RUN-EU Innovation Meets Regions and Biennial of the Sea

9h00–11h00 · IMR venue
RUN-EU Conference on Blue Economy
Keynote Speakers in the areas of Tourism and Bioeconomy
Algae-Derived Edible Films for Food Preservation: From Concept to Scale-Up · Ana Augusto (Researcher at IPLeiria/ESTM)
Biography: Ana Augusto holds a PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences (University of Reading, UK, 2022) and is currently a researcher in marine biotechnology at the Polytechnic University of Leiria.
Her work focuses on the valorisation of marine bioresources within the blue bioeconomy, particularly the use of algae to develop sustainable solutions for food preservation and packaging. Her research explores how marine-derived compounds can be applied to extend the shelf-life of perishable foods, contributing to the reduction of postharvest losses and food waste. This work has led to the development of innovative technologies, including patented algae-based edible coatings and films for the preservation of minimally processed fruits and fish products.
She is Principal Investigator of competitive research projects funded under Portugal 2030, addressing the integration of marine bioactives into functional and biodegradable materials with application in the agri-food sector. Her research is developed in close connection with applied challenges, contributing to the development of sustainable solutions with relevance for industry and regional innovation ecosystems.

ORVE – Optimising Resources and Valuating Experiences · Francisco Dias (Professor at IPLeiria/ESTM; Platform ORVE)
Biography:  Francisco Dias is a Full Professor at the School of Tourism and Marine Technology at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and a leading figure in tourism research in Portugal. He is also the Director of ART&TUR – the International Tourism Film Festival. He coordinates innovation projects such as FAST (Tools Supporting Sustainable Tourism), under which the ORVE digital platform was developed. ORVE – Optimising Resources and Valuating Experiences” is a strategic digital platform developed by the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria as part of the FAST project (PRR ATT Agenda), which uses data science to promote more sustainable and competitive tourism. Through a hybrid information flow model (sharing between tourists, residents and destination managers), ORVE monitors environmental impact — such as water and carbon footprints — and manages visitor flows, ensuring a balance between economic development and the preservation of natural and cultural resources.
Its key differentiator lies in real-time decision support, enabling destinations and businesses to shift from reactive management to a proactive approach. By actively involving the local community and the ‘conscious tourist’, ORVE enhances the visitor experience and the quality of life for residents, transforming raw data into territorial intelligence that ensures the long-term viability and authenticity of tourist destinations.

Unlocking the Potential of Seaweed Extracts for Sustainable Rocha Pear Production · Carina Félix (Researcher at IPLeiria/ESTM)
Biography: Carina Félix is a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Leiria, where she works at the intersection of microbiology, plant pathology, and marine biotechnology. Her research focuses on the development of sustainable strategies to combat diseases in agriculture, both through direct action against plant pathogens and through the priming of plant defence responses. In particular, her work explores the application of marine biotechnology to agriculture, with a special interest in the valorisation of seaweed-derived bioactive compounds as innovative tools for disease management, supporting both pathogen control and the enhancement of plant health, resilience, and productivity. Through this approach, she aims to contribute to the development of more sustainable and science-based solutions for the agri-food sector.

Connecting Waves to Regions: The Role of Global Surf Events in Driving Smart Specialisation and Blue Growth · Francisco Spínola (World Surf League)
Biography: Francisco Spínola is a leading figure in the development of surfing in Portugal, serving in a senior leadership role within the World Surf League (WSL) for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has played a key role in positioning Portugal as a premier destination on the global surfing circuit.
Spínola was instrumental in securing and maintaining the Championship Tour event in Peniche, at Supertubos beach, since 2009. This milestone has had a transformative impact on the territory, projecting Peniche internationally and reinforcing its identity as a world-class surfing destination.
The presence of the WSL has driven significant growth in tourism, stimulated the local economy, and fostered a dynamic surf-related ecosystem, establishing Peniche as a benchmark case of how natural assets can be leveraged within the blue economy.

“20 years of Flying Sharks (and other things) all over the globe” · João Correia (Professor at IPLeiria/ESTM; Flying Sharks)
Biography: João Correia was born in 1972 and is a raconteur with a PhD in marine biology, who has been focusing his academic research on shark fisheries and conservation. A three-times featured TEDx speaker, he began his career in Bimini, studying lemon shark behaviour, then became curator of sharks at the Lisbon Zoo, researched deep-sea shark growth at IPMA (then IPIMAR), and joined the Oceanário de Lisboa in 1997, one year before the opening, where he’d become Head Diver and Curator of Collections. In 2006, he founded his own collections firm, Flying Sharks, and, as a professor at ESTM since 2005, he also teaches future marine biologists. João is also a prolific speaker, with over 250 motivational lectures, and/or on the biology and conservation of sharks, climate change, and other ocean-related topics. In 2015/6/7 João also published his trilogy ‘Sex, Sharks and Rock & Roll’, an illustrated memoir covering his career studying sharks and moving marine animals all over the world, while selling adult toys on the side. His Portuguese title ‘Tubarões Voadores’ (which is Portuguese for ‘Flying Sharks’) was also a best-seller and the sequel features not just the birth of his beloved baby boy Nikola, but also how the Covid-19 pandemic turned a completely dead fish business into a thriving odyssey of PPEs, alcohol, and disinfectants, among many other amazing items, such as plush toys. In the end, Flying Sharks enjoyed its finest financial result ever in 2020, only to be surpassed in 2021, while simultaneously running a half-million-euro EEA Grants project, which will yield the most modern unit for moving live fish built to date anywhere in the world. Check out João’s social media at:
www.flyingsharks.eu
www.jpcorreia.pt
www.instagram.com/sexsharksandrockandroll/
www.instagram.com/jpcorreia.pt/
www.linkedin.com/in/flyingsharks/

SEAentia: Science Based Aquacuture · João Rito (SEAentia)
Biography: João Rito is passionate about impact entrepreneurship and is the co-founder and managing partner of SEAentia, an aquaculture startup whose mission is to produce high-quality fish in the most sustainable way, combining advanced aquaculture engineering with scientific research.
He is currently the President of BlueBio Alliance, the Portuguese association for marine bioresources, and a board member of Fórum Oceano. He has also been involved in activities within the European Aquaculture Society (EAS), having served as President of the EAS Student Group.
João has taught courses in Physiology, Nutrition, and Feeding in aquaculture at the Polytechnic of Leiria. He believes in the blue economy, and specifically in aquaculture, as a tool to help address some of the world’s socio-economic and environmental challenges—provided it is properly managed and effectively implemented.