On the occasion of UIB JOB DAY, an event organized to bring UIB students closer to the business world, IMPULSA BALEARS launches, together with 7 companies from its employer, the first edition of the Circular Innovation Hackathon.

It is an innovation competition in a 24-hour format that seeks to provide solutions to real challenges faced by the participating companies related to the circular economy and with a great challenge at its core: contributing to the circular transition of the Balearic tourism system.

The competition will take place on April 21 and 22, at the recently opened Innovation Palma Hub by Hotelbeds, a company that acts, on this occasion, as Main partner. In the words of José María Pestaña, Director of the High Performing Organization at Hotelbeds, “as a leading TravelTech company, we are ready to support the next generation of technological talent. We are looking forward to seeing new ideas from this hackathon and how these innovations can help grow the local tourism economy.”

Also participating as Innovation partners are Autovidal, Estel Ingenieria y Obras, Hipercentro, Grupo Iberostar, Sampol Ingenieria y Obras and Tirme, all of which are leading companies in their sectors that are firmly committed to the circular economy, innovation and talent.

The Circular Innovation Hackathon is thus presented as an unparalleled opportunity to connect actors in the regional tourism system: companies, young talent and educational entities. As Antoni Riera, technical director of IMPULSA BALEARS indicates, 'it is highly relevant to involve young, innovative talent, with many disruptive ideas, in the commitment to the future that IMPULSA BALEARS forges for the islands.' Along the same lines, Rafael Guinea, general director of Tirme, considers that: 'promoting the circular economy on the islands is an objective of our strategic planning and doing so through the proposals that arise from young talent seems to us a very interesting challenge' .

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversations with top executives from nationally and internationally renowned companies, create professional ties, push themselves to the limit as individuals and as a team, and live a highly enriching experience on a personal and academic level; also taking advantage of the showcase that the event represents for their future work.

Eight circular challenges for 200 students of higher professional training, degree, postgraduate of any profile.

Together, the participating companies will formulate 8 challenges around the priority areas of action contemplated by reN Regenerative movement for the future of the Balearic Islands. Namely: water, energy, food, materials, mobility and territory and sea. 5 teams made up of 5 students each will focus on solving each challenge.

The selection process to cover the 200 available places with the best students from the different educational institutions in the Balearic Islands has already begun today and can be carried out on the HUNGER4INNOVATION website, a company dedicated to the development of open innovation strategies, plans and programs that has been selected to undertake the organization and management of this competition.

Although the scope of Circular Innovation Hackathon is regional, it will also promote the attraction of national and international talent, which provides incalculable added value, since 'participants will be able to develop and coordinate with people with very different training and very different experiences' , highlights Antoni Riera.

From the moment the participants formalize their registration, they will not be alone, since they will have a support team that will advise them. In addition, they will receive prior training in innovation methodologies. Participants will prepare their proposals on April 21. That same day, they will share with companies the latest tips for designing their solution. On April 22, the jury will deliberate and the best ideas will be chosen for each of the eight challenges.

Subsequently, the winning team will visit the offices of the company with which they have worked to get to know their managers more closely and assess the possibilities of implementation and continuity of the solution provided.