Innovation Competition for Young Entrepreneurs across the Arctic Region - Arctic Future Challenge

Year(s): 2019-20
Client: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in collaboration with the Governments of Denmark, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland
Origin of funding: The Nordic Council of Ministers and the Governments of Denmark,  Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Sector(s): multi-sectoral
Country(s): Greenland, the Faroe Islands (The Kingdom of Denmark), Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States

The key to future cooperation in the Arctic lies in the hands of the youth. The younger generations of the Arctic will be responsible for the future sustainable development of the region, and their skills in innovation and entrepreneurship are a precondition for future economic growth and social development. Therefore, the Governments of Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland chose to acknowledge youth as a key political priority.
Arctic Future Challenge was created, and the concept of the idea was launched at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland in October 2019 by the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the competition was to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation among the Arctic youth and to create awareness of the Arctic as a region with entrepreneurial business and investment potential. A public tender for bids for this project resulted in several competitive proposals. The contract was awarded to the winning bidder, Kisserup International Trade Roots in partnership with Global Startup Awards. 
The Arctic Future Challenge took place in the Arctic regions of the Arctic countries for youth ages 18-29 over the course of 2020. There were three competition categories:

• Best Arctic Youth Startup of the Year, with an outcome of 176 nominations from across the Arctic
• Best Arctic Youth Founder of the Year, with an outcome of 155 nominations from across the Arctic
• Best Arctic Youth Business Concept, with an outcome of 101 nominations from across the Arctic (for youth enrolled in educational institutions)

The competition was concluded via a Virtual Award Show hosted by Arctic Circle VIRTUAL on 26 November 2020 where the three Regional Winners were announced. In addition to the national and regional competitions which took place online from May-September 2020, competition elements resulting in capacity building and impact generation included within the project were:

• 432 nominations of youth entrepreneurs from across the Arctic;
• 49 finalists across the Arctic for the three competition categories;
• 147 ecosystem partners;
• 40 engaged jury members;
• 11 North Star Explorers;
• engagement of ecosystem partners across the Arctic;
• five virtual capacity building workshops;
• tailored mentorship for the three regional winners;
• creation of a Pan-Arctic network;
• increased membership in the Arctic Youth Network, a leading youth capacity building organization in the Arctic by 30 members. Total membership of 550 active members including institutional partners;
• inclusion of native language capabilities;
• a competition framework and platform complete with branding and URL ready for future deployment.

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