The Regional Director for Sea Affairs said in Wilmington, North Carolina, that the Azores "do not want to be left out of the developments in blue biotechnology."

Filipe Porteiro spoke on the sidelines of the BioMarine Business Convention, highlighting the importance of the participation of the Azores in this event, which is "the only international forum dedicated to promoting marine biotechnology, an important area for the development of blue economy in the Region."

BioMarine brings together small and medium companies, research and innovation centres, investors and representatives of various countries, states and regions with the aim of promoting contacts to leverage business and industrial initiatives as well as business opportunities in the blue biotechnology.

"Cooperation, whether at the level of companies or at level of region and countries, is regarded as a key aspect for the assertion of marine biotechnology as a new opportunity for sustainable economic growth based on environmental values," said the Regional Director.

Filipe Porteiro stressed that "natural products extracted from bacteria and other micro-organisms, micro and macro algae, marine invertebrates and industrial by-products have multiple applications, “especially in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, biofuel and bioplastics production, and aquaculture.

"This is a new and emerging world that is now dawning on all continents and regions and the Azores do not want to be left out of this path of no return," the government official said, adding that, despite marine biotechnology is still in its infancy in the Region, "the potential of the Azores in many areas is already recognised."

The Regional Director noted that the BioMarine is a forum where the "direct and intense contact" between participants is valued and that the purpose of attending the event was to disseminate the "potentialities of the Azores, competitive advantages and opportunities" among entrepreneurs with potential interest in investing in biotechnology and aquaculture in the Region.”

Tax benefits granted by the Government of the Azores to this sector, the existing support for the establishment of small and medium companies, community support for the installation of factories and corporate laboratories, the advantages of technological incubators and the ease to access to specialised laboratories and spaces for the installation of companies, and the mapping of areas with potential for aquaculture in the archipelago were some of the aspects highlighted at BioMarine.

 Filipe Porteiro also said that "the existing knowledge on regional marine resources, especially emphasis on marine biotechnology, and the installed capacity of the University of the Azores are also structural assets the region has in order to underpin business projects and initiatives developed in this area."

"The implementation of marine biotechnology projects in the Azores is a process that requires a continuous and persistent promotion with entrepreneurs from the regions and the most advanced countries in this business area, such as North Carolina, Quebec, Scotland and Norway," stressed the Regional Director.