Every day startups face various challenges while starting and growing their businesses. How to find clients and stand out from competitors, how to enter new markets, attract investments and find the right people to grow businesses with?
Mark 21-22 of May in your calendar and let’s find the bright side of challenges during the biggest startup event in Lithuania – “Startup Fair.Challenge 2020”.
What to expect this year?
CONFERENCE: local and international speakers will present the most relevant startups’ topics about the challenges and how to overcome them.
WORKSHOPS: special sessions for startup founders and employees to improve their skills in different fields.
B2B MEETINGS: Have an ideal plan how to scale your business? Startups from Lithuania and the whole region will meet with local and international investors at pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings.
PITCH BATTLE: Most promising startups will be pre-selected and have a main stage to pitch their ideas and compete in front of the influential jury: the investors, startup ecosystem experts and the audience. Registration and prizes will be announced soon.
More information about “Startup Fair.Challenge 2020” and side events are coming soon.
Event is free of charge, but don’t forget to grab your ticket here: https://startupfair.lt/
Startup Fair is an annual and the main international startup ecosystem event in Lithuania. Being on the crossroads of Europe Startup Fair empowers startups to meet influential investors and potential partners from around the world.
More information https://startupfair.lt/
The Smart-up BSR-project wishes to invite youth representatives from Klaipėda and other respective regions. You have an opportunity to take part in the InnoCamp-program, have meaningful discussions and co-create the Baltic Sea Region-wide youth network with us!
“As we see youth taking action for climate and more including society in the streets and schools, we see a tremendous potential and a wish to influence to make an impact to the society. We are in need of channels to include this energy and potential in shaping the 21st century society. This is why the network of youth will be a tool to create channels and models for co-operation between the both groups in society to benefit, nurture and share all ideas to transform our society to be more including, sustainable and smarter”, – hosts of the event says.
In Riga, participants are going to make decisions on what would this network look like. If you would be interested, please contact and confirm your participation to the network coordinator Atte Leskinen, ateles@utu.fi. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you know the perfect addition in creating the network!
What: Smart-up BSR Innovation Camp Riga on 25th Feb.
Where: House of Science of the University of Latvia, Jelgavas street 3, Riga
Who: Youth from age 15 to 24 with an interest in making an impact!
Sign up: ateles@utu.fi
Why: To make Baltic Sea Region-wide connections while forming a better tomorrow!
More info: ateles@utu.fi, https://smartup-bsr.eu, and the Agenda for the event!
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Smart-Up is a community in Baltic Sea Region, which enables the regions to engage with partners and to apply research and innovation potential in practice. This we call regional smart specialisation strategy implementation. The Smart-Up story is about piloting and experimenting with new solutions in societally important areas: healthy ageing, climate change, circular economy and smart city. And it doesn’t stop there. Smart-Up is about scaling results to the whole Baltic Sea Macro Region.
On 23-24 January the Alliance organised the “next generation” pitching and match-making event in Helsinki. The event was organised by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and the SUBMARINER Network, under the auspice of the Alliance+ project (2019-2021).
In the two days event, more than 30 vibrant people participated all experts within blue (bio)economy innovation and business support. The main aim of the event was to introduce new mentors and cases to the Alliance, the accelerator of the SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG, following the great success of mentoring and accelerating of 26 cases in the Alliance between 2016 and 2019.
In this round of recruitment, four new cases have enrolled to the Alliance mentoring and accelerator programme, and also 16 new mentors and service providers have accepted the call for supporting product development within blue growth sectors. The newly recruited cases had the opportunity to pitch and obtained a workshop supporting their business development, while the mentors presented their expertise and received a training from the Alliance+ project partners who are experienced mentors. During the event, there was ample opportunity for participants to network and exchange at various setups, with the main aim to find matches of cases and mentors within the accelerator programme.
The energy was contagious, and participants were very proactive and outgoing, something very much leaving to the spirit of the Alliance family. The next matchmaking event is planned for the 4. June 2020 in Berlin.
The recruitment process for companies to apply to the Alliance accelerator is running 365 days, applicants can apply online here: https://submariner-network.eu/apply-for-alliance-accelerator
New mentors, investors and sponsors and those who want to learn more about the Alliance are invited to contact Efthalia Arvaniti at: ea@submariner-network.eu
The Alliance is the SUBMARINER Network’s mentoring programme and accelerator for blue growth. Since 2016, the Alliance is an integral part of the activities of the SUBMARINER Network. The Baltic Blue Biotechnology Alliance (2016-2019) and the Baltic Blue Biotechnology Alliance+ (2019-2021) projects, during which the Alliance mentoring programme and accelerator were set up, are led by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and co-financed by Interreg BSR Programme.
