10–12 February, 2026
VASEACAD participated in the 2nd Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) Symposium, “Full Sail Ahead Towards the Sustainable Blue Economy”, held in Bucharest, Romania, from 10 to 12 February 2026. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, funding organisations and other stakeholders from across Europe to exchange ideas and explore future directions for a sustainable blue economy.
Representing the project, Dr. Yannis Kotzamanis from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) introduced VASEACAD to the wider Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership community, presenting its objectives, scientific approach and expected contribution to the circular blue bioeconomy.
A shared vision for a circular blue economy
The Symposium marked an important milestone for the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, bringing together the projects funded under its first two Joint Transnational Calls. Throughout the day, participants shared progress, discussed common challenges and explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration across Europe’s different sea basins.
For VASEACAD, the event provided an opportunity to present its work on developing sustainable solutions for the recovery and valorisation of seafood processing side streams. The project focuses on transforming materials that are often considered waste into valuable protein hydrolysates and bioactive compounds for applications in aquaculture, food and health, while supporting a more resource-efficient seafood sector.
Learning from the wider SBEP community
Beyond presenting the project, the Symposium offered an excellent opportunity to engage with other research initiatives funded through the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership.
Discussions throughout the event highlighted the importance of collaboration between projects working on complementary topics. Sharing experiences, methodologies and lessons learned helps reduce duplication of effort, encourages innovation and strengthens the overall impact of European research.
For the VASEACAD consortium, the event also provided valuable insights into emerging technologies, policy developments and future market opportunities linked to the circular blue economy.
Delegates attending the 2nd Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium
Building connections across Europe
One of the strengths of the Symposium was the diversity of participants. Researchers met with industry representatives, policymakers, funding organisations and innovation stakeholders to discuss how research results can move beyond the laboratory and create practical benefits for society.
Networking sessions and project exhibitions created opportunities to establish new collaborations, exchange knowledge and identify future synergies between projects addressing common challenges in fisheries, aquaculture and marine biotechnology.
These interactions reinforce one of the key principles of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership: accelerating innovation through cooperation across disciplines, sectors and European sea basins.
Looking ahead
Participation in the 2nd SBEP Symposium strengthened VASEACAD’s connection with the wider European blue economy community and increased the visibility of the project among researchers, policymakers and industry.
As VASEACAD moves forward, the consortium will continue sharing its progress through scientific conferences, stakeholder events and communication activities, contributing to a growing network of initiatives working towards a more sustainable, circular and resilient blue economy.
About VASEACAD
VASEACAD (Valorising Seafood Side Streams, Residues, Unwanted Catches and Discards for the Production of Bioactive Protein Hydrolysates and High Added-Value Biomolecules) is a three-year research and innovation project funded by the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) and co-funded by the European Commission together with the national funding agencies of the participating countries. The project brings together ten organisations from seven European countries to develop sustainable solutions that transform seafood processing side streams into valuable ingredients for food, feed and health applications, supporting Europe’s transition towards a circular and sustainable blue bioeconomy.