Politécnico de Leiria collaborates in the first active fund in Portugal totally dedicated to the economy of the sea – Leiria Region
The venture capital fund Indico Blue Fund, worth €50 million, has already raised €36 million to invest in the maritime economy in Portugal, and can allocate between €100,000 and €5 million to national startups.
According to a statement from Indico Capital Partners to which the Lusa agency had access, the 100% private equity fund, which will be presented on Monday, is “aimed at startups and SMEs [pequenas e médias empresas] exporters”.
“With 50 million euros, of which 36 million have already been raised in just months of subscription, it will be the first active fund in Portugal seen four dedicated to the economy of the sea”, says Indico in the text.
Monday’s presentation will feature the participation of Fórum Oceano, an association of the ‘cluster’ of the economy of the sea, of which Indico Capital Partners is a member and where higher education is located, including the Polytechnic of Leiria.
According to the presentation, the “according to action focused on companies from azul in their embryonic trajectory and” aims not at “investing in companies in an economy with the objective of sustainable development of economies with the Sustainable Development Goal of United Nations for underwater life.
The objective is to cover “the entire business cycle”, with investment in sectors such as the ‘digital ocean’, exploited fisheries, coastal tourism, and sustainable ship operations,, aquaculture, sustainable ship operations,, ‘blue maritime and waste and circular economy.
The Indico Blue Fund, he says, “will not only be oriented towards innovation, exports and development, but also towards sustainability, trying to measure the impact of companies on the oceans and develop technological solutions that mitigate the effects of changes”.
Monday’s presentation will feature the participation of Fórum Oceano, an association of the ‘cluster’ of the economy of the sea, of which Indico Capital Partners is a member and where higher education is located, including the Polytechnic of Leiria.
The University of Porto, University of Aveiro and Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) are also part of this Ocean Forum.
Indico also has the collaboration of the “Portuguese blue ecosystem”, where the Escola do Mar, Nonagon – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia de São Miguel, Terinov and Praia Links, in Madeira, are also involved in the Oceanic Observatory. Startup Madeira, and still smart ocean, from Peniche.