AIR Centre researchers join European Leaders at SBEP Symposium to advance the Sustainable Blue Economy

On 10-12 February 2026, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) held its second biennial Symposium in Bucharest, Romania, under the title “Full Sail Ahead Towards the Sustainable Blue Economy.” The event marked the midpoint of the Partnership’s implementation phase and provided a strategic platform to review progress, showcase funded projects, and define priorities for the next stage of Europe’s sustainable blue economy transition. The AIR Centre was represented by researchers Natalia Ospina-Alvarez, Head of Biodiversity and Blue Economy and Adriano Lima, MBON Scientific Programer, who engaged in the scientific and strategic discussions throughout the event. On 10 February, in the lead-up to the main Symposium, Natalia participated in the “Clustering session on different ongoing SBEP initiatives”, presenting the activities led by the AIR Centre on innovative communication. On 12 February, Natalia attended the “Kick-off meeting of the SBEP Thematic Portfolios.” by introducing the SEAGROW project, in which the AIR Centre participates. The intervention outlined the project’s objectives, scope, and expected contributions to the Partnership’s thematic priorities, reinforcing the AIR Centre’s role in advancing integrated, science-based solutions for the sustainable blue economy. On the same day, Adriano also engaged at the Foresight Workshop for the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) 2026+, which offer a unique opportunity to engage with the latest advancements, strategies, and collaborative efforts shaping the future of our oceans and coastal communities. The Symposium focused on strengthening the interface between research, policy, and market uptake to ensure measurable and lasting impact across Europe’s sea basins, with particular attention to the Black Sea. High-level contributions from European and national representatives emphasised the importance of coordination, data-informed governance, cross–sea basin cooperation, and sustained investment as enabling conditions for long-term transformation of maritime sectors. For more information, see Symposium full programme here. [NOA, 13 February 2026]