From the north to the south of Portugal, the GreenCoLab membership community gathered for an event that officially marked the start of a new tradition: an annual meeting dedicated to sharing, collaboration and strategic vision around the world of algae.
On 4 July, the ‘CoLab Day’ event, with an enthusiastic turnout and highly positive feedback, reinforced the spirit of unity and innovation that characterises GreenCoLab and proved that this initiative is here to stay.
The day began with an inspiring opening presentation on GreenCoLab’s ‘Past, Present and Future’, led by Managing Director Hugo Pereira, who offered a comprehensive overview of scientific advances, prototypes under development, and future initiatives.
This was followed by presentations from the Working Groups and Technical Platforms by GreenCoLAb, where team leaders highlighted the main results achieved and the next steps to be taken. The morning also saw the special participation of partners Jorge Dias (Riasearch) and Ralph Urbatzka (CIIMAR), who brought valuable contributions to the scientific and collaborative debate.
The afternoon was dedicated to collaborative innovation, with a group dynamic centred on brainstorming ideas for the future of science at GreenCoLab. This activity stimulated creative thinking and team spirit, demonstrating how collective intelligence can accelerate transformative solutions.
The day ended with a relaxed cocktail and snacks, with a special touch: seaweed supplied by ALGAplus, which added a delicious green flavour to the day.
The meeting took place in the garden of the future GreenCoLab facilities, located in the CCDR Algarve building (formerly DRAPALG), which is still undergoing renovation. During the guided tour of the works, participants were able to see firsthand the ambitious vision for the new space—a true centre for innovation in blue biotechnology.
This event proved once again that sharing knowledge, experiences and common goals is essential to driving forward GreenCoLab’s mission. Our special thanks go to all the associates and partners who continue to make this project an example of collaborative science in Portugal.
