UNLEASH

UNLEASH Regional
Innovation Lab Greenland 2022

UNLEASH hosted its first Regional Innovation Lab in Nuuk, Greenland, between the 20th and 27th of August 2022. The Innovation Lab gathered 200 young people from the Arctic and Nordic countries to develop innovative solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

As a central part of the experience, Talents also had the opportunity to experience the local culture and beautiful nature in Greenland through cultural activities and social events.

The Program

Day 1: August 20th

Innovation Lab Opening | Welcome Dinner hosted by Cultural Center Katuaq

Day 6: August 25th

Pitching Showcase within each track | Marketplace & Funder Meet-up

Day 2-5: August 21st – August 24th
Innovation Process in Teams
Day 7: August 26th

Final Pitching sessions | Awards Show and Closing Ceremony | Farewell Party

Day 1: August 20th

Innovation Lab Opening | Welcome Dinner hosted by Cultural Center Katuaq

Day 2-5: August 21st – August 24th
Innovation Process in Teams
Day 6: August 26th
Pitching Showcase | Marketplace & Funder Meet-up
Day 7: August 27th
Dragon’s Den | Awards Show and Closing Ceremony | Farewell Party Hosted by the University of Greenland, Institute of Learning

To ensure that the Innovation Lab was valuable for the local communities, UNLEASH worked closely with a range of Greenlandic, Nordic and Arctic partners. This included our Greenlandic Advisory Board, who supported us to tailor the Innovation Lab to the local context, and our regional partners, who made excellent contributions to bringing the project to life.

Children and their role
in a future for all

For the first time in UNLEASH’s history, an Innovation Lab included a team of children thanks to our partnership with UNICEF Denmark’s office in Greenland.

 

Through the UNLEASH Methodology, they defined how they envision their future to be, and came up with a solution that redefines their educational system, bringing them closer to the Greenlandic nature and fostering a more regional approach to their learning opportunities.   

Tracks

Participants in the Regional Innovation Lab Greenland had the chance to work on some of the most pressing sustainability challenges that the Arctic and Nordic regions are facing. The challenges are divided into 3 thematic tracks that tackle specific SDGs.

Health and wellbeing (SDG 3)
As in the rest of the world, the Nordic and Arctic region is dealing with growing rates of Non-Communicable Diseases, which are all those diseases that are not passed from person to person. Common NCDs include heart disease, cancers, respiratory disease, and diabetes. These illnesses usually cause other health conditions and require long-term treatment and care. At the same time, the region faces challenges with ensuring access to quality health services, including for those living in remote areas. Moreover, mental health, abuse, and alcohol problems are a major priority and concern for many communities. Teams working on this track will address SDG 3 with these regional challenges in mind and with a specific focus on the (tentative) subthemes access to healthcare and mental health.
Education (SDG 4)
With their unique geographical and topographical features, the Arctic and Nordic regions face specific challenges in terms of education. Despite many positive developments, countries in the region struggle with low numbers of young people enrolled in education, large dropout rates among students and teachers, as well as inequalities in the quality of available education, from preschool to higher education. Education is essential to providing equal opportunities for everyone and plays a central role in positive societal development. In line with SDG 4, innovative solutions within this track could focus on the (tentative) subthemes of access to education and lifelong learning and upskilling.
Biodiversity and Climate action (SDG 13, 14, & 15)
Did you know that temperatures in the Arctic region are increasing at twice the rate of the global average? Climate change is already affecting Arctic and Nordic nature, including biodiversity, and the impact will increase as temperatures rise. This has great consequences for the people living in the region, as arctic communities have a strong relationship with the nature they live in and are highly dependent on it. During the Lab, teams could focus on developing solutions for the (tentative) subthemes climate friendly tourism, awareness and education on climate change (SDG 13), plastic/marine pollution, sustainable fishery (SDG 14), biodiversity and ecosystems, sustainable use of natural resources (SDG 15)

Guests

Her Royal Highness
Crown PRINCESS
OF DENMARK

Múte
Bourup Egede

Premier of Greenland

Mette
Frederiksen

Prime Minister
of Denmark

Naaja Hjelholt
Nathanielsen

Minister of Finance
and Gender Equality

Siila
Watt-Cloutier

Human Rights Advocate

Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau

Actor and UNDP
Goodwill Ambassador

Aviaja
Lyberth Hauptmann

PhD in Microbiology

Sebastian
Aristotelis

Co-Founder of SAGA

SDGs Solutions

Former Innovation Lab Solutions