On 26 June, the NovaSchool of Science and Technology | NOVA FCT hosted an unprecedented event, the first conference dedicated exclusively to the Blue Economy. Organised by FCT NOVA’s Executive Education, the conference brought together an elite group of experts, academics, industrialists and politicians to discuss the sustainable use of Portugal’s vast maritime resources. This meeting not only reaffirmed Portugal’s position as a nation intrinsically linked to the sea, but also outlined the immense potential that the ocean offers for future economic development, always aligned with environmental preservation.

Portugal and the Sea: A Historical Connection with Future Prospects

Portugal, a nation with a respectable maritime legacy, has its historical roots deeply intertwined with the ocean (Costa, 2017). The Portuguese Republic, founded in 1143, extends over a land area of 92,212 km², but it is in the maritime dimension that the country reveals itself to be a European colossus. Portugal’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers around 1,683,000 km², making it one of the largest in Europe (Sousa et al., 2018). This vast area, subdivided between the mainland and the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, totals approximately 50,957 km² and represents a territory full of opportunities and challenges for the blue economy (Bessa, 2014).

Dynamics of the Blue Economy: Development, Sustainability and Innovation

The conference explored in depth the potential of sectors such as fishing and aquaculture, maritime tourism, offshore renewable energies, marine biotechnology and port infrastructures. The critical importance of sustainability in these sectors was highlighted, as evidenced by Silva and Santos (2019), who argue about the need to harmonise economic growth with the conservation of marine ecosystems. Technological innovation was highlighted as a crucial vector for future development, particularly with regard to renewable energy and biotechnology, areas in which Portugal has the potential to become a global leader (Martins & Fernandes, 2020).

Economic Impact: Academia as a Model

Portugal’s commitment to the blue economy is not only a strategic choice, but also a vital necessity for the country’s subsistence and the preservation of its natural heritage. This initiative reflects a deep understanding that Portugal’s economic future is intrinsically linked to its maritime past and present.

The involvement of academia, in particular NOVA FCT, in fostering and leading discussions on the blue economy highlights a pragmatic and visionary approach, in line with international best practice. This commitment to sustainability and innovation is a brilliant example of the role that higher education can play in transforming a country’s economic foundations.

The economic impact of this sector is tangible and growing. The blue economy has the potential to significantly boost Portugal’s GDP, create jobs, foster innovation and ensure environmental sustainability. Sectors such as offshore renewable energy and coastal tourism not only diversify the Portuguese economy, but also place the country at the forefront of the global green economy.

The development of these sectors, supported by effective public policies and investment in research and development, can transform Portugal into a blue economy model, demonstrating that it is possible to combine economic growth with respect and care for the marine environment.

Policy and Strategy: Guidelines for a Sustainable Blue Future

The conference emphasised the importance of an integrated policy that not only promotes the blue economy, but also ensures environmental protection. International collaboration, especially in the management of transboundary resources and the fulfilment of international environmental guidelines, was highlighted as essential (Nobre, 2021). The role of policymakers in shaping a regulatory environment favourable to investment and innovation was also discussed, with recommendations for policies that encourage research and sustainability (Gomes & Lopes, 2022).

The Ocean as Heritage and Future

This first Blue Economy conference at NOVA FCT served not only to reiterate Portugal’s commitment to a sustainable future, but also to establish an academic and professional dialogue that will hopefully continue to influence policies and practices in the country and beyond. Portugal, with its unique maritime heritage and a present of limitless possibilities at sea, is perfectly placed to lead the way towards a future where the ocean is not only a source of resources, but also a carefully preserved asset for future generations.

This event was not just an academic and professional milestone; it was a reaffirmation of Portugal’s maritime identity and a proclamation of its untapped potential. Portugal’s future, undoubtedly linked to its maritime past and present, promises a journey of innovation, growth and sustainability, guided by the principles of the blue economy.