Maritime industry processes in the Baltic Sea Region – Synthesis of eco-inefficiencies and the potential of digital technologies for solving them
Report by: Elisa Aro (University of Turku), Niels Gorm Malý Rytter (Aalborg University) and Teemu Itälinna (University of Turku)
This synthesis was developed under ECOPRODIGI’s Work Package 2 ‘Evaluating maritime industry processes and technology outlook’. It offers an overview of the results achieved so far in the project’s three technology cases: digital performance monitoring, optimising cargo stowage and optimising shipyard processes.
The report summarises the eco-inefficiencies identified in the processes of the involved end-users, and it introduces the digital technologies that are currently in use and the most promising digital technologies and concepts for improving eco-efficiency. The report also addresses challenges and requirements that the implementation of new technologies and concepts involves. On that basis, the report provides an outlook for the future in regard to capitalising the benefits of digitalisation. The focus is on the Baltic Sea region, but the scope is global, as the solutions may be utilised anywhere.
Download the report (pdf) here.
The upcoming conference in Riga is combined with the BSR Interreg project activities. Smart-Up BSR is a community in Baltic Sea Region, which enables the regions to engage with partners and to apply research and innovation potential in practice. Smart-Up’s network reaches out to EU RIS3 experts – EU Committee of the Regions & Joint Research Centre – to learn, get advised and enable orchestration of innovation hubs throughout Baltic Sea Region.
It is about fostering bottom-up regional innovation through peer-to-peer learning and entrepreneurial discovery process in a series of Innovation Camps. The Latvian Smart-up BSR project partners – University of Latvia, Ministry of Education and Science, Liepaja University together with the Latvian Academy of Science invite entrepreneurs, representatives of public authorities, scientific institutions and municipalities to participate in the event because the themes covered in the first day will be orientated on innovation implementation in the companies and scientific institutions.
Topics covered
The Baltic Sea region (BSR) has 85 million inhabitants, which is 17% of the total EU population, and nine countries – Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia, which share common interest and challenges.
3S Strategies
Development and specialisation of the 3S strategies of the Baltic Sea region. Cooperation in research, technological development and innovation. Major challenges for the region and common challenges.
Technological development
The Baltic Sea region under the influence of the next wave of technological development.
Research & Innovation
The objectives of the European Union in the field of research and innovation.
MORE INFORMATION, PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION
Patronese of the event:
Vaira Vīķe Freiberga
President of the Republic of Latvia (1999-2007)
SUBMARINER Network is launching first Baltic Blue Bioeconomy Hackathon, taking place 4-5 April this year in Kristineberg, Sweden. Organisers are currently looking for challenges for the teams to solve – and this is where business or research institutions have the opportunity to provide their first input.
This is a crucial chance for You to get a team of smart and creative students to consider a problem, challenge or opportunity you are facing, or to get input for tackling one of the Baltic Blue Bioeconomy’s wider challenges and opportunities!
For more information about the Hackathon and the type of challenges we are looking for: https://www.submariner-network.eu/hackathon
Please send us a short paragraph of what you think could be a good challenge before Friday 31 January and help us spread the word about the upcoming event!
The search for the teams will be launched soon – we’ll kepp you updated!
Questions? Please contact Lisa Simone de Grunt/ SUBMARINER lsdg@submariner-network.eu
Want to meet people, brainstorm, discuss, design, code, sleep, experiment, have fun and make great games? LT Game Jam 2020 at Klaipėda Science and technology Park is exactly the place for you! January 31 – February 2: save the date and register now!
Did you know that you can make either video games or board games? Game Jams are excellent challenges for game makers to balance creativity with time management, teamwork and game production skills. Participation requires focus and stamina involving 48 hours of innovation, experimentation, collaboration and fun.
The rewards can be even greater, however. One can expect to build life-long friendships and future career opportunities as well as valuable skill-building experience.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
When the Game Jam starts, the theme for the games will be announced. We will brainstorm game ideas, form teams, choose tools and technology, and have an amazing time making those ideas come to life!
