A journey of innovation and impact
B2E – Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB was officially established on 14th February 2019. As we mark the five-year milestone, it is apt to reflect on the challenging journey we have undertaken in the realms of innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development within the blue bioeconomy.
This journey has not been without its challenges, as is customary with pioneering projects. The unexplored nature of the subject matter and the inherent complexities of integrating research with industry stand out as significant hurdles. However, it is precisely in overcoming these obstacles that the existence of collaborative laboratories is justified, bridging the gap between the “valley of death”: the separation between research and industry.
In an ever-evolving business environment, innovation is no longer an option but a pressing necessity. This imperative is particularly evident in B2E CoLAB’s work, playing a crucial role for organisations looking not only to survive but also to stand out in a highly competitive market.
Strategic partnerships emerge as essential foundations in this approach. By forming alliances, B2E CoLAB provides companies with access to vital resources that drive innovation. Technologies, often out of reach for individuals, become accessible through collaboration with universities and technology centres, enabling companies to integrate significant advances into their processes, products, and services.
B2E CoLAB plays a central role in this ecosystem, acting as a facilitator in creating synergies between different players, promoting innovation, and strengthening the competitiveness of organisations in the dynamic blue bioeconomy.
This article cannot fully cover the wide range of projects we have been and are involved in over the last five years. There is a longer narrative to tell, full of past achievements, ongoing activities, and the promising prospects we are aiming to achieve. Thus, the past and future of B2E CoLAB unfold in continuous stories that are being shared with everyone through our different communication channels.
Our strength lies in the undeniable value of our members, covering the entire value chain, with whom we work on a daily basis, and in our highly qualified and specialised human resources. A team that makes a difference. And that’s why we make an impact, covering areas ranging from project management to market research, benchmarking, commercial representation, the search for funding, product development, and intellectual property.
The crucial role of the alliances we have established with organisations such as the United Nations, through the Ocean Decade, the EU Community Knowledge Valorisation, the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism, as part of the Board of Ambassadors, the Communities of Practice BioGov.Net, the Jean Monnet Centre, among others, stands out. These important strategic discussion forums help B2E CoLAB not only to enable organisations to face the challenges of the present but also to anticipate the needs of the future.
We also actively participate in various projects with real impacts on value chains and the economy. We are involved in various aspects of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact and the Insectera Agenda, as well as international projects that aim to make a difference to people’s lives. These are just examples of our commitment to driving innovation and sustainable development in the blue bioeconomy.
This article cannot fully cover the wide range of projects we have been and are involved in over the last five years. There is a longer narrative to tell, full of past achievements, ongoing activities, and the promising prospects we are aiming to achieve. Thus, the past and future of B2E CoLAB unfold in continuous stories that are being shared with everyone through our different communication channels. Share, offer us your feedback, and join our ecosystem. That’s the challenge I’d like to issue to you on this anniversary, in the certainty that B2E CoLAB, alongside its partners, will remain an essential catalyst for sustainable progress in the blue bioeconomy.
Maria Coelho
B2E CoLAB Coordinator
