The Xarxa BlueNetCat project began as an aquaculture network in 1997 and became a Maritime Network, as it is now, in 2018. After almost a decade and an initial phase of adolescence, the entity directed by Lourdes Reig now enters its maturity with the challenge of continuing to expand the agents with which they work. “We have incorporated much more transversal research groups focused on the blue economy and now we have added groups focused on digitalization and Artificial Intelligence,” she stated.
At a time of satisfaction after having renewed the public contract until 2028 and with three years ahead to continue working on their project, the Xarxa BlueNetCat is already thinking about its future beyond this date and is clear about what it has to achieve. “We must achieve being economically sustainable in the long term. This means not depending on public calls and being able to obtain our own funding that allows us to work more and better,” Lourdes Reig emphasized. From the Xarxa BlueNetCat they know that if they achieve this new funding model they will have a greater reach and thus be able to continue with their project beyond 2028.
In this sense and looking to the future, we courageously face the challenge of seeking the financial sustainability of BlueNetCat in the medium term, through the analysis and proposal of new sustainability models. We will seek new own revenue lines to guarantee medium-long term stability and finance the growth of the Xarxa. From here we can define a business model that makes us sustainable and that can be shared with the rest of the networks, raised from the generosity and responsibility that we have and that makes us know that we are a public service.
Lourdes Reig states that they have always worked with different pillars: public administration, private sector and industry, academia (including students) and then civil society. “What we want is for this knowledge that is generated in Catalonia and where we are very strong in research and the blue economy to be translated into actions that can subsequently be used for society,” stated the director of the Xarxa BlueNetCat.