Referências
Bessa, J. (2014). Mar territorial e ZEE de Portugal. Lisboa: Observatório do Mar.
Costa, H. (2017). O legado marítimo de Portugal. Porto: Edições Marítimas.
Gomes, C., & Lopes, R. (2022). Políticas para a economia azul em Portugal. Coimbra: Universidade de Coimbra Press.
Martins, A., & Fernandes, E. (2020). Tecnologia e inovação na economia azul. Lisboa: TecnoMar Editora.
Nobre, A. (2021). Gestão sustentável dos recursos marinhos. Porto: Editora Oceano.
Silva, P., & Santos, M. (2019). Sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento marítimo. Lisboa: Fundação para o Desenvolvimento Marítimo.
Sousa, L. et al. (2018). Economia azul: Oportunidades e desafios. Porto: Universidade do Porto Press.

 

Orlando Fontan
Senior Project Management | Speaker | Managing Partner at ConceptChange | Professor | Change Management & Transformation Specialist | Information Security | Risk Management | ISO 27001 Certified

 

The Lean philosophy, which originated in the Toyota Production System, has become an essential approach for companies seeking efficiency and competitiveness. With a focus on eliminating waste and continuous improvement, Lean offers a clear path to operational excellence. Lean focuses on several perspectives, including efficiency, productivity, quality and innovation.

Lean is a way of thinking about creating the value you need with fewer resources and less waste. Lean is also a practice that consists of continuous experimentation to achieve perfect value with zero waste. Lean thinking and Lean practice go hand in hand.

Lean thinking always starts with the customer. What does the customer value? Or, phrased differently and inviting concrete action, what problem does the customer need solved?

Lean practice starts with work – the actions that create value for the customer, directly or indirectly – and the people who carry out this function. Through continuous experimentation, employees and managers learn to innovate in their actions, whether physical or intellectual, in order to obtain more and more quality and fluidity, less time and effort, and lower costs. Thus, an organisation characterised by Lean practice is highly adapted to its sometimes constantly changing environment, compared to its peers, due to the systematic and continuous learning fostered by Lean thinking and practice.

 

A Lean organisation must organise itself to continue understanding the customer and their context, i.e. specifying value and looking for better ways to deliver it:

– through product and process development,

– during fulfilment, from order through production to delivery, and

– through the product and/or service utilisation cycle, from delivery, through maintenance and upgrades, to recycling.

 

Lean companies, whether multinationals, SMEs or simply start-ups, are constantly asking fundamental questions about their purpose, process and people:

– What is the value-orientated purpose? Or what is the problem to be solved?

– What are the actions to be taken to solve the problem?

– What skills are needed to do the job of solving the problem?- What management system, particularly in operations and leadership behaviour, is required?- What thinking, including mindsets and assumptions, is required by the organisation as a purpose-driven system?

We can conclude that the Lean way of thinking has one orientation: respect for customers, employees, suppliers, investors and the rest of the environment in which these players operate, with the belief that everyone can and will benefit from Lean practices. Lean is not dogmatic.It’s not a rigid, unchanging set of beliefs and methods. Instead, it progresses in the context of specific situations. There is no end point while value is created imperfectly and waste exists.

And how can Lean help organisations?

From executive coaching in strategy development, implementation and alignment to employee engagement to create a problem-solving culture, Lean thinking and practice can boost the performance of any organisation.

Adopting the Lean philosophy can profoundly transform an organisation. With a focus on efficiency, quality, continuous improvement and innovation, Lean helps companies eliminate waste, increase productivity and better satisfy customers. For companies that want to remain competitive in the long term, implementing Lean is not just an option, but a necessity.

 

Orlando Fontan

Project Management Advisor

 

“Money is not everything, but is probably just second to oxygen”

The world of finance is intricately linked to our lives, and is responsible for driving the global engine of value creation. Our ability to understand the world of global finance is the single most critical skill that can leverage our ability to effectively use resources for optimising our personal, professional and organizational success. The world of global finance is changing rapidly with new innovations providing us with new financial opportunities. The Fintech Innovation programme is designed for giving an overview of the world of Financial Innovations that are taking place.

