i9.Azores Regional Competition winners awarded entrepreneurship mission to Barcelona - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The projects that came first in the different categories of the i9.Açores - Young Academy of Innovative Ideas competition will take part in an entrepreneurship mission to Barcelona, as announced this week by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.

The fourth edition of i9.Açores, organised by the Regional Directorate for Youth, kicked off on Monday in Praia da Vitória with the participation of more than 70 young people and 40 business ideas from all the islands of the Region.

After two days of pitches, mentoring sessions and assessment by a jury made up of personalities from the business sector and regional entrepreneurship, the most innovative and impactful projects were distinguished at each level of education.

In the middle school category, first place was awarded to the "Queijadinha Real" project from Capelas Basic Education School. The second place went to the ‘Cera Flamejante’ project from Velas Basic Education and Secondary School, and the third place went to the "Qu'Endémicos" project from Nordeste Basic Education and Secondary School.

As for the junior high school category, the "CaméliaEssencis" project from Domingos Rebelo Secondary School came first. The "Raízes da Terra" project from Maia Basic Education School won second place, while third place went to the "Doçura das Flores" project from Flores Basic Education School. Honourable mentions were also awarded to the "Cuidar e Servir" project from Casa do Povo de Água de Pau and the "Special Fashion" project from Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School.

In secondary education, the winning project was "Praia by Boat" from the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Praia da Vitória. Second place went to the "Inclusive Canyoning" project from Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, and third place to the "Muuuu no Pico" project from Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School.

Regarding vocational education, the first place was awarded to the "Fertazor" project from EPROSEC - Vocational School of the Office and Trade Employees’ Union of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The "Aperinaz & Vilnaz" project from Ponte Norte - Ribeira Grande Vocational School came second. The Third place went to the "Sem Sombra" project from the Azores Tourism School and the "Doce Baía" project from Horta Vocational School.

In the higher education category, the first place went to the "Coletivo Vulca" project from the University of Minho.

This year, the i9.Açores jury includes Eunice Melo, entrepreneur; Avelino Ormonde, founder of Biofontinhas; Joana Saavedra, co-founder of Bambu bicycles; Duarte Pimentel, executive director of TERINOV - Terceira Island Science and Technology Park; and Ricardo Reis, publicist, director and co-founder of Hunt Global.

The i9.Açores competition is the culmination of the work carried out throughout the school year as part of the Entrepreneurial Academy. This programme aims to promote entrepreneurial skills among the youth population in the Azores, through non-formal education training courses, using the learning-by-doing methodology with educational programmes adapted to each level of education and age group.