Partners
Our consortium includes 14 key European players in the aquaculture industry,
including business associations and aquaculture companies, universities, research,
and vocational training centers. All of them have more than 15 years of experience
and 20 years of teaching in the aquaculture and fisheries sector.
Spain
SGS Tecnos is the global leader in inspection, verification, testing,
and certification that plays a key role in creating a sustainable future
for aquaculture stakeholders. With extensive experience in the Aquaculture
and Certification sector, SGS is an authorised certification body for Best Aquaculture Practices Certification by the GGA (Global Aquaculture Alliance), ensuring that fish products are sourced and processed in accordance
with industry best practices.
USC-CiTIUS carries out cutting-edge research in Spain. It is dedicated to intelligent technologies and drives innovation and academic excellence, contributing significantly to advances in various fields, including virtual and augmented reality for aquaculture.
Established in 1933, the Fundación Universitaria San Pablo (CEU) is a national
and international leader in education, renowned for its innovation and academic excellence. With 25 educational centres in Spain, and over 80 years
of experience, it has received numerous awards for excellence in education, including undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational training.
Greece
E-SCHOOL Educational Group, founded in 2003, offers a range of courses
that are useful for future employment, including in the aquaculture sector.
It is an adult education and vocational training centre that focuses on providing training in practical skills that are in high demand in the labour market.
Turkey
As a modern institution, the Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan University (RTEU) places learning and discovery at the forefront. It plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge and innovation in a variety of fields, including undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programmes with a strong research focus.
Italy
The Università di Bologna, also known as Alma Mater Studiorum, is the oldest university in the world. It is a global leader in innovative and impactful scholarly work across various disciplines, with a strong commitment to research.
The university is widely recognized for its excellence in sustainable aquaculture courses, and is one of the few universities in Italy to offer a degree
in the aquaculture sector.
The Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani, an Italian fish farmers association,
is a leading organisation in Italy that advocates and represents the interests
of fish farmers. It promotes the growth of the industry, encourages cooperation between stakeholders and ensures the well-being of the aquaculture sector
in Italy by focusing on sustainable aquaculture practices.
The Associazione Mediterranea Acquacoltori promotes sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean. Guided by environmental responsibility
and innovation, the Association aims to increase the resilience and economic viability of the sector. To achieve this, it advocates and works with others
to reconcile the development of aquaculture with the conservation
of the region's unique marine ecosystems.
MARE is an Italian cooperative dedicated to promoting sustainable maritime livelihoods. The cooperative focuses on community and fairness, empowering workers and promoting a balanced relationship between marine resources
and coastal communities.
France
​​The Comité National de la Conchyliculture (CNC) oversees shellfish farming
in France. Its mission focuses on sustainable practices, promoting the growth and well-being of the shellfish farming sector. The Committee collaborates and advocates for the resilience and environmental responsibility of the industry.
Portugal
The Universidade do Algarve, located in the south of Portugal, offers a diverse range of educational programs, including bachelors and masters’ courses
in marine biology, aquaculture, and fisheries. The university has a strong network of partnerships with universities and R&D institutions worldwide, reflecting the excellence of its research and development activities.
The Associação Portuguesa de Aquacultores (APA) is a key organisation
in Portugal dedicated to promoting the interests of aquaculture professionals.
It is committed to sustainable practices and plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, promoting industry growth and ensuring the prosperity
for the aquaculture sector in Portugal.
The FishEthoGroup is a non-profit association based in Portugal, founded
in 2018. It aims to promote fish welfare and bridge the gap between science
and stakeholders in the aquaculture sector, including producers, certifiers, retailers, NGOs, policy makers and consumers.
Located in the south of Portugal, the Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR) is an independent, non-profit research organisation within
the Universidade do Algarve system. CCMAR is one of the leading marine science research centres in Portugal, bringing together experts in marine biology, ecology, oceanography, environmental sciences, biotechnology, fisheries and aquaculture.
Team Leaders
Mercedes Rodriguez-Caro
Leader of WP 1 and 9
Director of Project Development and Innovation at SGS IBERIA. She has carried out important projects in different sectors of activity, with recognised success both for their innovation and their execution. With her experience in managing European Aquaculture Projects such as EWEAS, BOUTCAR, OPTIMA, EcoFill_SCHELLFIHSING, she is the Coordinator of the AQUATECHinn 4.0 project.
