Today, the Mare Startup protocol was signed by the Faculty of Sciences – University of Lisbon, Catholic University of Portugal, Business Forum of the Sea Economy and Society of Business Assessment and Risk (SaeR) to support entrepreneurship and innovation in the “blue economy”. The ceremony was chaired by Assunção Cristas, Minister of Agriculture and the Sea.

The initiative aims at revitalizing the Portuguese sea economy. The goal is to bring together educational institutions, businesses, the government and the society to accelerate the “blue economy” and help create new startups in the sector. The initiative follows a national and European trend to explore the ocean economy as a strategy to reach economic growth, investment and job creation.

Mare Startup will be based in Tec Labs – Innovation Centre of the Faculty of Sciences – University of Lisbon.