The programme will provide you with the following insights:

• An overview of the entire financial service value chain and their intricate relationship
• Innovations in payment infrastructure and services that can be utilised by today’s digital enterprise.
• The emergence of blockchain based decentralised cryptocurrencies
• The development of Central Bank Digital Currencies
• Innovations in Insurance sector
• Wealthtech and innovative ways to balance your portfolio for long term growth
• Big Data and Machine Learning in the financial sector for enterprises to gain competitive advantages
• Open Banking and Alternative banking systems that are challenging incumbent banks
• Alternative lending systems
• Social Responsibility and ESG

This programme will take place in the evenings including conceptual lectures as well as presenting you with insightful case studies from the industry. You will be supported to develop your own unique project to apply knowledge of fintech applications to your own business or entrepreneurial idea.

Who is this course meant for?

In today’s era of great economic and financial disruption, it is vital for all working professionals to have a deep understanding of the innovations taking place in the financial sector. Hence this course is designed to be a broad based overview for any professional whether he is an engineer, manager, technician, entrepreneur or whether connected to financial services.  This course is designed to bring you up to speed with the latest in financial innovations and give you a taste of the emerging enterprises and startups in the financial space, while providing you a deeper insight to our global financial ecosystem. Prior knowledge of finance based education or work experience in the financial industry is not a requirement.

Format of the course?

One of the unique features of this course is to have a mix of an in-depth theoretical lecture followed by a real life industrial case study for each topic. This will provide a deep understanding for the participants for all of the key aspects of the fintech revolution.

The course will take place at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal as a hybrid classroom and simultaneous video conference format. This means you can participate in the programme whether you are in Lisbon or anywhere in the world. You will also have access to the class recordings in case you miss a particular session. Thus this programme is aimed for a global audience and designed to provide you with maximum flexibility for your participation.

The course will be provided in English and Portuguese based on the composition and preference of the students.

Capstone Project

The students will be encouraged to identify one of the topics covered in the programme to develop their business case. This could be based on a real life existing business or a conceptual business idea. Students can work in teams or individually (in case they want to develop the application for their own business). Our team of professionals will provide you mentorship for the development of your business idea. You will present this final project in the last class.

Certification of “Expert in Financial Technology”

All students participating in the programme will be given a participation certificate for the programme. However those students who will participate in all the lectures and will apply the skills acquired in the Capstone Project will be given a certificate of “Expert in Financial Technology” by NOVA Executive Education.

Ricardo Ribeiro
Chief Transformation Officer at Montepio Crédito
Co-coordinator Fintech Innovation Program.

 

In this review by MIT, you’ll find a brief description along with a link to a feature article that probes each technology in detail. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted mobility, and its effects will linger well into next year. How will changing consumer preferences, technologies, and regulations shape the market in 2021?

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From factory floors to creative suites, the future of work is changing. Emerging technologies have exposed opportunities for new business endeavors, impressive efficiencies and novel solutions to tough systemic challenges.

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In this report, BCG will outline the deep tech approach: the “why now” question; and the characteristics that participants must understand in order to partake and thrive in the deep tech ecosystem.

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Learning — and applying — how to be aware of the needs of diverse groups has more value than ever before. Understanding how to design and program for inclusive and diverse thinking without bias means intelligent systems need to have a progressive learning ability (e.g., machine learning and digital feedback loops), as well as mission-critical capacities that mean they can safely and securely function around humans who may look, sound, move, or think differently from those whom the machines have been designed or operated around.

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This ceramic ink can 3D-print bones directly into a patient’s body. Here’s how!

The treatment of bone cancers can lead to sections of bone being removed and accident victims may require extensive bone repairs. Up to now, 3D bone printing has involved producing material outside the patient’s body.

But now a new technique developed at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, offers the prospect of doctors being able to create new bone tissue exactly where it is needed during a surgical operation.

Read more here: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/3d-printer-bones-surgery-medicine/