On the 6th of December BlueBio Alliance organised the event “Blue Bioeconomy: Opportunities in transition and sustainable development” to demonstrate the association’s vision of the Blue Demo Network aiming at to bring in a single access point the necessary technological platforms to support science-based projects and startups and promote their growth and internacionalization.

The development of biotechnologies capitalizing the power of marine science and technology is expected to unlock innovative approaches that will allow to cope with an increasing global population, the rapid depletion of many resources, increasing environmental pressures, and climate change. To accelerate this transition, we urge to increase the involvement of government policies, industry, academia, and citizens in a joint mid-term action to bring bioeconomy knowledge into the market while promoting resilient value chains.

This was the motto to the event event, hearing from different actors and stakehoders the  major challenges that currently hamper the regional blue bio-based economy transition, looking for new opportunities to certainly guide our internal strategy in the scope of Blue Bio Economy Pact for 2024.

We were honored by interventions by João Campolargo (Câmara Municipal de Ílhavo) and Miguel Marques (INOVAMAR), and the extraordinary panels discussing sustainability, circularity, and decarbonization (Maria Manuel Cruz – Administração do Porto de Aveiro, SA; Paulo Moreira – Comur – Conserveira de Portugal; Manuel Goncalves – TMG Group, and Rui Miranda Rocha – Riasearch); and financing in scientific and corporate entrepreneurship (Paulo Morenito – Direção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Centro; Rosario Domingues – Universidade de Aveiro; Rita Sousa – Faber; Francisco Belo – BlueCrow Capital; André Almeida Santos – Indico Capital Partners; and Raphaël Canadas – Tech4MED).

Collaboration at regional and local levels is crucial for strategies yielding economic, social, and environmental benefits. Biotechnology development requires talent and creativity as key competitive assets for a sustainable transition. This transition encompasses consumer education, demand, pricing, and environmentally respectful regulation, with industry stakeholders driving blue biotechnology development through collaboration with startups and research.

The potential of the blue bioeconomy for a sustainable transition is evident in the textile industry, maritime ports administration, and the fish processing industry, bringing new products and processes or integrating circular economy initiatives in the valorisation of existing materials and products.

For startups, sustainability involves agile responses to market demands, with securing funding remaining a significant challenge. Therefore researchers must actively innovate and attract funding, promoting communication and knowledge-sharing across the industry. This is why we were keen on bringing some information on public funding and private investing opportunities and practices to be taken in risk mitigation both for academia and startups.

We move forward with stronger motivation and focus on sustainable growth – inspired by nature, driven by people, supported by technological-based solutions, and powered by the sea.

The  Blue Bioeconomy Pact consortium is managed by INOVAMAR S.A, project number C644915664-00000026, and is funded by PRR – Recovery and Resilience Score Board | NextGenerationEU.