Puesto en marcha en el marco del Programa de Emprendiemiento del Campus do Mar, Emprendemar, este taller se está impartiendo integramente en inglés por los consultores de Isis Innovation Viraj Perera y Eva Baltar y se centra en proporcionar formación práctica para promover y consolidar la adquisición de las competencias profesionales necesarias para configurar un proyecto empresarial, la puesta en el mercado de resultados científico-tecnológicos y la transferencia de tecnología en general. Se trata de ofrecerles a aquellas personas que tienen en mente a posibilidad de poner en marcha una iniciativa empresarial una formación de carácter muy práctica, basada en el aprendizaje activo y participativa, en la que se hace especial énfasis en el intercambio de experiencias entre participantes y consultores y en el análisis de diversos casos de estudio del ámbito de la ingeniería y la biotecnología marina.

Lo más importante: “sentir pasión por tu proyecto”
Desde Oxford, Viraj Perera les ofreció a los asistentes una idea general de como funciona la innovación a nivel internacional, regional y local y cuales deben ser las herramientas que debe tener una institución para poder incentivar la innovación y la transferencia de tecnología. Poniendo como ejemplo a la Universidad de Oxford, profundizó en los diferentes métodos y técnicas que se pueden aplicar en cada situación y en cada país.

Perera, senior consultant de Isis Innovation y cofundador de una start-up biotecnológica, les transmitió también la idea de que el emprendedor no tiene que tener ningún determinado perfil. “Yo simplemente era un científico y tenía muchas ganas de crear una empresa”, les subrayó, al tiempo que le recalcó que lo más importante “es que tengáis verdadera pasión por vuestro proyecto, lo demás es un proceso constante de aprendizaje y puesta al día, pero sin perder nunca esa pasión y curiosidad por intentarlo”.

Si la idea es buena… “la financiación acaba llegando”
Viraj Perera se refirió también a la falta de financiación como un “problema global” al que se enfrenta siempre el emprendedor “en España, en el Reino Unido o en cualquier parte del mundo”, y que “evidentemente” sí dificulta la creación de una empresa, a cuyo objeto, defendió la necesidad de que las universidades cuenten con financiación propia para este tipo de iniciativas. Pese a todo, la idea que dejó sobre la mesa fue una: “siempre y cuando tu tecnología sea buena y tengas un buen modelo de negocio, más tarde o más temprano siempre encuentras la financiación necesaria”.

Desde su punto de vista lo más difícil es aprender a tener las capacidades necesarias para poder ser un buen emprendedor. “Cuando te embarcas en la tarea de crear una empresa lo más habitual es que uno no tenga las habilidades precisas, no sepa nada de planes de negocio…”, apuntó el experto, que en este sentido destacó que, por el contrario, en la actualidad la transferencia de tecnología es un tema que está cada vez más presente en la sociedad actual “y ya no es difícil llegar a conseguir apoyo de las universidades”. Durante su intervención, expuso como en el caso de la Universidad de Oxford se cuenta con un centro específico de apoyo al emprendimiento y a la innovación donde ofrecen, por ejemplo, diferentes seminarios de ayuda al emprendedor centrados, sobre todo, en que aprendan a formarse y adquirir esas habilidades y capacidades necesarias para poder montar su empresa.

Alumnado, docentes y tecnólogos que buscan las claves “de un bueno negocio”
Con la matrícula prácticamente cubierta, el curso se está llevando a cabo en el salón de grados de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales de la Universidade de Vigo y a las personas matriculadas especificamente en este taller se añaden las alumnas y alumnos que están participando en la Escuela de Emprendimiento del Campus do Mar y alrededor de una docena de matriculados que optaron por la modalidad vía streaming, que permite la emisión web en tiempo real y la participación vía canal chat.

Entre los participantes, el profesor Lorenzo Pastrana y la técnica de Tecnología del CETMAR, María Pérez, elogiaron la puesta en marcha de este tipo de iniciativas “que nos ayudan a aprender las claves de como montar un bueno negocio”, subrayó Pastrana, que admitió que “en un laboratorio siempre se hacen cosas susceptibles de serlo”.

Fuente: DUVI

Aunque el tiempo no era el que se podía esperar para un 8 de junio, con un cielo cubierto y algún pequeño momento de lluvia fina, los participantes pudieron llevar a cabo las rutas previstas sin problema. La componente solidaria de la jornada estaba en la petición a los participantes de que aportasen 1 kg de comida no perecedera. La respuesta fue muy positiva y entre los 220 asistentes, se recolectaron 320 Kg de alimentos que fueron entregados el mismo sábado a la Fundación Provincial Banco de Alimentos de Vigo, que los repartirá entre los más necesitados.

