Ocean in Loop: Smart, Circular, Blue
On the path toward a regenerative blue economy, knowledge and technology already exist — the challenge lies in scaling, cooperating, and acting with purpose and vision.
The recent edition of Blue Wink-E 2025, under the theme “Ocean in Loop”, brought together experts, researchers, entrepreneurs and decision-makers to reflect on the future of the blue economy. At a critical time for the preservation of marine resources, the event showcased circular and regenerative solutions that are already transforming value chains, creating new business opportunities, and strengthening the connection between science, industry and public policy.
Wayne Visser, a globally renowned sustainability expert, opened the conversation with a powerful message: it is no longer enough to mitigate environmental damage — we must regenerate natural and social systems. He emphasized the importance of communication that inspires and mobilizes, arguing that only through narratives that awaken a sense of purpose — not just urgency — can we unlock the six systemic transitions he proposes: ecological, social, technological, health-related, resource-based and resilience-focused. This is the path each of us can help to build toward a society that doesn’t merely survive, but one that truly thrives.
It was in this spirit of transformative vision and concrete action that the roundtable discussions took place, focusing on circular innovations in the blue economy and their capacity to deliver sustainable solutions to global challenges.
The many contributions made it clear: good practices and tangible innovations are already in place. We are seeing real solutions emerge — companies that transform fish by-products into ready-to-eat and nutritious meals, into leather like fabrics, or into pet snacks. Projects such as Fish Matter, a smart digital platform led by B2E CoLAB and part of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, demonstrate how the circular economy can go beyond concept — becoming market practice and a driver of growth. Other initiatives involving industry and research centers like CIIMAR — in areas such as traceability, marine by-product valorization, biotechnology for health and cosmetics, and low-impact aquaculture — are further examples of concrete, functioning projects delivering measurable impact.
Still, challenges remain. There is a pressing need to redesign value chains, connect scientific innovation with industrial capacity, and engage consumers through education and transparency. For that, it is essential to keep promoting cross-sector collaboration, building bridges between research, businesses, the public sector, investors and civil society — to unlock the full potential of the blue economy.
This is the role B2E CoLAB aims to play: a collaborative laboratory where competencies converge and networks are activated to make innovation usable and scalable. It is this ecosystem logic that enables knowledge to be transformed into economic and environmental impact.
In the Portuguese context, several structural factors are also crucial to affirming the ocean as an active agent of sustainable innovation and value creation. The blue economy spans multiple sectors — from aquaculture and biotechnology to offshore renewable energy, maritime transport and coastal tourism — each with its own level of maturity and dynamics. It is therefore essential to define strategic priority areas in which Portugal seeks to lead, and to develop consistent and effective public policies. This approach must be differentiated, rather than treating the blue economy as a single, homogeneous sector. To support this vision, long-term funding cycles and operational stability are equally important — so that successful initiatives do not remain isolated examples.
The challenges are real, but Blue Wink-E 2025 brought an optimistic and inspiring message: there is talent, technological capability, a business ecosystem ready to innovate, informed consumers, and a political environment increasingly aligned with the transition toward a circular and regenerative economy.
There are no magic formulas, but there is a path. And we are already on it.
In this spirit, B2E CoLAB will continue to foster spaces for dialogue, experimentation and collaboration, supporting solutions that make the blue economy more resilient, circular, and centered on people and the planet.
