On June 6, the Cruise Terminal at the Port of Leixões, in Matosinhos, will be the setting for a new vision for the future of the oceans. Under the motto “Ocean in Loop,” the Blue Wink-E 2025 conference proposes an urgent and innovative reflection on the role of the circular economy in the regeneration of marine ecosystems and the sustainable growth of the blue bioeconomy. The event is organized by B2E – Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB.

One of the highlights will be the participation of Wayne Visser, a world leader in sustainability and author of 44 books, including the bestseller Thriving. Recognized as one of the top 10 international speakers on ESG, Wayne Visser is a professor at the University of Cambridge and the Católica Porto Business School and will bring to the Blue Wink-E stage an inspiring vision on regenerative leadership, impactful innovation, and the paths to a truly circular economy.

The Blue Wink-E 2025 program also includes two strategic round tables. The first, in the morning, entitled “Circular Solutions in the Blue Bioeconomy,” explores the potential of circularity in production systems, with the participation of José Maria Costa (former Secretary of State for the Sea), Maria Coelho (coordinator of B2E CoLAB), Marlos Silva (director of R&D and Innovation at Sonae MC), and Breixo Ventoso (director of R&D at the Frinsa Group).

In the afternoon, there will be a round table discussion on “The Future of the Global Market and Sustainable Innovation,” with the participation of Assunção Cristas (former Minister of Agriculture and the Sea), Ricardo Arroja (President of AICEP), Hermano Rodrigues (Principal EY-Parthenon), and Nuno Lourenço (Coordinator of the European consortium One Water).

As part of Blue Wink-E 2025, the Blue Connect space offers a living showcase of the innovation that is emerging at the intersection of science, industry, and sustainability. Here, companies and R&D centers present concrete solutions that embody the principles of the blue circular economy. From sustainable leather made from salmon skins to pet food based on marine by-products, digital technology to combat fish waste, and new food textures developed from heads and bones—Blue Connect promises to surprise and inspire.

“We are living in a crucial moment in which science and innovation need to translate into concrete solutions to regenerate our oceans. Blue Wink-E was born out of this urgency: to show that it is possible to do things differently, and that Portugal can lead this movement through the blue bioeconomy. We want to challenge decision-makers, motivate companies, and inspire new generations,” says Maria Coelho, coordinator of B2E CoLAB, the entity responsible for organizing the event.

The 2025 edition also has the support of the Portuguese Committee for COI-UNESCO and the National Committee for the United Nations Decade of the Ocean, reinforcing its alignment with major international goals for marine sustainability.

The opening session of the event will feature Ana Paula Mucha, chair of the board of B2E CoLAB, and Luísa Salgueiro, mayor of Matosinhos.

The closing of the event—and the hosting of the entire session—will be led by the well-known communicator, writer, and comedian Hugo van der Ding, ensuring an intelligent and provocative tone for what promises to be a memorable day.