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
You can participate if you are a developer, a student, a programmer, a designer, a thinker, an artist, a musician etc. Professional or amateur, doesn’t matter. You can come by yourself and form a team when you arrive or you can bring your existing team.
Persons under 18 must participate with adult supervisory and parental permission.
LT Game Jam 2020 is the alcohol-free event, so alcohol beverages are not allowed on the premises at the venues.
WHAT TO BRING?
For those making video games: hardware (laptop or desktop), software (anything you will want to use) and power extension cables. The internet will be wireless, so take care of wifi dongle for your desktop hardware.
For those making board games: pencils, paper, scissors, glue or any other materials you are comfortable working with.
If you plan to sleep/nap on-site, bring a sleeping bag!
Some snacks and hot beverages will be available at the jam locations, but the hot food will not be served.
Want to meet people, brainstorm, discuss, design, code, sleep, experiment, have fun and make great games? LT Game Jam 2020 at Klaipėda Science and Technology Park is exactly the place for you! January 31 – February 2: save the date and register now!
Did you know that you can make either video games or board games? Game Jams are excellent challenges for game makers to balance creativity with time management, teamwork and game production skills. Participation requires focus and stamina involving 48 hours of innovation, experimentation, collaboration and fun.
The rewards can be even greater, however. One can expect to build life-long friendships and future career opportunities as well as valuable skill-building experience.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
When the Game Jam starts, the theme for the games will be announced. We will brainstorm game ideas, form teams, choose tools and technology, and have an amazing time making those ideas come to life!
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
You can participate if you are a developer, a student, a programmer, a designer, a thinker, an artist, a musician etc. Professional or amateur, doesn’t matter. You can come by yourself and form a team when you arrive or you can bring your existing team.
Persons under 18 must participate with adult supervisory and parental permission.
LT Game Jam 2020 is the alcohol-free event, so alcohol beverages are not allowed on the premises at the venues.
WHAT TO BRING?
For those making video games: hardware (laptop or desktop), software (anything you will want to use) and power extension cables. The internet will be wireless, so take care of wifi dongle for your desktop hardware.
For those making board games: pencils, paper, scissors, glue or any other materials you are comfortable working with.
If you plan to sleep/nap on-site, bring a sleeping bag!
Some snacks and hot beverages will be available at the jam locations, but the hot food will not be served.
The plans for 2020-2023 and investment projects of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority and Smiltyne Ferry Ltd were presented in the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Mr. Vidmantas Paukste, temporary manager of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, introduced its future plans, while the plans of Smiltyne Ferry Ltd were presented by its Managing Director, Mr. Mindaugas Ciakas.
Klaipeda State Seaport Authority plans to spend the majority of its funds on construction and reconstruction projects of port’s quays and works of deepening of water area and quays in 2020-2023. It is planned to invest 352.4 million euros into expansion of Klaipeda Port in 2020-2023. Part of the money will come from the EU structural funds.
“Klaipeda Port remains the leader among the Baltic States. In order to keep this position, the port has to be competitive, to react expeditiously to the changing conditions of global market, and to create the necessary infrastructure for the port,” – says Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Jaroslavas Narkevicius.
According to the Minister, the seaport is one of the key economic engines, so its development will not imply generate additional revenues to the State budget, but will also create new work places and contribute to the region’s economic vitality.
“Klaipeda Seaport will have intensive years. We plan to start a historical project – reconstruction of piers. The port gate will be handled and the channel for port call will be rotated. The port’s deepening will be continued and the quays will be reconstructed so that we could welcome bigger ships. We will attempt to make Klaipeda port safer and more competitive in such a way,” – said Mr. Vidmantas Paukste, Director of Infrastructure of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, Managing Director at interim.
Mr. V. Paukste noted that the rearrangement projects of Malku Bay should be finished this year. It is especially important for the port because the port’s companies working in the southern part of the port have been forgotten for many years undeservedly. It is very important that the projects financed by the EU will run up in Klaipeda Port, and that the projects of improvement of the port’s infrastructure and legal basis will be continued, as they will contribute to increasing of the port’s competitiveness.
Smiltyne Ferry Ltd intends to invest 20 million euros in 2020-2023, where 2.9 million euros should be invested this year. The infrastructure of the New Ferry should be arranged until May 2021. The company is planning to buy two ferryboats in the next 3 years – one passenger-cargo ferryboat and one passenger ferryboat.
Information of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania
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