OCEAN CONNECTORS

In five questions and answers, João Claro, Vice-President and CEO of INESC TEC, an affiliated institute in the B2E CoLAB, presents examples of the impact of technological innovation on the development of the emerging blue bioeconomy sector. Don’t miss another segment of Ocean Connectors.

What are the main results of INESC TEC’s work in the field of blue bioeconomy?

At INESC TEC, we leverage synergies between science and innovation to engage in a wide spectrum of opportunities, from highly specific industry challenges to more transversal challenges. In the bioeconomy sector, our contributions range from physical systems solutions to software, including, among others, optical sensors and biosensors for specific physical or chemical variables or organisms; integration of heterogeneous data; virtual and augmented reality for data and phenomenon visualization; communication solutions for adverse environments, including underwater; Multifunctional robotic systems, operating above, on the surface, and underwater, capable of perceiving the environment, navigating autonomously, performing complex missions, and collecting new data.

A project in the area of ​​the blue bioeconomy in which he participated and of which he is proud.

A group of researchers from INESC TEC recently collected environmental DNA samples in the Arctic under extreme conditions. The team used a technology called a biosampler, which facilitates the task of biologists who will later analyze the samples. The biosampler is a Portuguese technology developed by INESC TEC and CIIMAR. It was tested in the extreme Arctic environment, descending to a depth of 15 meters in the cold waters of melting glaciers located in the fjords of Svalbard – within the scope of the Connect2Oceans and MicroArctic projects, both funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The biosampler was coupled to a robot that allowed the autonomous operation of the two Portuguese technologies. The researchers returned to Portugal with samples collected from different points in the Arctic – now undergoing laboratory analysis.

A project or idea you would like to implement in the blue bioeconomy?

Different projects included in the Blue Food Agenda of the Recovery and Resilience Plan would have a substantial medium-term impact on aquaculture production in Portugal and a considerable impact on reducing unsustainable production, imports, and CO2 emissions. The project’s broad ambition encompasses onshore and offshore challenges, proposing the development of innovative solutions for feeding, ponds, sensors, and operational and management software supported by predictive algorithms and digital twins. It also proposes new and automated offshore cages equipped with surveillance systems, real-time remote communications, robotic solutions to support different types of operations, new aquaculture vessels, considering human limitations and adopting H2 as an energy vector, among many other fundamental projects to seriously combat the lag in aquaculture production in Portugal.

How do you envision the blue bioeconomy in 30 years?

The blue bioeconomy promises to become a leading sector, providing true sustainability, converting innovation into balanced economic impacts and job creation, especially for currently less favored regions, and into significant impacts on the green transition, contributing to climate change mitigation and strengthening biodiversity and many of our critical ecosystems.

What is the importance of the work developed by B2E CoLAB?

B2E CoLAB occupies a unique position in Portugal, at the convergence between academia and industry, to boost our national blue bioeconomy sector. Its first years of operation clearly demonstrate its ability to orchestrate partnerships and work on dimensions such as talent development, scientific and technological innovation, and internationalization, to support the successful affirmation of our two high-potential focus sectors for CoLAB: biotechnology and aquaculture.