BlueNetCat is the largest network of blue economy experts in Europe. It is the only window for innovation in the blue economy in Catalonia. Through the Xarxa Marítima de Catalunya, it contributes significantly to the international recognition of the region in the marine and maritime sector, establishing itself as a benchmark for innovation and sustainable development. We spoke with Pablo Bou, promoter of the Xarxa Marítima, involved in the European consortium One Water, with the Port of Barcelona or Barcelona Activa among others, in addition to all the programs currently being developed.
Could you tell us a bit about the Xarxa Marítima de Catalunya and its mission within the maritime and blue sector, not only in Catalonia but also at the national and international level?
We are the Generalitat’s instrument for transfer and innovation in the blue economy. We act as a bridge. We transfer knowledge to the public and private sectors. Right now, we have over 70 research groups across all disciplines of the blue economy. Our goal is to identify what these groups are doing and transfer it. Our positioning is in Catalonia, and we are the gateway to innovation here and internationally—we are active and play a fairly influential role. One of the most notable aspects internationally is that we conduct missions in Canada, Portugal, Flanders… with our research groups and local companies, which helps us maintain strong connections with various European political groups.
The Xarxa Marítima de Catalunya has a key focus on innovation and sustainability. What are some of the most prominent programs currently being carried out, and how do they benefit the companies and entities that are part of the network?
We have various programs. Right now, we are focused on one for valorizing innovation projects that our researchers want to develop. A jury evaluates the projects based on a series of parameters, and a set of winning projects are selected and funded for implementation.
Another program is for training and education, open to anyone who wants to specialize in these fields. Then we have the Blue Net Camp, a teambuilding program that has been very well received. Not as a program but as a highlighted activity, we have Blue Net To Market, a one-day event featuring talks by our researchers and companies where they present various topics—what they are, what they seek… no more than three or four minutes per company—allowing us to get to know them better. Finally, there’s Blue Net on Campus, which involves our research groups, and we support them in developing their business plans.
Regarding the blue economy, how would you define its global importance, and how is this trend developing in Spain, particularly in Catalonia?
Right now, we are in a very good moment. Many initiatives and opportunities are emerging. European investments in the blue economy are growing, especially in instrumentation, robotics, aquaculture, and offshore wind energy.
BlueNetCat plays a key role in innovation within the blue economy. What specific initiatives are being driven to foster collaboration between companies and research centers across Spain and beyond?
This question is somewhat linked to what we previously discussed about the programs.
These are the initiatives we currently have on the table. To summarize, we could say that we open doors for researchers through our database with companies in the sector that want to conduct research. Ultimately, we open new markets for our researchers.
How do you see the role of universities and research centers in advancing the blue economy? In what way do these actors work alongside BlueNetCat to promote sustainable solutions and create a tangible impact on society?
The research centers of the blue economy are all part of the Xarxa. For example, we work closely with the UPC. Our current goal is to expand or continue growing the number of centers. We strive to help fund the various projects of researchers.
Knowledge transfer is one of the pillars in creating a more sustainable economy. How does BlueNetCat promote this knowledge transfer from universities and research centers to businesses and society at large?
Primarily through event attendance, bilateral organizations, or event organization.
We know that the Xarxa Marítima de Catalunya plays a key role within the One Water Consortium. What is the significance of this participation in an international context, and how does it align with the global goals of the blue economy and sustainability?
The goal of these communities is to transform industries. It’s not easy, but you need strong entities or institutions backing you, as in our case with the UPC. It’s a very ambitious objective, and we are well-positioned if the project moves forward and can be implemented.
The Generalitat de Catalunya is driving the internationalization of the blue economy. How is BlueNetCat contributing to this process, and what are the main international opportunities opening up for the companies and organizations that are part of the Xarxa?
It largely depends on where we go and the techniques and technologies we address. For example, right now, Artificial Intelligence, data management, and storage are the most trending topics. The other is nature-based solutions—these are the most active internationally because a very important and firm step has been taken toward sustainability.
At the national and international levels, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing the blue economy, and how does BlueNetCat contribute to overcoming them through its collaborative network and innovative projects?
The main challenge is decarbonization, the renaturalization of environments, research into new fuels, and improvements in port operations. What we do is act as a chain or observatory—we analyze, study, and observe everything related to the latest trends.
Finally, what are the most relevant projects currently underway within BlueNetCat, and how could they impact the blue economy in the near future, both in Catalonia and internationally?
Right now, we could say the most important project is the one we have with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), where we research new materials for floating offshore wind turbines.
We have another project with the Barcelona School of Tourism that involves the use of fishing discards, mainly bluefish, in which we collect everything that is discarded and study its viability to transform it into sausages so that nothing or as little as possible is wasted. Finally, we have another project that is providing us with data on the instrumentation of buoys and new sensors, which helps us collect data and manage the operations of a beach or environments.
