FAM Foundation Grants 2025/26 – Finalists Pitch Day Event

FINALISTS PITCH DAY AND CONFERENCE

The Finalists Pitch Day of the FAM Foundation Grants 2025/26, dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water, will bring together 20 outstanding finalist projects from research centres from univerties and other research organizations across Portugal. This high-impact event celebrates scientific excellence and reinforces the national commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal ecosystems through cutting-edge research.

On November 3rd, 2025, at the NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE) – Room D011. The selected researchers will present their projects to the FAM Foundation Board and a panel of independent experts, showcasing innovative scientific approaches to ocean sustainability. The presentations will cover a wide spectrum of themes — from marine biodiversity conservation and ecosystem regeneration, to plastic pollution, climate resilience, and novel models driving a circular blue economy.

This event underscores the FAM Foundation’s mission to support the sustainable management of our oceans and to empower the next generation of scientists working to protect marine ecosystems.

---

SUBMITTED PROJECTS

The 20 pre-selected projects were chosen from a total of 67 proposals submitted by 13 research centres and other organisations specialising in marine sciences and sustainability. These institutions, affiliated with some of Portugal’s most prestigious universities, submitted innovative proposals aimed at deepening scientific knowledge and promoting the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. This record number of applications reflects the strong national momentum for science-driven marine conservation and innovation aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

---

FINALISTS AND PRESENTATION PROGRAMME

The Finalists Pitch Day will bring together, in Lisbon, 20 finalists from prestigious research centres and other organisations from across the country for a full day dedicated to project presentations and scientific networking.

From deep-sea ecosystems to coastal communities, the FAM Foundation 2025–26 finalist projects reflect the urgent need to protect and restore ocean health. These 20 initiatives address some of the most pressing marine challenges of our time — from biodiversity loss and pollution, to the erosion risks driven by climate change. Whether restoring seahorse habitats, developing nature-based aquaculture models, or reducing the impact of antibiotic resistance in wastewater, each project represents a bold scientific response to the goals of SDG 14 – Life Below Water.

Thematic diversity is as rich and dynamic as the ocean itself: the finalists include cutting-edge research on plastic toxicity in fish populations, multitrophic and regenerative aquaculture systems, deep-sea biodiversity conservation, coastal resilience in the face of sea level rise, and the valorisation of invasive species as sustainable resources. Other projects explore citizen science monitoring, the genomic mysteries of deep-sea corals, and innovative biotechnologies for marine remediation. This wide range of approaches not only showcases the strength of the Portuguese scientific community, but also its creativity and determination to act on behalf of the ocean.

Together, these projects represent a new wave in marine science — applied, collaborative, and deeply aligned with global sustainability goals. They offer hope and solutions in a time of ecological urgency, reaffirming that science, when guided by purpose, holds the power to regenerate what has been degraded.

During Pitch Day, each researcher will have 15 minutes — including 10 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for questions and feedback — to present their proposal. The event will also include dedicated networking sessions, fostering knowledge exchange and dialogue among researchers and stakeholders, as well as opportunities for collaboration and strengthened inter-institutional connections.

As a preliminary structure, the table below outlines the provisional presentation schedule, including the research institutions and principal investigators of the 20 finalist teams. This draft agenda is subject to confirmation and may be adjusted to accommodate logistical considerations and researcher availability.

