Last week, the AIR Centre participated in Bin@Cabo Verde 2026, a two-day international conference held on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and local actors to explore how innovation can thrive at the periphery, generate global impact, and turn structural challenges into strategic advantages.
Structured around three key pillars – the Green and Blue Economy, (Eco)Entrepreneurship, and Digital Innovation –, the conference offered a programme designed to address the specific opportunities and challenges faced by outermost and island regions.The first day (7 May) was dedicated to keynote speeches and contextualisation, establishing the overarching themes and priorities that would guide the conference's discussions. A highlight was the keynote by Magdalena Andreea Strachinescu Olteanu, Head of Unit for Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge and Investment at the European Commission’s DG MARE, who addressed the innovation challenges shaping the Blue Economy at European and global scales.
The session on Technologies for Ocean Observation brought together leading experts in ocean science and technology. Mafalda Carapuço, Deputy Executive Director of the AIR Centre, joined the panel alongside João Borges de Sousa (FEUP), Alejandro Rueda (PLOCAN) and Carlos Carvalho Afonso (Embassy of Portugal in Cape Verde), moderated by Keila Lima (Gran Sasso Science Institute). The discussion highlighted advances in ocean observation and their importance for sustainable maritime development, particularly for Atlantic island and coastal nations.
The second day (8 May) shifted towards a more hands-on format, featuring Panel and Action Tank sessions designed to foster deeper engagement with some of the key challenges faced by different outermost regions. This practical approach aimed to translate the insights and priorities identified on day one into concrete pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development.
Cape Verde's position as an Atlantic archipelago makes it a natural hub for discussions on ocean science, blue economy development, and climate resilience. Bin@Cabo Verde 2026 reinforced the relevance of inclusive, place-based innovation frameworks that leverage the unique assets of island regions while connecting them to broader European and international networks.
The AIR Centre’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing science‑based, collaborative approaches to ocean observation and Atlantic cooperation, contributing expertise and partnerships that support sustainable development across the Atlantic basin.
[PC, 11 May 2026]
Research
