INESC TEC researcher elected coordinator of the European Commission’s Atlantic Strategy

Eduardo Silva, INESC TEC’s senior researcher, was elected for a two-year term as coordinator of Pillar IV: Healthy Ocean and Resilient Coasts – of the Atlantic Strategy, an initiative of the European Commission.  

The Atlantic Action Plan includes four interconnected pillars, which are trans-regional and address key challenges that aim to stimulate the growth of the blue economy and contribute to greater cooperation and territorial cohesion in the Atlantic area that covers the European Union.

The four pillars are: 1) Ports as Gateways and Hubs for the Blue Economy; 2) Blue Skills of the Future and Ocean Literacy; 3) Marine Renewable Energy; 4) Healthy Ocean and Resilient Coasts.

The INESC TEC researcher is Portugal’s representative to coordinate Pillar 4 until 2026. It was during the meeting of the Atlantic Strategy Commission, which took place at the end of June in Nantes (France) that the new coordinators were elected.

Eduardo Silva currently coordinates two INESC TEC infrastructures for the sea: the TEC4SEA platform and the Blue Hub in Leixões. “His work in creating infrastructure to test technologies in ocean engineering, maritime logistics and blue biotechnology, together with his contributions to ocean renewable energy and the protection of ecosystems, make him an excellent choice for this position,” writes the European Commission, in official news.

Carlos Botana Lagarón from Spain will coordinate Pillar I, Céline Liret, representing France, is the Pillar II Coordinator, and Emer Dennehy from Ireland will coordinate Pillar III.

This article was first published on 5 July by INESC TEC.