Piraeus is an important urban pole and the center of a productive system . It is an international portal of trade and commerce, as the port of Piraeus occupies an important position worldwide in the handling of containers and is one of the largest cruise ports in Europe. Piraeus is a developed cluster of maritime economy, with global connections, where a significant number of companies and organizations are involved in the country's maritime activity. The "Piraeus" identity of its inhabitants, which is intertwined with the sea and its activities, is a development advantage of the area related to social capital, human resources and blue entrepreneurship.

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However, Piraeus has been significantly affected by the crisis (unemployment, reduction of business activity, impoverishment, etc.) and the risk of worsening of the already burdened social conditions from the continuation of the economic crisis is significant. In addition, the low degree of penetration of innovation in the enterprises of the Blue Economy, is a parameter that is problematic, as it is a key component of Blue Growth.

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Therefore, the search for investment outlets in the region is an urgent need and the Blue Economy can be the spearhead of the economic revitalization of Piraeus. A key challenge, then, is to encourage blue entrepreneurship and promote innovative business ideas related to the Blue Economy and the values of sustainable entrepreneurship, with significant socio-economic benefits for the city of Piraeus.

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In this context, the Municipality of Piraeus undertook a set of actions to support blue entrepreneurship in Piraeus, which have been implemented since 2014 and include the Strategy for Blue Growth , the BlueGrowth innovation competition, the BluAct network , two European programs and the blue / lab , the Center for Business Innovation for Blue Growth. The actions aim to create new and sustainable businesses in the Blue Economy, to create new jobs and to promote a new innovative business ecosystem.

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The innovative nature of the action plan is clearly present from the design phase to the implementation phase. The BlueGrowth competition was originally designed and implemented in collaboration with the public and private sectors, which highlights the participation and strengthens the commitment of different actors to support its implementation.

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The human ecosystem (Marinescape) that has been created is one of the most important advantages of the action plan. It consists of an extensive network of quadruple helix bodies (public sector, companies, academic-research bodies, "civil society"), which a. promotes the ongoing dialogue on the issues of the Blue Economy, b. contributes to the creation of communication channels between the actors that play an important role in local development, c. supports, guides and monitors the action plan through the participation of its representatives in an Advisory Committee, d. provides mentors in the business hatching stage.

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The BlueGrowth competition is implemented in 2 phases . The first phase concerns the conduct of the competition, which includes the publication of an invitation, the submission and evaluation of the candidates, the preparation of a workshop for the preparation of the selected business groups for the presentation of their idea at Demo Day, the Demo Day (day of the official competition) during which the candidates are evaluated by the members of the Advisory Committee, by representatives of Marinescape and the other attendees. The best business ideas (up to 15) are awarded and promoted in the hatching program. The second phase concerns the hatching program where business services (coaching, coaching) are provided to the awarded teams that start from the creation or improvement of the business plan to the establishment of a company, in the context of lectures and workshops in various thematic units. At the same time, the networking of business ideas is promoted in order to further mature and finance them.

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The success of the competition so far with its significant results, has led the Municipality of Piraeus to seek opportunities to expand, promote and further strengthen the action plan.

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This opportunity was provided in part through the URBACT program , with the creation of the BlueGrowth transmission network as an award-winning good practice in other European cities.

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But the fact that research, education and innovation are admittedly the triptych that changes the structures of entrepreneurship in the 21st century and promises to upgrade the business by adapting it to the needs of the 4th industrial revolution, makes the need for further penetration of competition more urgent. in the research and educational community.

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Therefore, the need to provide specialized advice on business activities is considered imperative. The undertaking of the organization of the competition by the University of Piraeus contributes in this direction, as it can utilize the knowledge produced in the research centers of Greek Universities and will contribute, among other things, to the change of mentality in relation to the students. Because technology and interconnection have now advanced so much that even a third-year student can build his own business as long as he has the right guidance and tools.

