B2E gathers 40 entities discussing the Future and the Trends of seafood and blue sector, including Government, Companies and Science Institutions
The Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB (B2E) brought together more than 40 entities, like the Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Manuel Heitor (video address), relevant companies and scientific institutions in the sector, on December 3. The aim was to identify and present solutions to business challenges and promote innovation, knowledge and the exchange of experiences, during the first edition of the Blue Workshop for INnovation and Knowledge Exchange (Blue WINK-E) this Friday, at the University of Aveiro (UA) and online.
“I will tell you why this will certainly be an investment with a return”, assured CoLAB’s President António Isidoro, in his opening speech. “Because at CoLAB B2E we are genuinely committed to providing you with solutions to your challenges, to improving processes and productivity, to transforming procedures and why not, doing it in collaboration with us for that is the reason for our existence,” he said.
A mission, he added, which ranges from “a macro level, to stimulate the sector’s economy, to create qualified employment, to transfer technology (we prefer the English term Technology Exchange that our mentor Nick Veck so assertively uses), to a micro-level of knowing your difficulties, which we will call overcoming opportunities,” Isidoro added.
The Future of Fish and Nutrition Trends in Aquaculture – which challenges and solutions?
The Future of Fish and Nutrition Trends in Aquaculture were some of the highlighted themes, during a restricted, invitation-only session that included the presentation of the challenges of some of the biggest companies in the Portuguese blue bioeconomy, and B2E associates, such as SONAE MC, NAVIA, Safiestela (Group Sea Eight), Savinor and Sorgal (Grupo Soja de Portugal), Entogreen and Sparos, and the interaction with selected researchers from the most reputable universities and entities linked to research and education such as UA, the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), the ICVS/3Bs of the University of Minho and INESC TEC.
Why work with B2E
The event was also an opportunity for our team to present and pitch the reasons why all attendees should find many reasons to work with CoLAB. Maria Coelho (Innovation Management) and Marta Santos (Business Development) presented our services during the event. Curious? You may also check out our pitch video by Ana Rita Ribeiro.
Intellectual Property and the impact of private investment on technological development in the blue economy
J. Pereira da Cruz was represented by Tiago Andrade, who talked about Intellectual Property, including protection strategies, and the impact of private investment on technological development in the blue economy was the subject developed by Rita Sousa, from Faber Blue Pioneers. This is the first venture capital fund dedicated to innovative technologies for the blue economy and climate action, selected within the scope of PORTUGAL BLUE.
B2E Role – Minister of the Sea and Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Interventions
These arguments were also on evidence during the Minister Manuel Heitor video address, who also emphasized CoLAB’s role in answering several challenges like protein demand, aquaculture and a more sustainable food chain, climate changes, among other topics.
The Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, highlighted Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR in Portuguese) results as well as COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference. Note for B2E achievements, as the CoLAB is a partner in the consortiums of four PRR eligible and with budget allocations applications. All four applications were scored as “Very Good”, in a universe of only 60 approved and more than 140 applications submitted, with a value of more than 1440M€.
The Director-General of Maritime Policy Helena Vieira, the Rector of UA Paulo Jorge Ferreira and Vice-Rector Artur Silva were also present at Blue WINK-E Workshop, as well as many companies and institutions leaders and teams, to whom we thank for attending this event first edition and for helping us boosting this innovation and knowledge exchange.
The initiative was sponsored by UA and SONAE MC, our appreciated associates, and we are already preparing the next edition, in November 2022.
