The construction of the future blue hub of the Algarve, which will be located in the Port of Pesca de Olhão, began this Friday. This ambitious project aims to affirm the region and the county as “a center of excellence in the economy of the sea”, in the words of the mayor of Olhão, António Miguel Pina, during the release ceremony of the work.
With a total area of about 2000 m² (800 m² of implementation), the hub results from a multidisciplinary consortium, which is part of the Olhão City Council, the University of Algarve, the Portuguese Institute of Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), Docapesca and S2aquacoacob – collaborative laboratory in sustainable and intelligent aquaculture.
The new infrastructure will be endowed with laboratories, office areas and technical and scientific support spaces, assuming as a living laboratory for the development of products, services and technologies in the areas of marine biotechnology, aquaculture, food industry, new technologies, robotics and valorization of marine resources.
It is estimated that the hub is capable of welcoming up to 15 companies and creating about 90 jobs, mostly qualified, contributing to the strengthening of the local and regional seafood economy.
The work ceremony of the work was attended by several regional entities, including the chairman of the Algarve Coordination and Regional Development Commission (CCDR Algarve), José Apolinário; The Rector of the University of Algarve, Paulo Águas; the president of Docapesca, Sérgio Faias; The president of S2Aquacolab, Pedro Pousão, as well as representatives of the Blue Fund, the scientific community and entrepreneurs of the maritime sector.
The blue hub will be installed following the requalification and expansion of an existing building in the port area of Olhão, offering an environment conducive to research, innovation and technological development, promoting synergies between companies, higher education institutions and research centers.
According to António Miguel Pina, “the Blue Hub is expected to contribute significantly to the region’s economic growth, creating new job opportunities and reinforcing the competitiveness of the Algarve in the Maritime Sector. In addition, the initiative is aligned with national ocean resources valorization strategies and promotion of the blue economy.”
This project reaffirms the ambition of Olhão in consolidating itself as “Capital of Ria Formosa”, promoting sustainability and technological innovation in the use and management of marine resources.
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