Defining the Marine Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystem for Europe

“The most important inventions and the most successful people are driven by collaboration. Collective inventions, by definition, require tolerance and diversity, and they cannot be cut from the same cloth.”

Francisco Varela (1946–2001) – Biologist, philosopher, and neuroscientist

🌊 What is the Ocean4Biotech Hackathon and for whom? 

This is a call to join the 48-hour Co-Creation Hackathon! 

Marine Biotechnology is a science still in its infancy, but it holds a huge research and innovation potential as we discover and learn more about marine organisms. Products and applications are highly diverse, spanning food production, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and wider medical applications. The success of future growth relies on scientific knowledge covering marine life and wider sciences. At the same time, acting responsibly and protecting the ocean and its marine environments is necessary and part of the United Nations Sustainable Goal 14 “life below water”. 

That is why we need You and your ideas and knowledge to help us define the ingredients of such a Marine Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystem.

Why should you get involved?

• The ocean is still unexplored.
• Exploiting the ocean’s natural potential is a vast scientific and business opportunity.
• More than 30.000 compounds have been discovered from marine organisms and they are used today in medicine, food, and other sectors.
• Marine Biotechnology is a fast-growing Blue Growth area with an estimated revenue of €1 billion in Europe and growing.
• We must take responsibility and protect the ocean and its ecosystems at the same time.
• To increase ocean awareness and protect it.

Contribute with your knowledge and innovative ideas for helping us to identify the ingredients for creating a European Marine Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystem of Excellence!

💪Help us co-create a plan for creating a pan-European Marine Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystem to boost the innovation of marine biotechnology and to advance the European Blue Growth!

👨‍🔬Who may participate

The Hackathon is open to anyone interested in marine biotechnology or working in related fields.