Green Cluster Synergies Competition. Rules & Regulations JUNE 2016

Transcription

1 Green Cluster Synergies Competition Rules & Regulations JUNE 2016 This project is funded by the Global Women, Peace and Security grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

2 Contents 1. Introduction Participants Themes for Synergies Timeline & deadlines Conditions and format of proposal, submission and required documentation Selection of awarded concepts Benefits & Awards Contact for further information... 6

3 1. Introduction The Green Cluster Synergies Competition is an alternative entrepreneurial contest, which aims to encourage individual entrepreneurs, start-ups but also existing enterprises- which are members of the Green Cluster- to cooperate for innovation, and provide them with the opportunity to advance their joint sustainable initiatives. The overall aim is to promote extroversion and internationalisation, and to support Green Cluster members by rewarding and supporting the forward-thinking businesses, while introducing innovation through gender mainstreaming, to increase women s participation in submitting business proposals. The competition also aims to enable and facilitate the exchange of information and identification of possible partners, and encourage dialogue and networking between Green Cluster members. The Green Cluster members are invited to develop a synergy between at least two parties, and produce a concept/ model by which they can formalise their cooperation as a sustainable synergy. Thus the proposed (or implemented) synergy concept has to feature all dimensions of sustainability; environmental, social and economic. The challenge can be taken by members from all sectors, for cooperation within sectors and among sectors. The competition promotes a different perspective to business as usual economic transactions, and a unique approach to sustainability by encouraging not only entrepreneurship but also the formalisation of cooperation in the cluster context. The Green Cluster Synergies Competition is integrated in the Green Cluster Project, implemented by AKTI within the Show Her She Can project, funded by the US Department of State under Global Women, Peace and Security Initiative. The competition is carried out at national level. This document sets the Rules and Conditions for the Green Cluster Synergies Competition. AKTI Project and Research Centre reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify the Rules & Conditions of the Green Cluster Synergies Competition. 2. Participants The contest is open to Green Cluster members who will work and submit their ideas as a team. Each team has to be comprised of minimum two Green Cluster members. Members can be from the same sector or from different sectors, i.e. intra-sector or inter-sector synergies. There is no limit to the number of synergy concepts submitted by each member, but each team can only submit one synergy concept. 3. Themes for Synergies The Green Cluster member teams can decide on any topic and scope for their synergy, provided that it demonstrates sustainable development. The synergy concept can relate to any one or a combination of the topics listed below. However, the topic of any potential synergy concept are not restricted to the examples presented here. This list is merely suggestive and is by no means complete. - Product/ Service Exchange - Information/ Knowledge/ Experience Exchange - Resource Exchange (water/heat cascade, waste-to-resource flow)

4 - (By)product/ waste recycling (Resource Management) - Supply-Chain- embeddedness of social and environmental considerations - Shared Infrastructure - Networking/ Innovation/ Business case exploration - Communicating sustainability- campaigns, education, research - Social Entrepreneurship For inspiration, the Green Cluster members are encouraged to have a look at the Best Practices database, with both local and international examples of sustainable synergistic partnerships, at 4. Timeline & deadlines The Green Cluster Synergies Competition will be launched in June and will take place in the following stages: Stage 1: Call for proposals. Interested teams submit their ideas through the online application form. Submissions possible until September 2 nd Stage 2: A panel of 10 business experts, with a wide range of skills and backgrounds, will evaluate the submitted concepts. The panel will implement the DeCyDe-4 decision support tool to ensure objective assessment Stage 3: The winning proposals will be announced in the last week of September at the Green Cluster Awards Event: A one day event dedicated to Green Cluster members (existing and potential), innovators and start-ups, and local and international supporters of the Green Cluster. Official Calendar: Call for proposals: 9 th June 2016 Deadline for proposal submission: 2 nd September 2016 Announcement of winning proposals and award ceremony: End of September, TBC 5. Conditions and format of proposal, submission and required documentation The teams must complete the application form located on the Green Cluster Website In this form, each team must provide the information listed below: I. Title II. Team Composition (which members are participating) III. Description of Synergy Concept (250 words) IV. Explain the role of each member (200 words each) V. Explain how the concept meets the criteria (500 words) VI. Explain the expected impact on the members, the local community etc., using measurable results/ indicators if possible (200 words)

5 6. Selection of awarded concepts A panel of 10 experts will evaluate the proposals by implementing the DeCyDe-4 decision support method, a structured tool which will ensure an objective assessment. The proposals will be assessed and scored based on the following criteria: - Structure of proposal quality of writing and argumentation - Market potential what is the actual market of the synergy? How big is it? Is the proposed synergy able to capitalize on this potential? - Implementation potential ease with which the synergy can be applied, exploited and implemented in reality - Extroversion potential the potential of the synergy to successfully enter foreign markets - Innovation originality and creativity of concept - Sustainability synergy must exhibit a balance of the three sustainability axis (environmental, social, economic) and also sustainability in terms of the longevity of the initiative, i.e. not to be a one-off cooperation 7. Benefits & Awards All applicants will have the following benefits from participating in the Green Cluster Synergies Competition: Gain publicity and recognition: All applicant team profiles and concepts will be published online on the Green Cluster website and Facebook page. Networking opportunities & Access international to markets: All participants and winners will also be provided with invaluable local and international networking opportunities, at the final event for the Green Cluster Awards & Trade Fair Event where they will have a chance to meet influential sustainability thinkers, investors and sponsors, foreign embassy representatives, international companies and many more. Marketing and Promotion opportunities: All applicants will be invited to participate at the Trade Fair following the Green Cluster Awards ceremony, to display/ showcase/ promote their synergy. AKTI will provide a small financial contribution for promotional material (banners/ posters etc). The two synergy concepts with the highest rankings will receive the following awards: 1. Mass media publicity within AKTI s media and communications package for the competition provided by IMH. This includes media coverage of the award ceremony and post-event media publication of the event, including the winners. 2. The two winners also win the opportunity to create a short promotional video of their synergy concept, in cooperation with Zedem Media, with the expenses covered by AKTI Project & Research Centre. 3. The 1 st prize will be 2000 euro, to cover the expenses of the winning team to travel and participate in an international training/ conference/ exhibition of choice.

6 4. A Special Award will be given for the Tourism, Recreation and Food Service Activities sectors: One week of networking travel in India to visit agri-business and entrepreneurs, all expenses covered. The award is sponsored by the High Commission of India in Cyprus. 5. Contact for further information AKTI Project and Research Centre Tel: akti@akti.org.cy Facebook: Green Cluster