ADVISORY BOARD

Profile: General Manager (BlueNetCat)

Pablo Bou is General Manager of BlueNetCat, the Catalan Network for Blue Innovation, the region’s transfer and innovation instrument for the blue economy, coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). He has spent more than a decade inside the network, moving from business development into general management, and works at the point where marine research meets industry: knowledge and technology transfer, maritime sciences, and innovation policy.

He brings an ecosystem builder’s perspective on how ocean and port research actually reaches the market. BlueNetCat connects more than seventy research groups with companies and public institutions across Catalonia, and runs programs such as BlueNet2Market and the Maritime Hub that take marine deep tech from proof of concept toward deployment. His work touches ocean data and observation infrastructure, marine biotechnology and aquaculture, and the funding mechanisms that make blue innovation viable.

Profile: Chief Scientific Officer, ALGAMA (since 2020); Vice-President of EABA – European Algae Biomass Association; former President of EABA

Jean-Paul Cadoret, PhD, HDR, is Chief Scientific Officer of ALGAMA (since 2020) and currently Vice-President of EABA – European Algae Biomass Association, having previously served as its President. With 35 years of experience in algae and marine biotechnology, spanning research and industry, he built his career at Ifremer as Researcher, Team Leader, Laboratory Director and Unit Director, dedicating himself throughout to innovation in the field. He was formerly Managing Director of marine biotech company Greensea, and co-founded the companies Algenics and Iaso-Biotech. His scientific output includes 80 publications and 10 patents, reflecting a career bridging fundamental research and industrial application in algae biotechnology and marine biotech innovation.

Profile: President, EABA – European Algae Biomass Association (since December 2022); Co-founder of Fitoplancton Marino, S.L., former CSO and CEO

Carlos Unamunzaga has been President of EABA – European Algae Biomass Association since December 2022. In 2002 he co-founded Fitoplancton Marino, S.L., serving as CSO (2002–2011) and then CEO (2011–2023), and he also co-founded GMPC, LLC (USA) and Blugenics Innovations, Inc. (Canada), sitting on both boards. He holds a Master’s in Marine Sciences from the University of Cádiz and a Master’s in SME Internationalisation from EOI Business School. Carlos is a recognised expert in Novel Foods and regulatory affairs for microalgae, having secured approvals in the EU, Canada, the USA and Thailand. His experience spans preclinical and clinical trial coordination, health claims substantiation, intellectual property management and Health Science strategy. He has participated in numerous national and EU research projects and holds three international patents.

Profile: General Manager, EABA – European Algae Biomass Association (since 2018); former President of EABA (2014–2018); Co-founder of Necton, SA and A4F – Algae for Future, SA

Vítor Verdelho Vieira has served as General Manager of EABA – European Algae Biomass Association since 2018, having previously been its President (2014–2018). A physicist by training, he has built a 30-year career spanning engineering consulting, biotechnology, real estate and medical devices. He co-founded Necton, SA (1989) and A4F – Algae for Future, SA (2008), both references in marine and microalgae biotechnology, and has led or contributed to more than 40 R&D projects, working with over 200 organisations across Europe. Vítor is also a Visiting Professor at Católica Porto Business School, mentors entrepreneurs through university incubation programmes, and has advised national innovation initiatives. He co-holds several patents in algae-based products and processes, reflecting his long-standing commitment to translating scientific research into viable industry solutions.