ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

09.05.2018 | On May 17 and 18, 2018, the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) will host a networking event for science, business and politics to jointly develop research projects for a sustainable bioeconomy in tropical countries. The keynote adress will be held by Paul Holthus, President of the World Ocean Council.

In bioeconomics, biological resources such as plants, animals and microorganisms are used commercially. The field links science, technology and business. Sustainable management of the oceans and coasts is indispensable for a powerful and competitive bioeconomy of tropical countries. The fragile ecosystems in tropical seas are the livelihoods of many coastal dwellers and at the same time are highly endangered by overexploitation and pollution.

As the demand for food and other resources from tropical seas increases globally, the development of environmentally friendly infrastructure is of great importance for ecosystems and inhabitants of tropical regions. Sustainable approaches for fisheries, aquaculture and other aquatic industries are therefore necessary.

This is also in line with the National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Joint projects between science and industry are to facilitate the transition to a sustainable and knowledge-based bioeconomy through innovative products and processes. This creates partnerships and growth markets from which German as well as international science and industry benefit.

Within the framework of the first networking event "Marine Bioeconomics" of the ZMT, project ideas for a sustainable bioeconomy are to be developed. Thematic priorities are sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, infrastructure development and digital technologies. Participants come from science, business, politics and development cooperation - both from the region and the tropics. In this way, international cooperations are to be established that promote an innovative bioeconomy and benefit the economy and society - in Germany as well as in the tropics.

Opening programme:

10 - 10.20 a.m.: Welcome address by Prof. Dr. Hildegard Westphal, Scientific Director of the ZMT

10:20 - 10:30: Welcome addresses by Dr. Anna Meincke, Managing Director Metropolitan Region Northwest and Dr. Matthias Fonger, Managing Director of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce

10:30 - 11:15: Keynote address by Paul Holthus, President of the World Ocean Council: "Corporate Ocean Responsibility: Science meets Business meets Ocean Sustainable Development".

The event is funded by:

• the Northwest Metropolitan Region  
  
  
  
• the Bremen Senator for Economics, Labour and Ports