information, you can contact the organizers via email at [email protected].

More information about EIT Climathon’s global activities can be found on their official website or social media pages. More information about the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT) can be found on their official website: EIT official website.