La Eurorregión Galicia-Norte de Portugal es un espacio tradicionalmente ligado al mar, que a lo largo de la historia fue fuente de riqueza y nuevos desafíos, como queda patente en su identidad social y en el tejido socioeconómico que se construyó alrededor de este entorno. La importancia de la pesca y el marisqueo, la construcción naval, la industria transformadora de productos del mar, la acuicultura, la tecnología marina, la calidad y seguridad de alimentos marinos o el turismo litoral, convierte a este territorio en un lugar idóneo para diseñar una estrategia de especialización inteligente sustentada, prioritariamente, sobre la base de la economía del mar.

Apostar por el mar como elemento vertebrador del desarrollo eurorregional no solo resulta de su importancia económica, sino de la oportunidad que emerge de la extensa red de I+D+i marina existente en el noroeste de la Península Ibérica. Universidades, organismos públicos de investigación, centros y plataformas tecnológicas, numerosos y de calidad, generan condiciones de partida que permiten imaginar su transformación en un polo de generación de conocimiento de excelencia y atracción de talento de dimensión internacional. Se trata de una agrupación de I+D formada por más de 1.400 doctores, con una producción científica anual del orden del centenar de tesis de doctorado y dos millares de trabajos de investigación publicados y con la capacidad de movilizar decenas de millones de euros anuales en contratos de I+D con empresas.

Los datos objetivos revelan una masa crítica, tanto de los sectores productores de bienes y servicios como de los generadores de conocimiento, más que suficiente para adquirir peso específico a nivel global en este ámbito. Sin embargo, son aún importantes las barreras que impiden que las capacidades existentes en el territorio se traduzcan en la creación de un auténtico polo de innovación en torno al mar como factor aglutinador y de ventaja competitiva. Se precisan estructuras complejas, multidisciplinares, pluriinstitucionales y de carácter internacional, que se implanten a través de la interconexión de polos de conocimiento y especialización y superen la atomización institucional y la impermeabilidad disciplinar y sectorial, factores estos que, en mi opinión, actúan cómo auténticas trabas en la senda de conseguir liderazgo internacional e impacto significativo en el tejido socioeconómico en la Eurorregión.

Conocer los océanos en profundidad, comprender su funcionamiento, usar sus recursos, incluido el territorio, de manera sostenible o explorar y desarrollar nuevos nichos de actividad económica, requiere, en el horizonte de las próximas décadas, de una aproximación holística que albergue bajo su paraguas a multitud de disciplinas: desde las ingenierías hasta las bellas artes, desde el ámbito jurídico al científico, desde las humanidades hasta la economía. Esta aproximación fomentará las sinergias entre los diferentes ámbitos del saber y deberá contribuir a la exploración y generación de nuevo conocimiento en las fronteras entre las disciplinas, conocimiento del que hoy ni siquiera sospechamos su existencia.

Se trata de diseñar y ejecutar un experimento colectivo de agregación de inteligencia con la finalidad última de alcanzar, en el campo de la investigación y la innovación, lo que nuestros ancestros ya lograron en otros momentos de la historia, conocer y usar racionalmente el mar, y de este modo contribuir al avance de la calidad de vida de los habitantes de este planeta que, en su 71 %, es de color azul.

Artículo de Emilio Fernández publicado en el Diario de la Universidade de Vigo

The session will focus on different models of innovation, the pros and cons of each model, both from a university-industry technology transfer perspective as well as a B2B perspective. The talk will also draw upon some of the practices used by innovative companies such as IBM in making innovation work both within the company as well as externally with other organisations. The session will further elaborate on open systems developed for innovation growth and sustainability.

The goal of this conference is to encourage the development of a more innovative and entrepreneurial culture in Campus do Mar.

Conference will be taught in English with simultaneous interpretation.

The aim of this activity, which is part of the informative program of the International Campus of Excellence, is to bring the marine environment closer to society, by promoting the knowledge and preservation of the sea as source of wealth.

The participants will have the opportunity to get to know the island belonging to the Maritime Terrestrial National Park of the Atlantic Islands through routes guided by monitors who will uncover areas such as Burato do Inferno, Mirador de Fedorentos or some of the wonderful beaches of the island.

There are two points of departure set for this visit: the old rectory building of the University of Vigo and the Bueu jetty, where the participants will board. The scheduled hour of departure from the first location is 9:00 am and 9:30 from the second point of departure. When arriving on the island, the participants will be divided into groups to do the two scheduled routes, eat and enjoy the beauty of the Ons Island. Departure is scheduled at 18:40 at the places where they initiated the tour.

