Tackling the skills and labour gaps to improve people’s careers and economic competitiveness is one of the top priorities of the European Union. The EU-funded project Blue Bio Techpreneurs is working to reinforce the link between academia and industry by:
- providing young graduates with the needed skills and business knowledge, and
- supporting companies in accessing talent to boost innovation in the blue biotech sector.
The European, Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund funded the project through the 2022 call for proposals on blue careers.
About the project
The project started in September 2023 and is developing a full learning programme around the blue biotech sector for students and recent graduates. The project promotes the attractiveness of blue careers, matching companies, start-ups and institutions active in the blue bioeconomy with people looking for professional inspiration.
It supports students, young researchers, recent graduates who need transversal knowledge and skills to seize the increasing opportunities in the blue biotechnology sector.
The main project activities are:
- A series of six webinars, including on women entrepreneurship, with real-life examples and inspirational stories, where challenges and solutions are showcased along with examples of biotech applications.
- The development of Massive Online Open Courses (that can be found here), addressing crucial skills and knowledge in the blue biotechnology sector, including project management, sustainability, digital skills and more.
- Three in-person blue biotech hackathons (Nordic, Baltic and Atlantic) where academia and industry join forces to find solutions to concrete challenges in the sector.
- Matchmaking initiatives on the BlueBioMatch Community Platform to create professional links, such as the student community WaveMakers, Early Careers Exchange & Talent Hub.
