Host Institution
Union for the Mediterranean.
Program Benefits
Real-world impact: Develop solutions for pressing challenges related to water, energy, food, and ecosystems. The top three solutions will be chosen on the final day and will receive both technical and financial support over the coming months.
Prize & ongoing support: The winning team will receive €3,000, while the two runner-up teams will each get €1,000. In addition, the winning teams will benefit from ongoing mentorship to refine and scale their solutions, ensuring long-term impact.
Accelerated skill-building workshops: Gain practical experience with mentors and develop essential entrepreneurial skills, design thinking, and sustainable business strategies to bring your idea to life.
Networking: Engage with experts, mentors, and fellow innovators from across the Mediterranean region. Build lasting connections that will continue to support your growth well beyond the hackathon.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications must be submitted by teams, and multicultural and women-led teams are particularly encouraged to apply. Team members should be between the ages of 18 and 35 and either have a business idea or be willing to work on business models that address WEFE Nexus challenges.
Applicants must be available for one or two online sessions before the hackathon and should be able to attend the in-person event in Fes in February. Please note that team members attending the in-person hackathon must be fluent in English.
Applicants must be nationals of UFM Member states, which include countries such as Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and Turkey, regardless of their place of residence.
There are no specific professional background requirements. Applicants can be students or graduates from any field, such as water, sanitation, business development, programming, marketing, social studies, engineering, architecture, political science, and more.
The key qualifications for participation are motivation, a strong interest in addressing challenges within the WEFE Nexus, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Eligible Countries
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and Turkey.