Apply now! The #EYESONBLUE competition is looking for the best Blue entrepreneurs in the Southern Neighbourhood region.

After a successful edition of the 2021 #EYESONGREEN regional competition, the European Commission Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), EU Neighbours South, and the SwitchMed programme are teaming up again for a new edition of their environment-related campaign and competition.

This year’s competition will highlight water issues in the region and is therefore named #EYESONBLUE. It is being launched on the occasion of World Ocean Day, June 8, 2022. The competition aims at selecting the best 3 Blue entrepreneurs whose projects focus on water or the Blue Economy in 8 countries of the Southern Mediterranean region: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine*, and Tunisia.

#EYESONBLUE is a unique opportunity to showcase innovative projects and entrepreneurs of the water sector, including Blue Economy, to highlight the urgency of dealing with water-related challenges and encourage citizens of the region to find innovative solutions that deal with the issue. In addition to including participants from SwitchMed and other EU-funded projects and programmes, this year’s contest will also include an OPEN CALL to all organisations, start-ups and projects tackling water issues in the above-mentioned countries, and that have a proven record of accomplishments for more than 2 years in any of the below sectors:

• Blue Economy – activities related to the sustainable use of ocean resources, solutions to the pollution of oceans, seas, and coastal areas.
• Water scarcity and water demand management – solutions addressing water scarcity and aiming to secure access to water for all.
• WASH, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – solutions addressing water pollution and securing safe water and good hygiene for citizens.

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

The prizes for the three winners will consist of:

• First prize: A cash prize of €2,000 and; €2,000 voucher to spend on services or trainings for the business.
• Second Prize: Cash prize of €1,750 and €1,750 voucher to spend on services or trainings for the business.
• Third Prize: Cash prize of €1,000 and €1,000 voucher to spend on services or trainings for the business.

Winners will also have access to TheSwitchers.org platform. MedWaves will ensure follow-up of the technical assistance with the winners for a more efficient implementation of the vouchers.

TIMELINE OF THE #EYESONBLUE COMPETITION:

• 8 June: Applications opened
• 30 June: Applications closed
• July: Evaluation by the Jury
• 31 July: 10 best projects are selected by the Jury
• End of August – Mid-September: Popular voting through EU Neighbours South social media pages
• September-October (TBD): Awards ceremony

#EYESONBLUE gives voice to innovative change-makers and encourages them to showcase sustainable business models tackling water-related problems and threats to the marine environment.

SURF THE BLUE WAVE: APPLY BEFORE JUNE 30 !

Rules & regulations of #EyesOnBlue competition

Registration Form