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 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 LearningTo ensure that the Innovation Lab was valuable for the local communities, UNLEASH worked closely with a range of Greenlandic and Nordic/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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Translation Application
Translation Application
Naapitta
Naapitta
Asarnerit
Asarnerit
Bedtime Feels
Bedtime Feels
Silagik
Silagik
The Emotional Toolbox
The Emotional Toolbox
The Arctic Food Cooperative
The Arctic Food Cooperative
Arctic Learning Hub
Arctic Learning Hub
The Inuit Symposium on Mental Health
The Inuit Symposium on Mental Health
Misigisa
Misigisa
Ikaartarfik
Ikaartarfik
Support Arctic Teachers
Support Arctic Teachers
Training Program
Training Program
Alee Alee!
Alee Alee!
Uangut Niperput
Uangut Niperput
Ataatsimut
Ataatsimut
Hive
Hive
Alternative Educational System
Alternative Educational System
Learning Nearby
Learning Nearby
SDG Storytelling Park
SDG Storytelling Park
The Greenlandic Foodhouse
The Greenlandic Foodhouse
Greender
Greender
Community Assembly on Windpower
Community Assembly on Windpower
Loopoop
LOOPOOP
Power to X Platform
Power to X Platform
Knowledge Broker
Knowledge Broker
The Sila Center
The Sila Center
INUvation
INUvation
Two Views, One Cause
Two Views, One Cause
Choose Local
Choose Local
Home to Harvest
Home to Harvest
Sustainable Future for Greenlandic Fishers
Sustainable Future for Greenlandic Fishers
Netgain
Netgain
Educating Sheep Herders
Educating Sheep Herders
Former Innovation Lab Solutions

“I met wonderful people during the Lab and came up with the idea for Permalution, a start-up focusing on fog and cloud water harvesting technology, tackling the world’s challenges in water access and drought.”
– Tatiana Estevez Carlucci,
UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017,
Denmark
Read More

“During the Lab, I was surrounded by people who were truly passionate about solving the challenge we focused on: sustainable fashion. My solution is the digital wardrobe app Whering, which allows you to manage your wardrobe from your device.“
– Bianca Rangecroft,
UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2019,
Shenzhen
Read More

“At Test At Home Pte. Ltd., we are now developing ‘Lollipop-like’ and ‘Chewing gum-like’ devices and technology to enable easier, convenient, cheaper, accessible, and home-based healthcare testing.”
– Vivek Manoharan,
UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2018,
Singapore
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“OneDay Health launches sustainable health centers in remote Ugandan communities which previously had no access to quality healthcare. It is amazing how far both our team and OneDay Health had come during the Lab.”
– Nicolas Laing,
UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017,
Denmark
Read More
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