Blue Bio Techpreneurs - Unlocking Transversal and Entrepreneurial Skills for the Blue Bioeconomy

Tackling the skills and labour gaps to improve people's careers and economic competitiveness is one of the top priorities of the European Union. The EU-funded project Blue Bio Techpreneurs is working to reinforce the link between academia and industry by:

• providing young graduates with the needed skills and business knowledge, and
• supporting companies in accessing talent to boost innovation in the blue biotech sector.

The project is funded by the European, Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, through the 2022 call for proposals on blue careers.

A support for both students and companies

The project started in September 2023 and is developing a full learning programme around the blue biotech sector for students and recent graduates. The project promotes the attractiveness of blue careers, matching companies, start-ups and institutions active in the blue bioeconomy with people looking for professional inspiration.

It supports students, young researchers, recent graduates who need transversal knowledge and skills to seize the increasing opportunities in the blue biotechnology sector.

The main project activities are:

• A series of 6 webinars, including on women entrepreneurship, with real-life examples and inspirational stories, where challenges and solutions are showcased along with examples of biotech applications.
• The development of Massive Online Open Courses (that can be found here), addressing crucial skills and knowledge in the blue biotechnology sector, including project management, sustainability, digital skills and more.
• Three in-person blue biotech hackathons (Nordic, Baltic and Atlantic) where academia and industry join forces to find solutions to concrete challenges in the sector.
• Matchmaking initiatives on the BlueBioMatch Community Platform to create professional links, such as the student community WaveMakers, Early Careers Exchange & Talent Hub.

"As a maritime cluster that fosters collaboration between academia and industry, the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique saw tremendous potential in the Blue Bio Techpreneurs project. It brings concrete solutions to a growing sector helping to build a prosperous and sustainable future.

I am a former educator myself, and I love working with partners to connect students and graduates with the tools they need to move confidently to the next stage of their careers", says Ethan Holaday from Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, project partner.

Linking European projects and initiatives

The Blue Bio Techpreneurs project works in cooperation with other EU projects as AlgaeProBANOS, Cool Blue, WIN-BIG, EU4Algae, sharing and exploiting results and creating synergies.

It contributes to important European policies such as the European Skills Agenda, the European Strategy for Universities, the EU Mission Ocean: Restore our Ocean & Waters just to mention some.

Nordic Hackathon

Students from 14 different European countries have participated and hacked solutions to 6 challenges brought up by 5 companies in the Nordic Hackathon that took place on 27-29 September 2024 in Denmark.

Students said "The hackathon was an incredible experience, bringing together diverse minds to collaborate on innovative solutions, share knowledge, and build lasting connections within the blue economy."

Participants worked in teams on real-life challenges with 7 mentors from companies such as Aquaponics Iberia, Global Skills Network OÜ, Eat Myt, Kerteminde Seafarm, Kieler Lachsforelle.

The cases included:

1. Sustainable and cost-efficient potable water recovery system from humidity in greenhouses,
2. Blue biotech value chains explained,
3. Increasing the consumption of Blue Mussels through innovation,
4. Accelerating seaweed product development,
5. Extending Post-Harvest Seaweed Shelf Life,
6. Oxygen deficit in fish farms.

The three best solutions were awarded with dried seaweed products, seaweed-based cosmetics, and the Master Pitch Award for the 1^st winning team, covering travel and accommodation to attend the third Mission Arena event to present their pitch.

More information

You can watch the highlights of the Nordic Hackathon here

Have a look at the recordings of the webinars on the project website.

Stay tuned for more interesting learning resources and events and follow the Blue Bio Techpreneurs project on their social media channels: LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook.