Nor-Shipping and YoungShip have announced that the Young Entrepreneur Award 2023 (YEA) is now open for entries, with talented leaders, innovators and executives under the age of 40 set to vie for industry recognition.
The global award initiative, which last year honoured Christiaan Niijst, Co-Founder and Director of Netherlands-based Value Maritime, is now in its tenth anniversary year, giving entrants a unique chance to profile themselves, and their businesses, at Nor-Shipping 2023 and beyond.
Glimpsing the future
“This is always one of the most anticipated ‘reveals’ at Nor-Shipping,” comments Per Martin Tanggaard, Director External Relations, Nor-Shipping. “In many ways the YEA accolade gives the industry a glimpse of the future – showcasing not only tomorrow’s business leaders, but also the breakthrough solutions that can solve pressing challenges and create new commercial value.
“In this respect it offers a huge opportunity; both for entrants and established industry players. It gives fresh talent access to the promotional platform of their dreams, while highlighting business, investment and #PartnerShip possibilities to seasoned decisionmakers looking to gain advantage in a rapidly changing market. As befits its standing, the competition is always intense, with the best young minds the industry can offer fighting for recognition. I can’t wait to see the entries flowing in.”
Networking power
When the nominations do arrive, it’ll be YoungShip’s task to head the awards jury charged with assessing them. The organisation, and its expert judging panel, will be looking for standout individuals and teams with an ability to turn challenges into maritime business opportunities, create jobs, enhance efficiency, adopt best practices, and address sustainability issues. The winner will be revealed at the Nor-Shipping Opening Ceremony in Oslo City Hall on 5 June.
Once crowned, the individual or team will be promoted through both Nor-Shipping and YoungShip’s extensive industry networks, while also receiving exposure with space in Nor-Shipping’s Blue Economy Hall in Lillestrøm during the main Your Arena for Ocean Solutions exhibition, running from 6-9 June.
It’s a cocktail of opportunity that worked wonders for Christiaan Nijst.
Added Value
“It transformed industry awareness levels for Value Maritime and our Filtree ‘plug-and-play’ gas cleaning system,” he says.
“We’re a relatively young business and, although well established in our key segments, face a challenge when it comes to really making waves on a global scale. The Young Entrepreneur Award helped put the business, and our patented gas cleaning and carbon capture technology, on a different footing. It directly contributed to the formation of new contacts, relationships and, at the end of the day, business for Value Maritime. I’d recommend entering to anyone keen to take their development on to the next level.”
New perspectives
Alongside Nijst, previous winners include names of the order of Boyan Slat, founder of Ocean Cleanup, Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, Agnes Árnadóttir and Espen Larsen-Hakkebo, the CEO and CFO of sustainable tourism operator Brim Explorer, and Tor Østervold, founder of ECOsubsea.
“Young entrepreneurs often have the vision, understanding and ability to approach entrenched industry challenges from completely new perspectives, unlocking not only solutions, but real business value,” notes Lene Osen Osnes, Secretary General, YoungShip International. “However, getting the awareness they deserve can be an uphill struggle.
“That’s what this award is all about. It bridges a generational divide and opens the door to opportunity, for a whole range of stakeholders. We’re delighted to support it once again and shine a spotlight on the next generation of industry leaders. If you’re under 40 and want to make your mark in maritime, then this is your chance!”
To find out further award and nomination details please see here.
Next stop Nor-Shipping
Alongside the YEA, Nor-Shipping, which this year has the main theme of #PartnerShip, also runs the Next Generation Ship Award and Ocean Solutions Award.
Nor-Shipping 2023 takes place across venues in both Oslo and Lillestrøm. In addition to the awards initiatives, international visitors can look forward to the main exhibition, spanning some 22,000 m2, and an activity programme that boasts the C-level Ocean Leadership Conference, Blue Talks, The Fourth International Autonomy Summit, AfterWork social schedule and much more.
