The Blue HUB is seen as a major step towards transforming the Algarve into a leading hub for marine innovation
Construction has begun on the HUB Azul do Algarve (Algarve Blue HUB), set to come to life in the heart of Olhão’s fishing port. The ambitious project aims to position both the municipality and the wider region as a “centre of excellence for the blue economy.”
“The Blue HUB is expected to contribute significantly to the region’s economic growth, creating new job opportunities and strengthening the competitiveness of the Algarve in the maritime sector,” said Olhão mayor António Pina on Friday (April 4) at a ceremony to mark the start of construction work.
The project is the result of a consortium that brings together key regional and national players, including the municipal council of Olhão, the University of the Algarve, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), fishing authoritiy Docapesca, and S2AQUAcoLAB – a collaborative lab focused on sustainable and intelligent aquaculture.
Covering nearly 2,000 square meters—with 800 square meters dedicated to facilities—the HUB will feature laboratories, office spaces, and support areas. It is designed to operate as a “living lab” for research and development in fields such as biotechnology, aquaculture, marine food industries, robotics, and the use of marine resources.
Once operational, the HUB is expected to host up to 15 start-ups and companies, generating approximately 90 jobs, mostly highly qualified.
The launch event brought together a wide range of stakeholders and public officials, including José Apolinário, President of CCDR Algarve (Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission); Paulo Águas, Rector of the University of the Algarve; Sérgio Faias, Chairman of Docapesca; and Pedro Pousão, President of S2AQUAcoLAB. Representatives from the Fundo Azul (the government’s fund for ocean-related projects), the scientific community, and the maritime business sector were also in attendance.
“The event symbolised the town’s commitment to strengthening its position as ‘Capital of Ria Formosa’, bolstering innovation and sustainable marine resource use,” the council adds in a statement to the press.
According to the Blue HUB’s website, the project involves the renovation and expansion of a historic building in Olhão’s fishing port which once housed a range of services of the former IPIMAR (Portuguese Institute for Fisheries and the Sea) from 1984 to 2002. It later became home to the Aquaculture Station, which played a key role in the founding of the Olhão Fish Farming Pilot Station, the website states.
After these services moved to the Ria Formosa Natural Park in the early 2000s, the original building saw reduced activity, “focusing mainly on pathology and nutrition research through partnerships with local companies like Sparos,” it adds. Recently, part of the building was refurbished – offices and a lab area are now in use by S2AQUAcoLAB.
“The new intervention will retain and modernise parts of the existing structure, redesigning the interior layout to meet the HUB’s updated needs,” the website adds.
