Danny Faure Foundation launches first Ocean Innovation Award |19 July 2023
The Danny Faure Foundation has launched its first ever Ocean Innovation Award, a video submission competition whereby the awardee will get to have a 5-day learning visit at Nekton in the United Kingdom to advance his/her project or idea.
Nekton is a not-for-profit research foundation and a UK registered charity established to accelerate the scientific exploration and protection of the ocean.
Diving deeper into what this award entails, Seychelles NATION had the chance to interview the executive director of the Danny Faure Foundation, Lorraine Faure, who said that through the Ocean Innovation Award, the foundation wanted to inspire and harness innovative new ideas to address positive ocean solutions for the country.
“The award has been developed and implemented under the Foundation’s pillars on Ocean Governance and the Blue Economy where it seeks to further empower the youth and professionals who are dedicated to contributing towards the protection and conservation of the ocean, marine science and a sustainable blue economy,” she said.
Ms Faure explained that this award also provides an opportunity for exposure where Nekton will support the awardee with the advancement of their idea/ project.
During the 5-day visit at Nekton, the awardee will be supported by Nekton’s own personnel and where possible bring in its own partners with specialist skills.
Depending on the nature of the idea/project, Nekton could provide support in a number of areas, including strategic development of the awardee’s idea including financial, operational, communications, scientific support and guidance to deliver advancement.
There will also be practical and professional development as well as coaching and guidance on creating assets for presentations to advance the project to the next stage of development be it with investors, stakeholders or media.
After the 5-day visit Ms Faure said the Foundation would firstly want to hear from the awardee on his/her experience at Nekton, and secondly get a feedback from their partner Nekton, and then they will take it from there.
The project is open to Seychellois citizens who are 18 years old and above and their video should be no more than 7 minutes long. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2024 and the results will be announced on March 15, 2024. Further details of the competition can be viewed at www.dannyfaurefoundation.org