📅 Date: October 16–17
📍 Location: El Franco, Asturias, Spain
🏷️ Categories: Rural Innovation, Blue Technology, Sustainability

“Building the Rural Future: Innovating to Stay”

Under this inspiring motto, Sextaferia Occidente brought together organizations, companies, and local agents to discuss innovation and sustainability in rural areas. The event, held in El Franco (Asturias), became the ideal stage for Neoalgae to officially present the IMPRESS Project — an initiative that connects research, sustainability, and blue technology to foster new opportunities in rural and maritime sectors.

🌊 Session IV: “Sea of Resources: Blue Sovereignty and Technology”

During the fourth session, titled “Sea of Resources: Blue Sovereignty and Technology”, Neoalgae presented the key elements of the IMPRESS Project:

  • Its background and motivation.

  • The scientific and technological objectives.

  • The collaboration between partners.

  • And its potential impact on the blue economy and local development.

The round table included:

  • Mateo Barreiro, researcher at the Vigo Oceanographic Centre.

  • Lucía García Flórez, director of the Fisheries Experimentation Centre.

The discussion was moderated by Joaquín Rodríguez, Deputy Director of the Construction Labour Foundation.

🤝 Acknowledgements

Neoalgae would like to thank the El Franco City Council, the General Directorate for Demographic Challenge of the Principality of Asturias, and the Alliance of Foundations for this opportunity to participate in such a meaningful event for rural innovation.