The presentation of current national challenges in the field of the blue economy, with the case of the Port of Vigo as a pioneer in Europe in the implementation of the BlueGrowth strategy as an example; the exposition of the keys to the Atlantic Action Plan Assistance Mechanism, as well as the instruments and financing opportunities in the marine-maritime field, focused throughout this morning the national Atlantic Challenges conference, held at the Parador de Baiona. Around 80 people from academia, SMEs, technological and research centers and platforms, associations and foundations from Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Madrid, the Basque Country and Galicia participated in the conference, organized by the Atlantic Action Plan Support Team in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and which is funded by the European Commission.
Once the plenary sessions program was completed, eleven working tables were set up organized by thematic areas of interest such as blue biotechnology, aquaculture, fishing, ocean energies or coastal resilience, “in a working session to promote the creation of an ideal context to make project ideas visible by participants within the priorities of the Atlantic Action Plan, as well as to stimulate the creation of consortia between different organizations, so that they can aspire to become beneficiaries of financing instruments”, explains Daniel Rey, director of Campus de Mar, which assumes the functions of National Node of the Atlantic Action Plan Assistance Mechanism.
Strategic development of the economic sectors of the Atlantic coast
In the opening session of the day, the technical advisor in the General Directorate for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries of the Directorate-General for Coordination of the Internal Market and Other Community Policies of the Secretariat of State for the EU, Lara Ventas, referred to the Atlantic Action Plan as “a challenge of enormous complexity, in which the exchange of ideas and needs and the implementation of projects and the search for financing are key to achieving the strategic development of the economic sectors of the Atlantic coast”. For her part, Paloma Rueda, director of the Sea Technology Centre representing the Minister of the Sea, Rosa Quintana, highlighted that “Galicia is an active and participatory agent of the challenges and opportunities linked to the implementation of the European Atlantic strategy with which we share the central objective of creating growth and employment opportunities for marine and maritime activities and working for blue growth”.
In the opening session of the day, the technical advisor in the General Directorate for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries of the Directorate-General for Coordination of the Internal Market and Other Community Policies of the Secretariat of State for the EU, Lara Ventas, referred to the Atlantic Action Plan as “a challenge of enormous complexity, in which the exchange of ideas and needs and the implementation of projects and the search for financing are key to achieving the strategic development of the economic sectors of the Atlantic coast”. For her part, Paloma Rueda, director of the Sea Technology Center representing the Minister of the Sea, Rosa Quintana, highlighted that “Galicia is an active and participatory agent of the challenges and opportunities linked to the implementation of the European Atlantic strategy with which we share the central objective of creating growth and employment opportunities for marine and maritime activities and working for blue growth”.
Campus do Mar, National Node of the Assistance Mechanism for the Atlantic Action Plan
Since last summer, Campus do Mar has assumed the functions of National Node of the Assistance Mechanism for the Atlantic Action Plan, which is a tool funded by the EU to support the implementation of the Atlantic Action Plan, launched in 2013 by the European Commission to revitalise the marine and maritime economy of France, Ireland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Spain. “In this way, the national node, in coordination with the national Atlantic Steering Group, is responsible for organising the annual Atlantic Challenges event, which before being held in Bayonne, was held in Cádiz, Santander and Vigo,” says Daniel Rey, who is also the coordinator of the national node.
For its part, “the common objective of all the nodes is to provide support to the community of professional stakeholders at the national level, strengthening links with management authorities and decision-makers in coastal regions; identifying funding opportunities and for the implementation of projects in the context of the implementation of the action plan”, details Noelia Estévez, manager of the National Node of the Atlantic Action Plan Assistance Mechanism.
Source: DUVI
