WestBIC joins BEAP-MAR partners in Quimper

WestBIC is an Enterprise Ireland partner providing hands-on startup support, funding readiness and investment preparation for early-stage founders in the west of Ireland.

Last week, WestBIC travelled to Quimper, France for the bi-annual BEAP-MAR partner meeting, a chance to reconnect with fellow partners, review progress and look ahead to the next phase of the project. Alison McGonagle and Colleen Baxter attended on behalf of WestBIC, who lead on communication and dissemination for the project.

A day of collaboration at CEA

The technical meeting was hosted by the team at CEA where partners shared updates on their tests to date, the challenges encountered and the successes achieved so far, with cross-collaboration emerging as a key theme throughout the day.

The group also enjoyed a tour of CEA, including its showroom and laboratory, and heard about CEA’s mission and its collaborative R&D work supporting the agri-food industry across its offices nationwide.

The visit continued in Concarneau with a trip to the Marine Biological Station, the oldest operating marine station in the world, and its Marinarium, home to 11 aquariums showcasing the extraordinary biodiversity of Breton marine life and flora. The group rounded off the visit with a private tour of the MNHN laboratory, gaining an insight into the research undertaken there.

Pill 5: Advances in the Blue Bioeconomy in the Atlantic Area

The trip also saw BEAP-MAR host Pill 5, a hybrid event bringing partners and experts together to explore the latest advances in the blue bioeconomy across the Atlantic Area.

The programme featured a superb line-up of speakers from across research, industry and the wider innovation ecosystem, covering everything from the valorisation of marine resources and starfish biomass to algae-based solutions for health, cosmetics and sustainable cultivation, alongside the methodologies and product tests being developed within BEAP-MAR itself.

A recurring message across the day was the power of cross-collaboration, connecting researchers, industry and local actors, and the value of learning from one another to turn marine resources into real, market-ready solutions.

About BEAP-MAR

BEAP-MAR brings partners together across the Atlantic Area to advance the blue bioeconomy, developing new compounds and applications from marine resources such as microalgae, macroalgae and marine organisms. WestBIC is proud to be a project partner, leading on communication and dissemination.

A huge thank you to CEA, MNHN and all our partners for their warm welcome, and to everyone who took part in Pill 5, both in person and online. We look forward to continuing to work together in support of the blue bioeconomy.

Learn more: https://beap-mar.eu/