The B2E CoLAB will be part of the Stakeholder Forum of the National Committee for the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This invitation highlights the fundamental role that the B2E – CoLAB for the Blue Bioeconomy currently plays in the sector. The forum is composed of representatives from research institutions, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private entities that will collaborate with the Committee in developing Decade activities.

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is an initiative that aims to promote knowledge of the oceans and address the challenges of sustainable development, and is coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

National Decade Committees were created to support and increase a country’s participation in the Ocean Decade, mobilizing the entire “ocean community” at the national level, i.e., all producers and users of ocean science and knowledge.

In Portugal, the establishment of this committee was published in the Official Gazette in March 2023. Its work is carried out in coordination with the Executive Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/UNESCO), directing national action towards initiatives and projects linked to the Atlantic, for the scientific, social and economic valorization of knowledge of the Portuguese sea, in line with the National Strategy for the Sea 2021-2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 14, dedicated to the Ocean.

The invitation to B2E CoLAB reflects recognition of its commitment and expertise in contributing to the development of relevant actions within the Decade. By joining the Stakeholder Forum, B2E CoLAB will have the opportunity to actively collaborate with the National Committee, participating in the development of activities aimed at promoting ocean sustainability.

The Stakeholder Forum meets annually, providing a vital space for collaboration and the exchange of ideas among various entities committed to ocean conservation. The Ocean Decade (2021-2030) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 and is currently in its implementation phase.