ALENTEJO AZUL 2030

Problem: The Alentejo Region has some problems, namely, among others, the growing and projected vulnerability of its coastline and the increase in the temperature at the surface of the soil, as a result of the rise in temperature and decrease in rainfall, which requires an increasingly efficient use of water. The extensive coastline of the Atlantic coast of about 170 km of the Alentejo territory has a high potential for economic use, due to its natural characteristics and also for the diversified resources it provides for the development of the Region, namely in the subsectors of fishing and aquaculture, blue biotechnology, coastal and maritime tourism, and marine renewable energies, being highlighted,  in the latter, the important contribution of the port and logistics complex of Sines to the development of the hydrogen-based regional cluster. In turn, in the interior of the Alentejo Region, we also find a set of Water Plans: Reservoirs (Alqueva, Maranhão, Montargil, Santa Clara a Velha, among others) and Rivers (Tagus, Guadiana, Sado, Mira, etc…). These are just a few characteristics that make us wonder, why over the years the coast and the sea have not been thought of, as well as the existing water plans in the region, with an immense potential that can and should contribute more to the development of the Alentejo Region.

Objective: The mission of the Alentejo Azul 2030 project is to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the Economy of the Sea and Water Resources/Agribusiness, by supporting the creation of companies, thus contributing to the sustainable development and competitiveness of the Alentejo Region. The vision of Alentejo Azul 2030 is to affirm the Alentejo Region as a national reference of international projection in the promotion of Blue Entrepreneurship and the creation of new companies and businesses in the area of the Economy of the Sea and Water Resources/Agribusiness.

Key activities: Activity A1 – Collaborative dynamics to support the project consists of carrying out transversal actions that aim to identify the potential of the Blue Economy in the Alentejo Region and activate collaborative dynamics between the actors of the Alentejo Azul Ecosystem, as a way to ensure the establishment of preconditions that guarantee the necessary support for the proper execution of the project. Activity A2 – IGNITE consists of carrying out actions to promote and raise awareness of students, researchers, entrepreneurs, professionals and other qualified and creative potential entrepreneurs, and companies for the potential of the Economy of the Sea and Water Resources/Agribusiness in the Alentejo Region, in order to detect and stimulate the generation of innovative business ideas,  and attract participants for the next activities of the project, including support and monitoring in the first steps in the entrepreneurial process, with a view to creating new companies. Activity A3 BLUE START consists of the development and implementation of an entrepreneurial skills development program that aims to stimulate and develop the necessary skills for the creation of companies, through the reinforcement and consolidation of the knowledge of the qualified and creative entrepreneurs participating in the entrepreneurial process, from the initial phase of idea generation, through the realization of a business idea in a business project,  until the start-up phase of the newly created company. Activity A4 – BLUE BOOST includes a set of actions to support the development of innovative ideas and their implementation in new companies, through mentoring and specialized coaching actions at all stages of the process of creating new companies, which enhance the acceleration and growth of business ideas and new companies created. Activity A5 includes a set of transversal management, coordination and communication actions of the Alentejo Azul 2030 project, with the general objective of ensuring the fulfillment of the project’s objectives and enhancing its impact, ensuring a multiplier effect of the results throughout the time of its execution.

More information at https://alentejoazul.pt/