Marine biotechnology enables the development of diverse, high-value products with very low levels of environmental impact. This is the basis of the premise underpinning the Blue Bio Value program, an entrepreneurial initiative focused on marine biotechnology run by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Oceano Azul Foundation with the objective of supporting the development of companies, products and services based on the biological resources existing in the sea.

In its 2021 tender, the Blue Bio Value program is to provide support for two types of participants:

• Startups and already existing SMEs, which are seeking to develop their competences and to improve their business model and growth strategy and/or scale-up their business – this is Blue Bio Value Acceleration;
• Students, graduates, researchers and new entrepreneurs with ideas able to drive new business ideas – this is Blue Bio Value Idea Creation.

Irrespective of the tender applied to, participants need to contribute to complying with at least one of the following objectives: reducing the scale of the environmental footprint of the food chain; fostering human health and wellbeing through recourse to sustainable products; reducing the negative impacts of the climate crisis; protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity; reducing marine pollution.

First launched in 2018, Blue Bio Value Acceleration has already boosted 42 companies from 15 different countries, enabling them to acquire business management competences and guidance and support from over 50 mentors. Participants in previous tenders have raised over 7 million euros in investment with around 70% of these startups expanding their activities.

Applications to Blue Bio Value 2021 (held in partnership with the Bluebio Alliance, BGI and MAZE) are open to 26 July.

Further information: bluebiovalue.com