Perhaps this is why events such as the Oeiras Blue Tech Ocean Forum often go unnoticed by the general public. However, what was discussed there may have more impact on the economic future of Portugal than many of the discussions that occupy the comment spaces on a daily basis.

As I followed the conclusions and presentations of this forum, I got the feeling that something important is happening in the Portuguese maritime economy. We are not just talking about fisheries, ports or maritime tourism. We are talking about technology, innovation, data, biotechnology, underwater robotics, ocean monitoring and new business models capable of generating added value from the knowledge produced in Portugal.

One of the most positive messages was precisely the growing commitment to transforming research into economic activity. For many years, we were a country capable of producing science, but not always of converting it into companies, qualified employment or exports. What is now beginning to emerge through the network of Blue Hubs spread across the country is a different logic. Universities, research centres, companies, collaborative laboratories and public entities start to work in a more integrated way to develop and test technology in real conditions in the ocean.

It is also encouraging to see that Banco Português de Fomento assumes the blue economy as a strategic priority, providing financing instruments for projects with economic potential and sustainable impact. The message is clear: there are financial resources to support good ideas, as long as they can demonstrate viability and growth capacity.

Another particularly relevant aspect is the growing internationalisation of this ecosystem. The presence of foreign delegations, new investment funds and international partnerships demonstrates that Portugal is beginning to be seen as a credible place to develop solutions related to the ocean. At a time when the global economy is looking for new sources of sustainable growth, the Atlantic is once again gaining strategic relevance and Portugal is in a privileged position to benefit from this trend.

In my opinion, this is precisely the path that the country should follow. Instead of competing only through costs or traditional sectors, we should focus on areas where we have natural advantages that are difficult to replicate. The sea is one of them. We have location, scientific knowledge, infrastructure, talent and an Atlantic dimension that few European countries can match.

The most important thing is to realise that the blue economy is no longer just a vision for the future. It is starting to take shape through concrete projects, investment, technology and collaboration between different entities. And if we manage to maintain this trajectory, the sea could once again be one of the country's greatest engines of development.

Not out of nostalgia for the past, but because it can help build a more innovative, more technological and more competitive economy for the future.