This visit has also a solidarity component as the participants must bring a kilogram of non-perishable food products which will be collected in Bueu before the boat departure and delivered to the Food Bank to help the people in need, who will receive these food products on the day of the visit to the port.

This activity is already fully booked, although there is the possibility to sign up for a waiting list in case there are any vacancies.

Campus do Mar made available a telephone number: 986 813 482, an email address: xeral@oceanografosgalicia.org and a web page: www.campusdomar.es/ons , with all the information on the activity.

The representative members of the Cape Verde Executive Board were welcomed by the Head of the Campus do Mar Internationalization Area, Alberto González Garcés, and the Head of the Cetmar International Cooperation Area, Yolanda Morales, with whom they exchanged views on the project implementation, an assessment which was considered to be very positive by both sides.

The visit takes place one year after the General Directorate for External Relations and with the EU of the Xunta de Galicia subsidized 171,700€ for the development of this cooperation project. Campus do Mar added and additional amount of 75,000€, and the local partners, the University of Cape Verde and the National Institute for Fisheries Development, another 45,000€. This funding is destined for the implementation of different actions in the areas of PhD training and the transfer of scientific and technological skills.

Cape Verdean researchers close to completing their training in Vigo
Among these actions, the project includes the training of four PhD students within the PhD program in Science, Technology and Marine Management. They have been living in Vigo since the beginning of the academic year and today, they have also attended the meeting with the representative members of their country’s government. Rui Freitas and Mara Abu-Raya are teachers at the University of Cape Verde, and Elisia Silva and Carlos Monteiro are researchers at the National Institute for Fisheries Development. After finishing the face-to-face PhD courses on September 1^st, they will return to Cape Verde and there they will take advantage of the experience gained in Galicia to launch their own PhD program in Marine Sciences.

Within the framework of this cooperation project, researchers from the Universidade de Vigo, Santiago de Compostela and Aveiro and from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography will go to Cape Verde next July to lecture a specialized course for 15 local researchers from the University of Cape Verde and from the National Institute for Fisheries Development. This was one of the topics discussed today at the meeting in Vigo, in which participants were also informed about setting a videoconference room in Cape Verde for the online courses of the PhD program, conferences, etc.

During the meeting, attended also by the Rector, Salustiano Mato, the different relevant aspects for this sector that depends directly on the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, such as the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, were examined, mainly everything related to the structural aspects of the fisheries policy, highlighting the different aids and subsidies given to this sector, ”something that is changing significantly”, as it was pointed out by one of the participants at the meeting, professor Manuel Varela, coordinator of the PhD program in Science, Technology and  Marine Management (DO*MAR), who also stressed out the importance of relying on ”first-hand information”.

Opportunities from the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
Apart from informing how these changes are being set, the Director of the DG MARE Structural Policy and Economic Analysis Unit of the European Union gave updated  information to the participants on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform, ”which is now being discussed”, as prof. Varela stated. Manuel Varela also underlined the importance of ”trying to determine which future issues could be more interesting from the researchers’ point of view”.

Together with the CFP reform, the meeting also focused on the opportunities emerging with the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the partnership between researchers and the sector, an issue of great interest for the researchers’ community, as this new fund of €6,500 million would allow the financing of projects that will enable the transition towards sustainable fisheries and helping the coastal communities to diversify their economies.

The innovation in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, and the so-called eco-innovation, in reference to the different technologies applied for a better preservation of the environment, were some of the other topics discussed during the meeting which took place today at noon in the Miralles Building of the Vigo Campus.

Future working lines
Campus do Mar highlighted the interdisciplinarity and the work carried out at the confluence of several issues trying to gain synergies and shared knowledge between various sectors related to the marine field. ”We hope this meeting will be productive and that we can draw interesting conclusions from both sides, mostly regarding the establishment of future working lines”, pointed out Manuel Varela.

It is an initiative of eminently practical character, based on the active and participatory learning with exchange of experience between participants and consultants. It is complemented by the analysis of various case studies, with an emphasis on examples taken from the marine engineering and biotechnology sectors. The workshop will be delivered in English by renowned international experts linked to Isis Innovation Limited, the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford.

The goal of the workshop focuses on providing practical training to promote and consolidate the acquisition of professional skills needed to set up a business project and the market implementation of scientific and technological results and technology transfer in general.

The workshop will be delivered via two channels: presenting to a face-to-face audience and streaming (simultaneous web broadcasting), with the possibility of participation via chat channel. The workshop is addressed to teaching and research staff, managers, technologists and other professionals related to technology and research results transfer, from the institutions that are part of the R&D Campus do Mar group and, university students of any nationality, who are currently pursuing Bachelor’s degree, engineering, architecture, degree or postgraduate (Masters or PhD) studies, delivered by any of the universities of Galicia.

