UN SSE supports student entrepreneurs in Euronext’s “Blue Challenge”
18 May 2023
The SSE supported young student entrepreneurs in Euronext’s Blue Challenge as part of the jury. The Blue Challenge is an entrepreneurship education programme, launched by Euronext in partnership with JA Europe the largest non-profit organisation in Europe dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. The programme aims to educate students aged 16 to 18 about sustainable finance and help them develop core competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills.
The jury consisted of five sustainability and business experts, including Emilie Rieupeyroux (Head of Innovation, Euronext), Fabrizio Testa (CEO, Bursa Italiana), Iain Shepherd (DG MARE, European Commission) and Sylvia Andiessen (General Counsel, Euronext) and UN SSE Deputy Coordinator Lisa Remke. The experts listed to the nine teams from Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and judged their sustainable business projects.
Members of the Jury (from left to right): Mr Iain Shepherd (European Commission), Ms Lisa Remke (UN SSE) and Ms Sylvia Andriessen (Euronext) together with JA Europe CEO, Mr Salvadore Nigro
UN SSE Deputy Coordinator Lisa Remke said: “By harnessing innovation, technology, and the power of collaboration, all participants of the Blue Challenge have demonstrated the immense potential young people possess to create a better future for our planet. Their commitment to addressing global challenges head-on can provide hope for a more equitable and sustainable world. We commend Euronext and JA Europe for providing this important forum to support and encourage the next generation in their efforts."
This year, the Irish team, Neptune Seafeed, has taken home the “Blue Innovation Award”. The team came up with seaweed products to create a natural and sustainable fertiliser, rich in nutrients and trace elements essential for plant growth.
"This liquid seaweed fertiliser allows reducing methane emissions by cows, while being rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus which all contribute to a nutrient-rich and healthy grass for feeding the animals", said the team during their presentation on the European finals. About the SSE
The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.
