Europe excels in ocean tech innovation but struggles with venture funding. An EU initiative aims to change that by helping startups gain investors' trust, from Italy's underwater Wi-Fi to Portugal's fish-powered farms.
Across Europe, blue tech startups are charting new waters in ocean technology, tackling some of the most pressing challenges, from renewable energy and blue biotechnology to cutting-edge port logistics and aquaculture. With support from European Union initiatives like BlueInvest, many of these innovators are securing the funding needed for scaling up.
Sustainable inland aquaculture
In Torres Vedras, Portugal, Aquaponics Iberia has developed a symbiotic system where fish and plants grow together using aquaponics, a combination of inland aquaculture and hydroponics, the process of growing plants without soils.
The startup, which raises Australian perch, a high-omega-3, sustainable "vegetarian fish", is seeking funding to scale up with a modular "Fish n'Greens" concept for urban environments. According to João Cotter, CEO of Aquaponics Iberia, these hubs can be adapted to various spaces and replicated across European cities, supplying local fresh food to retailers, restaurants, and school canteens and organizing guided tours for school groups.
BlueInvest has played a critical role in the company's growth, helping it refine its business plan and connect with potential investors. The sustainable and easy to maintain circular system isn't just a unique selling point, it also has an educational mission. The Fonseca Benevides Secondary School in Lisbon has joined the startup's educational project. Students there manage their own aquaponics system, learning biology, chemistry, and math through hands-on experience.
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