The ocean is the main climate regulator we have, so adherence to the European Green Deal is paramount as is meeting the EU’s environmental and climate objectives. There can’t be green without blue. What actions have been put into effect? What plans are there for the future?

While there is a plethora of new approaches to this issue across the blue economy sectors, there is also a desperate need for investment in research, skills, and innovation to make these ideas a reality.

As a follow-up to the Ireland Portugal Business Network’s annual Sustainability conference in March 2021, the IPBN has organized a conference on the Blue Economy that will take place on World Maritime Day with the support of Knowledge Partner PwC Portugal, Supporting Partner CCIP Lisboa, and Executive Partners AGreen and Dense Air.

Following opening remarks from H.E. Ralph Victory, Ireland’s Ambassador to Portugal and a welcome from a representative from PWC Portugal, the impressive panel of speakers and experts in Transport, Energy, Aquaculture, and more will share their knowledge with IPBN members on Thursday September 30.

Moderated by Raquel Abecasis, Executive Director at Invest Lisboa & Columnist for the Observador, the first panel will include Pedro Rocha Vieira, Co-founder & CEO at Beta-i , who has been invited to detail the company’s most aggressive innovation program supporting the Blue Economy after being selected by the European Commission to implement the Atlantic Smart Ports Blue Acceleration Network . And Ruben Eiras, Secretary General for Blue Economy Entrepreneurship, Investment, Innovation and Financing of Fórum Oceano – Associação da Economia do Mar will further discuss how they intend to help Beta-I in these efforts.

After a short coffee break, Aoife Healy, Chair of the IPBN Board of Directors, will lead another conversation featuring Ana Brito e Melo, Senior Advisor & Head of Strategic Studies from WavEC Offshore Renewables , a long-standing non-profit association supporting offshore energy, aquaculture and ocean engineering. Ana will be joined by Charlotte O’Kelly, Managing Director at TechWorks Marine, who will be specially at the conference in Lisbon from Ireland, as they further investigate offshore renewables.

The third and final panel will be introduced by Mario Gago, IPBN Board Member & Software Engineer at Pink Room and present a series of business case studies including the Blue Bio Value Accelerator programme from Oceano Azul, Sparos – Nutrition in AquaCulture, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and more.

According to ec.europa.eu, “The detailed agenda for the Blue Economy should help achieve the European Green Deal’s objectives and complement other recent Commission initiatives on biodiversity, food, mobility, security, data and more. For example, the Blue Economy contributes to climate change mitigation by developing offshore renewable energy, decarbonizing maritime transport and greening ports.” It only stands to reason that developing green infrastructure in coastal areas will help preserve biodiversity and landscapes, while simultaneously benefitting tourism and the coastal economy.

The IPBN hopes to help in these and all efforts by gathering this group of esteemed guests and speakers together to effect real change. The panels of speakers will meet with guests in presence at the CCIP in Lisbon, simultaneously broadcasting the conference live on the IPBN YouTube channel for members and guests who are not able to attend.

You can register free of charge to the conference here.

For more information/questions, please contact Arnold Delville, IPBN General Manager. arnold.delville@ireland-portugal.com - +351 969 196 055