Today is the starting day of Pioneer of the Year, a competition in young entrepreneurship for sustainability. The initiative was taken by a 23-year-old entrepreneur and former climate advocate who want young Swedes to take global challenges in their own hands-and not be afraid to make money in the process.

 Registration is open until 19 January when the ten best ideas are selected. Finalists are given one month to develop their business ideas along with established entrepreneurs. The ideas are then presented to a jury consisting of people within the industry and investors. The winners of “Pioneer of the Year” are awarded with offices, contacts, money and practical tools to actualize their entrepreneurial idea.

According to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth 4 out of 10 young Swedes would rather like to run a business than to be employed. If we can get these entrepreneurs to run businesses aiming to improve society and the environment, we will all benefit greatly says the initiative-taker Sven Heijbel.

Sven Heijbel is himself an entrepreneur since 2 years and a former participant in Challenge Europe, and operates the educational company “Wake Up Call”, which trains teenagers across Europe in sustainability and entrepreneurship. He has been engaged in the UN climate process and participated in both COP15 and COP14.

Pioneer of the Year is carried out through the project platform GlobalFOCUS, British Council and the environmental organization CongressEA- supported by WWF and the office-hotel “the HUB”.

“British Council Sweden has been working separately with the issues of climate change and youth entrepreneurship for a long time. Pioneer of the Year is an ambitious attempt to combine these fields into a fruitful symbiosis. Our collective experience from working with hundreds of young Europeans distinctly show that entrepreneurs through their passion and drive are one of society’s main agents of change. Pioneer of the Year is pushing the envelope in the world of sustainable advocacy and we generously support the initiative with funds and manpower since we believe that sustainable entrepreneurship is the way forward. The project is as accurately in line with our short-term focus areas as well as our long-term vision. We hope to continue making Pioneer of the Year an international affair and to use it as a tool for encouraging intercultural relations while pioneering change.” Says Elin Svensson, Country Manager, British Council Sweden,

Innovation and entrepreneurship are key components of finding new solutions in our quest for sustainable development. Pioneer of the Year is an interesting complement to our major investments in climate Entrepreneurship such as “Climate Solvers”, says Barbara Evaeus, chief of climate communication at WWF Sweden.

How to be appointed Pioneer of the Year:
- The contest is open to anyone living in Sweden. Registrer at www.poty.se.
- On January 19, the top 10 candidates are selected and given one month to
prepare and develop their business concepts.
- The winner will be crowned at the final in Stockholm on the 21st of February - where the finalists present their business concepts to a jury of knowledgeable persons, who together with public votes on www.poty.se appoint three winners.
- The winners share SEK 40 000, three office spaces, mentors and business- networks.
- The concept of sustainability includes long-term responsibility for the environment, people and economy.

For more information, visit www.poty.se or contact:

johan.eriksson@britishcouncil.se