Biotech-& Nature Based Solutions for Blue Economy

ACTION DOMAINS
Photo © Carlos Alexandre

Biotech- & Nature based Solutions for Blue Economy aims at bridging the gap between research and society through two pathways:

  1. by addressing a market-focused approach based on novel lines of discovery relevant for the marine and maritime sectors;
  2. by contributing to ecosystem services assessment and valuation, supporting its integration into decision-making processes and the decarbonisation of blue economy sectors.

This action domain will deliver new biotechnological applications, products, processes and services, providing solutions for the Blue Economy sectors, in particular those linked to seafood production, commercial fisheries and fish production (e.g. aquaculture).

Public Policies & Strategies

  • European Blue Growth Strategy
  • European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021 – 2027
  • European Common Fisheries Policy
  • National Strategy for Research and Smart Specialization
  • Food and Nutritional Security Strategy
  • National Strategy for the Sea 2021-2030, particularly with its strategic objectives OE2 – Fostering Jobs and the Circular and Sustainable Blue Economy, OE4 – Sustainability and Food Security, OE6 – Promote Health and Wellness, OE7 – Stimulating Scientific Knowledge, Technological Development and Blue Innovation, and OE9 – Encourage Reindustrialization and Productive Capacity and Digitize the Ocean.

Coordinator

Support to coordination

Coordinator

Sara Novais

BIO
Coordinator

Sara Novais

Assistant researcher, Coordinator of MARE’s Research Thematic Line “Biotechnology and Valorisation of Natural Resources”. Expertise in toxicological mechanisms, pathways and chemical modes of action using “omic” technologies and other biomarker tools, with application to the biotechnology field.
Was member of the coordination board of MARE–Polytechnic of Leiria and co-responsible for the CETEMARES scientific facility in Peniche.

Support to coordination

Marco Lemos

BIO
Support to coordination

Marco Lemos

Associate Professor at the Polytechnic of Leiria, researcher at MARE. Expertise in toxicological modes of action using biochemical and molecular tools in ecology and ecotoxicology, and also in the marine biotechnology field and the application of marine resources into innovative products for the market.

Support to coordination

Rui Pedrosa

BIO
Support to coordination

Rui Pedrosa

Principal Researcher at MARE-Polytechnic of Leiria, which was the head from 2008 to 2014. Expertise in Marine Biotechnology, Pharmacology and Cellular Biology. Has three patents in the marine biotechnology field.

Support to coordination

Romana Santos

BIO
Support to coordination

Romana Santos

Associate Professor, researcher at MARE, leader of the Bioadhesion & Biomimicry Research Group. Co-founder of the biotech startup BioMimetx SA that develops biological biocides for marine paints.
Expertise in marine bioadhesion using a multidisciplinary approach combining morphology, biomechanics, biochemistry, proteomics, transcriptomics and molecular biology. The main goal is to investigate the components of biological glues and produce nature-inspired adhesive recombinant proteins for biomedical, biotechnological and industrial applications.

Support to coordination

Margarida Casal

BIO
Support to coordination

Margarida Casal

Full Professor of Biology of the University of Minho, researcher at CBMA. Deputy Director of CBMA and coordinates the research group on Molecular Biotechnology. Has 9 patents.
Expertise in protein structural-functional analysis with the goal of understanding the molecular features that allow proteins to perform work in the cell. Research interests are dedicated to: i) Uncovering novel Plasma Membrane Transporters, in particular the structure and function of carboxylic acid permeases. ii) Multifunctional protein-based materials for advanced applications, in particular for natural and recombinant biopolymers with main structure based on silk and elastin.

Apoio à coordenação

Manuela Côrte-Real

BIO
Support to coordination

Manuela Côrte-Real

Full professor at the University of Minho, researcher at CBMA. Head of the School of Sciences from the University of Minho.
Expertise in Biomedical Sciences (Microbiology) with focus on the regulatory network controlling regulated cell death in living organisms, to uncover attractive molecular targets for the development of novel biobased solutions with biomedical or biotechnological applications.
Has 2 patents.

Apoio à coordenação

Luís Chícharo

BIO
Support to coordination

Luís Chícharo

Professor of Ecology at the University of Algarve, researcher at CIMA. Director of the International Centre for Coastal Ecohydrology, under the auspices of UNESCO. Coordinator of the LOICZ node in Europe for Middle East and North Africa regions and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the UNESCO Ecohydrology Program, as well as the European Working Group on Estuaries and Coastal Ecohydrology.
Expertise in ecohydrologic solutions, considering the human dimensions, for promoting the sustainable management of estuaries and coastal areas.