This is another step in promoting sustainability in Portugal. The "Fish Matter, from head to tail" project, led by B2E – CoLAB for Blue Bioeconomy, promises transform management parts of fish and other marine organisms that are usually discarded. This innovative project aims to create a smart platform for adding value to co-products of the blue bioeconomy, using advanced matchmaking algorithms to connect co-product generators, processors, and valorization technologies.

“Fish Matter is a direct response to the underutilization of raw materials and the urgent need to establish innovative and sustainable circular economy processes,” explains Maria Coelho, coordinator of B2E CoLAB. “The project aims to have a significant impact on the Portuguese economy and society, reinforcing Portugal's commitment to sustainability and positioning the country in the innovative valorization of marine resources.”

The platform will be developed to help companies and other stakeholders identify new business opportunities and establish strategic partnerships. By connecting co-product generators, processing industries, technology providers, and scientific collaboration networks, Fish Matter – the Intelligent Platform for Adding Value to Blue Bioeconomy Co-products – will promote the creation of high-value products from underutilized resources such as heads, viscera, skins, and shells.

With the European Commission adopting an Action Plan for the Circular Economy, Fish Matter, whose slogan is "From head to tail," could be a catalyst for sustainable innovation at the national level. "The platform being built by B2E CoLAB will be innovative, including through the use of advanced matchmaking algorithms, which will allow for the intelligent connection of co-product generators, processors, and value-added technologies," highlights Maria Coelho. "This approach will foster the creation of new products and markets, leveraging innovative approaches and promoting a true circular economy," she adds.

The project's objectives include deepening knowledge about the co-products generated in the blue bioeconomy sector, identifying technologies for leveraging these resources, and finding opportunities for value creation in new value chains within the biomedical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, chemical, and food segments.

The Fish Matter project, led by B2E CoLAB, is being developed in collaboration with CIIMAR, IPMA, ISEP, the University of Aveiro and the University of Minho, within the framework of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, a Mobilizing Agenda funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan.