Final Stakeholder event - Blue Bioeconomy Forum: Take the chance to have your say!!!

25^th of June, Brussels

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Register here.

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Do not miss the chance to learn about the development of blue bioeconomy in the EU, to shape the future of this sector and to discuss opportunities with the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries – Karmenu Vella!
The Blue Bioeconomy Forum is an initiative, funded by the European Commission. It brings together a partnership of industry, public authorities, academia and finance in order to strengthen Europe's competitive position in the emerging blue bioeconomy.

This event will bring together all interested stakeholders, to discuss the latest developments in the sector. It will be the occasion to unveil and discuss the draft Roadmap for the Blue Bioeconomy in Europe. Roundtables will be organised to debate on the most important challenges and suggested solutions (on policy, environment and regulation; finance and business development; value chain, markets and consumers; and science, technology and innovation).

In addition, the afternoon will be dedicated to networking and presentations of current initiatives:

• Inspirational projects and success stories
• Open science and the Blue Bioeconomy
• Role of regions in the development of the Blue Bioeconomy in Europe
• Presentations of the European Enterprise Network (EEN) and European Innovation Council (EIC)
• Presentation of the Assistance Mechanism for Blue Investment
• Presentations of EABA and BBIJU

See below the preliminary agenda! Get involved, learn more and share your views at the event!

Why should you join us?

• You will learn about trends, opportunities and challenges that are faced by different actors of the Blue Bioeconomy sector in the EU.
• You will have opportunities to meet keystakeholders of the Blue Bioeconomy sector.
• You will be invited to participate in discussions with experts in the areas of policy, environment and regulation, finance and business development, value chain and markets, and science, technology and innovation.
• You will be able to help shape the roadmap for the development of the Blue Bioeconomy of the EU.
• You will be able to learn on key EU initiatives to support SMEs in Europe: Enterprise Europe Network business services, European Innovation Council Pilot and the BlueInvest Platform, etc.

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Date: 25^th June 2019

Time: 9.00 am – 17.30 pm CET

Location: Brussels Marriott Hotel Gland Place, Rue Auguste Orts 3-7, Brussels, Belgium

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• Join the LINKED IN group
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Read the interview with Commissioner Vella
• Read more about the Blue Bioeconomy Forum

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Agenda

(see also in attachment)

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Registration and welcome coffee (9.00-9.30)

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Opening plenary session (9.30-10.15)

Commissioner Karmenu Vella (Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

Sieglinde Gruber (Head of Unit Healthy Oceans & Seas, DG Research and Innovation)

Julien Guerrier (Director, EASME)

The session will be moderated by Helena Vieira, member of the BBF Steering Group

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World café (10.15 – 12.15)

Presenting and discussing parts of the roadmap at different tables:

• Licences / Permits: Obtaining licenses and permits to set up activities is difficult for companies
• Novel food: Novel food status and procedures are unclear for companies
• Ecosystem services: Ecosystem services in the Blue Bioeconomy are not yet developed
• Understanding finance / skills and qualifications: Blue bio projects and businesses lack understanding of investment landscape and how to present opportunities to potential investors. Human resources needs (skills and qualification) in the Blue Bioeconomy sector.
• Funding mechanisms: Lack of funds and mechanisms to support blue bio projects and start-ups.
• Consumer acceptance: Lack of consumer acceptance of blue products
• Side products: Lack of valorisation of side products from marine origin materials
• Seasonality + Logistics: Difficulty in stable production of aquatic or marine biomass due to seasonality. Logistical challenges for aquatic of marine biomass processing
• Production costs: High costs of blue production.
• Researcher-industry dialogue + Research infrastructure: Dialogue and sustainable cooperation between researchers and industry is needed. Lack, underuse and geographical discrepancy of research infrastructures.
• Access to data + Marine exploration: Exploration of marine environment has technical challenges and high costs. Lack of access to data, research results and data banks.

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Lunch (12.15 - 13.30)

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Afternoon sessions (13.30 – 15.00)

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• Sea4Us: A biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical drugs based on novel marine compounds for unmet clinical needs
• D-factory: Developing a commercial scale biorefinery process, setting new standards in sustainable algal biomass processing.
• Irish Mussel Seed Company: An innovative aquaculture venture to sustainably harvest mussel seed offshore in the Irish Sea.
• Hortimare: Supplier of high-quality starting material to enable seaweed farmers to harvest good yields.

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Coffee break (15.00 – 15.20)

One-on-one meetings

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Closing plenary session (15.20 – 16.15)

• Daniela Cedola (PwC): BlueInvest Platform
• Thomas Vyzikas: Bio-Based Industry Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU)
• Jean-Paul Cadoret: European Algae Biomass Association (EABA)
• Andreas Ligtvoet (Technopolis Group): Wrap-up of the day

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Networking + drinks (16.15-17.30)

One-on-one meetings

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