Participation in the workshop will be limited to a maximum of 55 participants (15 face to face and 40 streaming), which will be admitted on a first-come, first-application principle. The registration fee is 50 € for face to face attendees and 20 € for participants via streaming.

The workshop will take place at the Conference Room of Faculty of Economic & Business Sciences of the University of Vigo, Campus As Lagoas Marcosende, Vigo, on 10th and 11th June 2013 from 09:00 to 17:30 and from 09:30 to 17:30 respectively, with a duration of 16 hours.

Applications and registration will begin on 13th May 2013 at 10:00 (GMT+2), on the website of the Campus do Mar http://campusdomar.es/transferencia/taller-emprendimiento/.

• Announcement

Contact: Technology Transfer and Research Results Area, Campus do Mar, Plza. Miralles, Local A7, Campus Universitario – 36310 VIGO, TEL +34 986 130037 / +34 986 130041, Email: gestion.transferencia2@campusdomar.es

First agreements
On the last constituent meeting of March, the operative document of CEI.MarNet was approved, and now the directors of the campus could start giving shape to the working groups. On the one hand, as Emilio Fernández explained, they agreed to create two research working groups to implement R&D projects at a European scale within the oceanography and aquaculture fields. Another agreement settles the creation of another group focused on international projects linked to the transfer in the sea technologies field. The Head of the Campus do Mar also explained that in this meeting “they  had also decided to create other groups responsible for the implementation of interuniversity masters within the oceanographic and fisheries management fields. Finally, apart from selecting the new CEI.MarNet logo, it has been agreed to put in motion a group with the purpose of offering visibility to the network at the international level and seeking funds for students and researchers’ mobility”. Emilio  Fernández highlighted that these are the main priorities of the  network now, but he did not reject the creation of new working lines in future meetings.

Synergies of 10.000 researchers
CEI.MarNet is created as an alliance that seeks to gain international projection for these campuses on excellence, to promote the process of collaboration and mutual learning among the institutions included in it and to establish a program of joint actions. Thus, this network gathers 10000 researchers around the marine and maritime knowledge. The critical mass of researchers includes a wide range of sea studies, from navigation to naval construction to aquaculture, coastal management, heritage knowledge or the search of new energy sources. Carmen Garrido from CEIMAR, Conrado Domínguez from Campus Atlántico Tricontinental, Javier Gilabert, Ángel Pérez Rufaza and Pascual Pérez Paredes from the Campus MareNostrum and from the Campus do Mar governing team, the Head, Emilio Fernández, together with Elsa Vázquez Otero, Head of the Teaching and Talent Attraction Area, Alberto González-Garcés, Head of the Internationalization Area, Francisco Gómez Figueiras, Head of the Research Area and Luis Fernández, Head of the Transfer Area, attended this coordination meeting.

As it was agreed in the meeting, the objective is that before the end of 2013, Campus do Mar could have its own legal status, “which would ease the implementation of the projects obtained and the access to different calls we cannot apply at the moment, but in which the probabilities of success are significant”, underlined the director of Campus do Mar, Emilio Fernández, who, in spite of not belonging to the Rector Council, also attended the meeting, together with Eduardo Pardo de Guevara y Valdés, institutional coordinator of the CSIC in Galicia.

Strengthen the R&D aggregation

The Campus do Mar Research Area has just finished the preparation process of the strategic plans for research and development of the four R&D clusters organized by Campus do Mar. These plans were developed with the assistance of several work groups made up by researchers of all institutions involved and also through consultation with relevant stakeholders. “These work groups unanimously concluded that the implementation of the different actions needs the constitution of an entity with its own legal status”, as it was stated by the director of Campus do Mar, who also highlighted that this would enable the design and implementation of big scale projects by multi-institutional teams and would strengthen the international presence of the R&D aggregation in a “highly competitive” environment.

Among other advantages, if the Campus do Mar had its own legal status, it could also contribute to minimize some of the chronic problems for the collaboration of the research groups from the different institutions which integrate Campus do Mar, for instance in the case of staff recruitment or the joint acquisition of equipment and infrastructures.

Campus do Mar Portuguese Pole

During the meeting Salustiano Mato, as the president of the Rector Council of Campus do Mar, informed the rest of the Council members about the creation of a Portuguese pole of Campus do Mar, an aggregation of the Portuguese partners in the campus. At the same time, he also informed them about the last meeting of the network CEI.MarNet attended by the R&D&I Secretary of State, Carmen Vela, and reminded the Campus do Mar Exhibition: building the future through oceans which took place at the European Parliament, through eleven panels and several photographs an historic route of the different aspects of the project was made, from research, transfer or talent attraction to the internationalization and dissemination to society.