B2E – CoLAB for the Blue Bioeconomy is the only Portuguese collaborative laboratory to join the Monitoring Committee of the working group that will be responsible for creating the International Center for Blue Biotechnology.

“The participation of B2E – Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB in this working group is a significant milestone for us. In addition to being recognition of the work we have been doing, we are very excited to contribute to the growth of blue biotechnology in Portugal,” says Maria Coelho, executive coordinator of the laboratory.

The first meeting of the Monitoring Committee took place at Matosinhos City Hall on April 26, attended by the Minister of Economy and the Sea, António Costa Silva, and the Secretary of State for the Sea, José Maria Costa.

The International Center for Blue Biotechnology project will be presented in September and is expected to be up and running on the site of the former Matosinhos refinery by 2025.

According to the minister, the two years will serve “to gather everything the working group will produce, format it in terms of public policy, and then mobilize partners to get the project up and running.”

Under the signed protocol, the entities involved “propose to actively collaborate to create the conditions that will enable the creation of a space that will contribute to employment, the competitiveness of the region, and the affirmation of Portugal as a leader in innovation and applied research in blue biotechnology on a global scale.”

“We believe that blue biotechnology is one of the main areas of growth for the Portuguese economy and this new international center will enable us to increase our competitiveness in the world,” says Maria Coelho.

Blue biotechnology is an emerging field that uses aquatic organisms, such as algae, fish, and microorganisms, to produce food, medicines, chemicals, and biofuels. Portugal has enormous potential to lead in this area, thanks to its privileged geographical position and extensive coastline.

About B2E – Collaborative Laboratory for Blue Bioeconomy:

B2E – Collaborative Laboratory for the Blue Bioeconomy, based at UPTEC Mar in Matosinhos, is a private non-profit association of universities, research centers, and private companies, guided by principles of circularity, sustainability, and social responsibility. The association linked to Blue Biotechnology operates in the areas of sustainable aquaculture, marine biotechnology, and the enhancement of living marine resources, with a view to developing innovative solutions that contribute to building a greener and more resilient value-added economy.