MARE reinforces international cooperation between Porutgal and Brazil for the blue economy

A Cooperation Agreement was signed this month between the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM) of the Polytechnic University of Leiria (IPLeiria) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (FURG), in Brazil, representing a significant step in consolidating international networks dedicated to the study and sustainable enhancement of ocean resources. As highlighted by the Director of ESTM and researcher at MARE/ARNET, Sérgio Leandro, the work carried out by IPLeiria, through the research unit MARE – Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences, and its CETEMARES Laboratory, was instrumental for the agreement.

The agreement, signed in Brazil, at the 4th Forum for the Development of Rio Grande do Sul's Blue Economy, establishes the foundations for structured cooperation between Portugal and Brazil, strengthening the international positioning of the Blue Innovation ecosystem of Peniche through ESTM-IPLeiria and Hub Azul Peniche – Smart Ocean. It will create a bridge for academic and researcher mobility, as well as for the development of joint research and innovation projects. According to an article in the newspaper Público, the model is based on a coastal living lab and covers areas such as maritime tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, blue biotechnology and social innovation, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the blue economy. “What we are doing is sharing knowledge and projects in the area of blue economy. It is an opportunity for Brazilian entrepreneurs to benefit from what is being developed in Peniche. The protocol is an initiative for us to grow together, given the experiences that exist in the western region of Portugal and in Brazil, where we both have great potential,” highlights Sérgio Leandro.

MARE plays a strategic role as a scientific catalyst for innovative solutions to marine challenges. The research carried out by the various research groups at MARE-IPLeiria has fostered approaches that combine fundamental and applied research to the needs of the region and the industrial tissue. This agreement therefore represents not only an institutional accomplishment but also a concrete example of how scientific cooperation can drive the blue economy and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Photo by ESTM-IPLeiria