UniCredit proudly supported Gen-E, the largest Europe-wide youth entrepreneurship event organised by our partners, Junior Achievement Europe. The 2022 finals took place in Tallinn, Estonia mid- July where we also assigned our UniCredit Future Award winner to the Norwegian start-up MMEDS. 

2:00 min

Gen-E is a celebration of entrepreneurship and the achievements of European students, where thousands of young entrepreneurs, aged 15+, have the opportunity to showcase their cutting–edge business ideas and compete for the titles of Best Company and Best Start-Up of the year. 

 

This year’s Gen-E 2022 final event was hosted in Tallinn by Junior Achievement Estonia between 12 and 14 July. In addition to the two main awards, a number of signature acknowledgements were assigned to chosen finalists by Junior Achievement’s partners. This included the UniCredit Future Award, recognising young entrepreneurs who are building a better future with an innovative business idea that is fully sustainable and makes a concrete contribution to helping communities progress. 

 

The UniCredit Future Award winner was MMEDS from Norway. The university level start-up produces sustainable and carbon neutral marine collagen powder from white fish waste. The collagen is used for three purposes: in the supplement industry (dietary and fitness supplements, beauty products), in the pharmaceutical industry (healing of wounds and burns, R&D), and in the fish meal industry (as fertilizer and feed). 

 

The start-up follows a zero-waste policy and aims to save and maximise the depleting marine resources with a clear contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

 

         - SDG 3: Good health and well-being 

- SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production 

- SDG 13: Climate action 

- SDG 14: Life below water 

- SDG 15: Life on land