GöktuÄŸ DALGIÇ
Leader of WP 4
Deputy rector of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Göktuğ Dalgiç has been in charge of the Projects and the Technopark since 2022. Göktuğ is a full professor and a member of the Faculty of Fisheries. His main expertise is in bivalve and finfish fisheries in the Black Sea. He has been involved in several EU projects in this area. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Manuel Lama
Leader of WP 7
As a Senior Researcher at the Research Centre on Intelligent Technologies (CiTIUS) at USC, the Full Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence has expertise in process mining, machine learning, semantic web, business process management, and service composition. He has worked on many regional, national, and international projects that addressed process management and improvement in health, industrial production, and e-learning, as well as the development of semantic technology.
Jordi López
Leader of WP 2
Professor at CEU-UCH
Giuseppe Prioli
Leader of WP 5
Senior researcher with a master's degree in Marine Biology. He is member of the Italian Biologists Register. He has more than 20 years of experience in research in marine biology applied to fishing and aquaculture; in socio-economic studies on professional fishing activities and aquaculture farming; and he is lecturer in aquaculture at university level. Giuseppe also has great experience in EU projects, he took care of the management of some activities in some Interreg project.
Andrea Fabris
Leader of WP 8
Director of the Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani (API)
Alessio Bonaldo
Leader of WP 3
Full Professor at the University of Bologna. His research interests are mainly in the field of feeding and nutrition of aquatic animals, with particular reference to Mediterranean marine species. Current research is centred on new protein sources and the development of sustainable and circular formulations for gilthead sea bream and European sea bass. Additionally, he teaches fish nutrition and feeding and innovative farming systems.
Elsa Cabrita
Leader of WP 6
Elsa is an assistant professor at the University of the Algarve, and a researcher at CCMAR. She specialises in biological sciences with a focus on reproductive biology and aquaculture. Over the years she has been Principal Investigator on more than 15 national and international projects.
Rita Costa Abecasis
Leader of WP 10
Rita Costa Abecasis is an expert in Science Communication, with a background in Marine Biology. She is the head of the CCMAR Science Communication Unit, and in the AQUATECHinn 4.0 project, she is leading WP10 - Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of Results.
Other Members
Elvira Fatsini Fernández
Aquaculture researcher at CCMAR
Elvira Fatsini is a researcher at CCMAR working in the Aquaculture research group. She is an expert in fish reproduction, fish behaviour, and chemical communication. She is part of the cast of teachers for fish reproduction.
Maria Malliora
Director of European Programs
at E-SCHOOL Educational Group
Ms Maria Malliora holds a Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, complemented by a Master (MEng) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as a Master of Education (MEd) in Adult Education from the Hellenic Open University (H.O.U.). She is an active adult and VET trainer. Her expertise spans the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs, with a particular emphasis on leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for learning. Her core competencies include ICT-based learning, computational thinking, robotics, coding, and the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) curricula. She has expertise managing European Union projects and leading activities that necessitate careful planning, coordination, and implementation.
Isidro Blanquet
General secretary of Aquacultores.pt
The General Secretary of Aquacultores.pt, he has over 35 years of experience in marine aquaculture and expertise in broodstock management, hatchery techniques, and aquaculture engineering. Helded important positions such as Hatchery Manager, Farm Manager, and Project Manager, working with various marine species including sea bass, sea bream, turbot, and sole. He has extensive knowledge of Portugal's aquaculture sector and maintains strong connections with governmental and academic institutions in the field.
Anaís Guerra
Science Communication officer
at CCMAR
AnaÃs Guerra is a specialist in Science Communication with a background in Biology and a Master’s in Science Communication. She currently works at CCMAR as the communication liaison for European projects, including AQUATECHinn. In this role, she manages social media, oversees website content, develops communication toolkits and outreach tools to engage the public with scientific discoveries.
Bruno Guillaumie
Deputy Director General of the National Committee on Shellfish Farming (CNC)
Since 2003, the Deputy Director General of the National Committee on Shellfish Farming (CNC) has been overseeing European affairs and leading the Secretariat General of the European Mollusc Producers’ Association (EMPA). Bruno has been instrumental in various EU projects and has a wide experience in research collaboration with IFREMER, mentoring trainees in areas such as microbiological risks, shellfish product quality, breeding techniques and socio-economic studies in fisheries and aquaculture.
Mathilde Courtès
Graphic designer
at CCMAR
Mathilde Courtès is a graphic designer and educational illustrator from France. She aims to build bridges between scientists and the general public through effective visual communication. She designed the complete visual identity of AQUATECHinn 4.0, manages the website design and creates visual content for social media.
