The University of the Aegean, in collaboration with the local initiative Healing Lesvos, is organizing CLIMATHON 2019 in Lesvos on October 24–26, 2019, as part of its educational actions to achieve the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promote youth entrepreneurship on the Aegean islands. This marks Lesvos’s first participation in the global European community initiative EIT-Climate-KIC of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

Student entrepreneurship teams — Green Entrepreneurship, Blue AIM, and Aegean Greeners — from the University’s campuses in Mytilene and Chios will participate in an intensive 24-hour process to interact and propose innovative business ideas responding to local challenges.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Although a global phenomenon, its effective management requires action at the local level. The CLIMATHON (https://climathon.climate-kic.org/en/) is a pan-European “marathon” of ideas, held annually to develop sustainable solutions to climate change by promoting innovation and supporting both established and startup entrepreneurship, as well as local adaptation policies.

Given CLIMATHON’s local focus and emphasis on the unique challenges faced by Lesvos, the involvement of local authorities and social partners is critical for the event’s success. It is the first time the event is being held on an island, and it is hoped it will serve as a best practice model for other island regions.

The initiative in Lesvos is structured in three parts:

• Participatory Workshop (Forum) to identify challenges
  Thursday, October 24 at 17:00, Industrial Olive Oil Museum of Agia Paraskevi
  In this forum, social partners, citizens, organizations, and experts will participate and discuss local concerns and opportunities brought about by impending changes.
• CLIMATHON 2019 Marathon of business idea development by University of the Aegean student teams
  Friday, October 25, 2019
• Presentation of the developed business ideas
  Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 11:00, Geography Amphitheater, University Hill, Mytilene

Mytilene, Lesvos – October 23, 2019

Organizing Committee:

• Maria Lekakou – University of the Aegean (mlek@aegean.gr, +30 6977286358)
• Maria Chatziantoniou – University of the Aegean (matz@aegean.gr, +30 6945798720)
• Eleni Atsikbasi – Healing Lesvos (eleni@healinglesvos.org, +30 6974328808)
• Eva Stefanidaki – University of the Aegean (estefanidaki@aegean.gr, +30 6979342450)
• Marios Balis – University of the Aegean (mbal@aegean.gr, +30 6948176668)

More info: https://climathon.climate-kic.org/en/