The Fórum Oceano – managing entity of Portugal’s Blue Economy Cluster – and The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote, through the Hub Azul Dealroom digital platform (https://hubazuldealroom. forumoceano.pt/intro), an ecosystem in the sustainable Blue Economy that promotes innovation and investment globally.
The purpose of this MoU is to express the commitment of both parties to identify and support opportunities that contribute to the development of a sustainable blue economy. This knowledge partnership represents a significant step towards addressing the most pressing challenges facing the oceans through collaborative efforts.
The Hub Azul Dealroom is the first digital platform designed to quickly map Blue Economy business information and match startups, SMEs and investors. Dealroom already has more than 1,200 start-ups registered (with more than 1,800 investment rounds), around 2,600 investors and more than 120 large companies. The platform’s website also reveals that 1,631 financing rounds have already been completed.
As a Knowledge Partner, the World Ocean Initiative (WOI) will collaborate with Fórum Oceano in developing and promoting the Hub Azul Dealroom digital platform. This initiative, managed by Fórum Oceano and funded by EU Next Generation – Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, serves as a cornerstone for fostering ESG investment in building a business model for Portugal’s Blue Economy Cluster and the Hub Azul.
WOI will also provide advisory support, without financial commitments, for the development of the Hub Azul network, including advice on business missions, activities such as events and programmes, refinement of the business model and establishment of new relevant relationships. The Ocean Forum, in turn, will support WOI’s efforts to transition to a sustainable blue economy. The next Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit returns to Lisbon in March 2024.
Ruben Eiras, Secretary-General of Fórum Oceano: “This MoU marks a crucial moment in collective efforts to provide better information, content and intelligence for entrepreneurs and investors who are focused on promoting a true blue ESG economy. By joining forces with WOI, from The Economist Impact, we aim to unlock new opportunities and establish a global benchmark for innovative solutions across all sectors of the blue economy, establishing business models that are both profitable and generate an “environmental surplus” for ocean ecosystems.”.
Tatiana Der Avedissian, Head of Business Development at The Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative (WOI): “WOI has been advocating for the need to bridge the investment gap in ocean innovation through the annual World Ocean Summit and the 2022 World Ocean Tech and Innovation Summit. We believe this is a crucial factor in accelerating the transition to a sustainable blue economy. The Blue Dealroom Hub is a great initiative that will support this goal, and we are happy to support this effort as a Knowledge Partner.”.
This collaboration between Fórum Oceano and WOI represents a shared commitment to driving positive change in the global blue economy and sets the tone for innovative and sustainable practices that aim to shape the future of our oceans.