The objective is to transform the Valencian Community into an urban and marine laboratory for validating innovative solutions. This investment targets economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts, aiming to balance the use of marine resources with environmental protection. Eight projects are being funded to modernize maritime transport and leverage natural resources and the circular economy.
The projects explore the use of algae and waste from the fishing industry to create high-value products such as marine leather, biotextiles, or functional ingredients for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Eduardo Pascual made this assessment during the opening of the MedBlueTech Summit, organized by Mediterranean Algae in collaboration with the Alicante City Council and the Alicante Science Park, at Casa Mediterráneo.
Pascual highlighted the importance of digital transformation, decarbonization, and marine environment protection, advocating for technology's role in improving efficiency and safeguarding oceans. He emphasized that the innovation capacity of the Valencian Community reflects a mature ecosystem ready to lead the digital transformation of the blue economy in the Mediterranean.
He described The Ocean Race, with Alicante as its starting port for 16 years, as a "living laboratory of advanced innovation." He stressed the need to direct innovation policy towards effective knowledge transfer to the market to boost business activity and foster quality employment.
The Consell's goal is to turn the Valencian Community into a major urban and marine testing laboratory. Ivace+i Innovation supports blue economy companies through grant calls. The port of Alicante, with Ivace+i support, will launch innovative public procurement initiatives and a technological sandbox.
The Generalitat structures its innovation policies on three levels: support for startups and SMEs, connecting knowledge generation centers with the industrial sector, and promoting sandboxes for testing innovations before commercialization.