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COMPETITION PROCEDURE

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Phase I of the Blue Growth Piraeus Innovation Competition, which includes the publication of an invitation , the submission of applications by the interested parties UNTIL MAY 31, 2020 , the evaluation of the candidates, the preparation of a workshop for the selected business groups to present their idea at the Demo Day , the Demo Day (day of the official competition) during which the candidates are evaluated by the members of the Advisory Committee, by representatives of Marinescape and the other attendees. The best business ideas (up to 15) are awarded and promoted in the hatching program.

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The 2nd Phase of the Bluegrowth Piraeus innovation competition, concerns the hatching program where support services (business consulting, coaching) are provided to the awarded teams that start from the creation or improvement of the business plan to the establishment of a company, in lectures and workshops on various topics units. At the same time, the networking of business ideas is promoted in order to further mature and finance them.

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DETAILS OF THE COMPETITION

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Step One: Maintain / extend marinescape

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Maintain or even expand the existing governance structure for the implementation of the BluegrowthPiraeus innovation competition. This structure should bring together all the key players of the city of Piraeus who are committed to promoting Blue Growth. It should also be largely represented  from the private sector, which will give credibility and access to entrepreneurs. "Marinescape" shapes the Strategy and  Direction of the competition. Its members participate in the competition jury and their influence often manages to secure funding from both the European Structural Investment Funds and national programs in order to strengthen the blue economy at the local level.

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The members of marinescape help to increase the profile of the Blue Growth Piraeus competition, as a result of which more competitors and aspiring entrepreneurs participate in the competition.

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Step Two: Tender Preparation

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During the preparation of the innovation competition, the resources (human and material) must be secured in order to create the appropriate competition and the right marketing required to start the competition.

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In order to support the first entrepreneurs entering the competition, it is important to determine from the beginning which partners (marinescape members) are willing and able to contribute, in terms of proposal evaluation, mentoring, hosting of the competition during the demo day as well as facilities that could be used for mentoring or even finding sponsors and awards.

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Step Three: Implementation of the First Phase of the Competition

• First Stage: Submission

The proposals are submitted electronically on the website of the competition in the following topics:

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1. Information and communication technologies

2. Marine environment

3. Fish Farming and Fisheries Sector

4. Maritime Tourism

5. Underwater Deposits

6. Shipping & Logistics

7. Marine biotechnology

8. Desalination

• Second Stage: Pre-evaluation

The proposals that will be submitted on time in the online system of the competition will be evaluated by the committee of shipping experts and companies, which will come from marinescape.

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Selection Criteria:

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1) Degree of innovation of business proposals

2) Clarity and documentation

3) Very feasible

4) Sustainability

5) Extroversion and potential of business ideas to penetrate international markets

6) Social / Economic Impact

7) Job creation

8) Skills of presentation and support of the idea

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The teams with the highest scores will be invited to submit their proposals to the evaluation committee at the time and place announced by the host.

• Third Stage: Announcement of the finalists / preparation of a presentation.

Proposals that have been positively "pre-evaluated" are invited to participate in one-day events that receive consulting services in order to prepare a proper presentation of their business idea for the "Demo Day" or "Demo Day". Every business idea should receive at least 2 days of consulting services.

• Fourth Stage: Public event of the day of the demonstration and final selection of the winners - Demo Day.

After the pre-evaluation process, an award ceremony and a demonstration day are organized. The teams with the highest scores are invited to present their proposals to the evaluation committee at this public event and to the public. The final winners are obtained by voting at the time of the event with an appropriate online voting system.

Step Four: Implementation of the 2nd Phase of the Competition

Acceleration program

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This phase of the competition concerns the business acceleration program where support services (business counseling, coaching) are provided to the awarded teams starting from the creation or improvement of the business plan to the establishment of a company, in the context of lectures and workshops in various thematic units. At the same time, the networking of business ideas in the labor market is promoted, in order to further mature and finance them.

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