The ThinkInAzul Comunitat Valenciana programme concluded on 31 December, marking the end of three years of coordinated work in the field of marine sciences. This programme forms part of the Complementary R&D&I Plan in Marine Sciences ThinkInAzul, a joint initiative involving seven autonomous communities —Andalusia, Cantabria, Comunitat Valenciana, Galicia, Region of Murcia, Canary Islands and Balearic Islands— aimed at integrating, strengthening and highlighting marine research carried out across these territories.

Over the past three years, ThinkInAzul has promoted the creation of a network of centres of excellence, fostering scientific cooperation to address key challenges such as sustainable aquaculture, new marine technologies, impacts on the coastal environment, food security, climate change and the development of the blue economy in Spain.

A national closing event in San Pedro del Pinatar

One of the programme’s final events took place from 7 to 9 October in San Pedro del Pinatar, where the national closing meeting of the Complementary R&D&I Plan in Marine Sciences was held. The event brought together researchers from across the country to share results, synergies and future perspectives.

Programme structure and funding

ThinkInAzul is co-funded by the European Next Generation funds and is organised into three major lines of action:

1. Observation and monitoring of the marine and coastal environment
2. Sustainable and intelligent aquaculture
3. Blue economy and innovation

Participation of the Comunitat Valenciana

The Comunitat Valenciana contributed to the plan through the GVA ThinkInAzul programme, a consortium bringing together 39 research groups and more than 370 researchers from the CSIC, University of Alicante, Universitat Politècnica de València, University of Valencia, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Jaume I University and the Catholic University of Valencia.

Within this consortium, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) played a particularly prominent role, with 13 participating research groups, including four from the Institute for the Integrated Management of Coastal Zones (IGIC) at the Gandia Campus.

Projects developed at the Gandia Campus

The projects promoted by the IGIC covered diverse and strategically important areas:

• Acoustic monitoring for precision aquaculture: development of an acoustic observation network in Mediterranean marine farms.
  Co-led by Víctor Espinosa and Isabel Pérez, in collaboration with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the University of Alicante.
• Sensor network and Big Data for marine environment observation (SALVADOR)
  Co-led by Jaime Lloret and Sandra Sendra.
• Generational renewal in the Valencian fishing sector
  Co-led by Lluís Miret and Roberto Cervelló.
• Reproductive, genetic and larval supply study of wedge clam and striped venus clam: causes of population decline and prospects for recovery
  Led by Miguel Rodilla.

The participation of the Gandia Campus of the UPV has been especially significant in the development of ThinkInAzul. The Gandia Campus strengthens its position as a regional and national benchmark in marine research and in promoting a sustainable blue economy.