TIME	ACTIVITY	ORGANIZATION	PROJECT	RESEARCHERS
8h30	Boarding	FAM FOUNDATION
9h00	Welcome	FAM FOUNDATION & NOVA SBE
9h30	Pitch 1	CENTEC	DFAQUACULTURE | Dynamics of Floating Net Cages for Aquaculture Offshore	Sarat Mohapatra
9h45	Pitch 2	QCE	WeRECOVER! | Advancing the next-generation Water Desalination with engineered nanoporous carbon electrodes	Ana Sofia Mestre
10h00	Pitch 3	CENTEC	NEMO | Next-gEneration Marine pOllution monitoring with collaborative USV Fleets	Haitong Xu
10h15	Pitch 4	MARE	FROM WASTEWATER TO CLEAN SEAS | Cold Plasma as a Sustainable Barrier Against Antibiotic Resistance	José Gonçalves
10h30	Pitch 5	CENTEC	PIPE SAFE BLUE | Strutural Monitoring and Integrety Analysis of Subsea Pipelines for Marine Pollution Prevention	Bai-Qiao Chen
10h45	Pitch 6	HOPE ZONES FOUNDATION	NAZARÉ REGENERATIVE SEAWEED FARM | Scientific knowledge, Protecting the marine ecosystem, and contributing to the socio‑economic development of the local community	João Macedo
11h00	Pitch 7	MARE	LIVING SURFACES | Design of nature-based solutions for restocking actions of marine invertebrates of high value	Sílvia Lourenço
11h15	Pitch 8	OKEANOS	GATA | Innovative Molecular Tools to assess recovery from severe population decline of an endangered deep-sea shark	Diana Catarino & Laurence Fauconnet
11h30	Pitch 9	CENTEC	AIRC-CV | Integrated Assessment of Coastal Risks in Cabo Verde: Extreme Waves, Sea Level Rise, and Erosion under Climate Change Scenarios	Mariana Bernardino
11h45	Pitch 10	CCMAR	ALGA4REM | Valorization of Invasive Seaweeds Rugulopteryx okamurae and Caulerpa prolifera as a Tool for Sustainable Environmental Remediation	Maria Clara Costa
12h00	Pitch 11	CCMAR	Q-LAMP | for Ocean Health: A Rapid, Field-Deployable Tool to Detect Marine Pathogens and Support Biodiversity Conservation in Portugal’s Coastal Ecosystems	Andrzej Tkacz
12h15	Pitch 12	CIVG	SUSTIMTAVEL |  Multitrophic Production: Towards More Sustainable Aquaculture	Tiago Verdelhos
12h30	Pitch 13	CCMAR	ROGOK4HEALTH | Turning an Ecological Challenge into Health Innovation: Natural Vitamin K1 and Novel Bioactives from Rugulopteryx okamurae	Dina Simes
12h45	Lunch & Networking
14h00	Pitch 14	CFE	MICROALI3I | Microalgal Lipid Biosynthetic potential - focus on omega-3	Mariana Assunção
14h15	Pitch 15	CIIMAR	GELAVISTA | National citizen science project dedicated to monitoring gelatinous organisms in Portugal (man-of-war, salps, and jellyfish)	Antonina dos Santos
14h30	Pitch 16	CCMAR	DEEPTOX | Applied Science for Protecting Deep-Sea Ecosystems: Impacts of Mining Plumes on Biogeochemistry and Biota	Caio Cesar Ribeiro
14h45	Pitch 17	CCMAR	HIPPOBIOME | Seahorses at Risk: Investigating Pollution to Support Conservation	Jorge Palma & Patrícia Pinto
15h00	Pitch 18	CIVG	PLASTI MI TOX | Impact of Plastics on Fishery Resources in order to assess the toxicity of plastic pollutants and their effects on the quality and health of fishery resources and the ecosystem	Ana Varela
15h15	Pitch 19	CESAM	COMMUNITY AQUACULTURE IN THE BIJAGÓS ARCHIPELAGO | Balancing Food Security with the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage	José Alves
15h30	Pitch 20	CIIMAR	BOTO | Beyond Observation of the Iberian Harbour Porpoise at the mouth of the Douro River	Ana Mafalda Correia
15h45	Closing Remarks	FAM FOUNDATION

---

PANEL OF EVALUATORS

The evaluators for the Finalists Pitch Day event will be represented by Board Members:

• Ana Menéres Mendonça, FAM Foundation Founder & President of the Board

• Luís Vasconcelos, FAM Foundation Advisory Board;

• Joana Meireles, FAM Foundation Advisory Board;

• José Archer, FAM Foundation Advisory Board;

• Ricardo Arcos, FAM Foundation Advisory Board;

The panel of expert evaluators includes operational specialists in impact investment from the FAM Foundation & Positive Benefits, complemented by independent professionals with expertise in marine science, conservation, and water systems. This multidisciplinary group ensures a rigorous and well-rounded evaluation process, combining technical, environmental, and socio-economic perspectives:

• Nuno Frazão, Operational Manager, FAM Foundation; Founder, Positive Benefits

• Mafalda Sarmento, Operational Consultant, FAM Foundation; Sustainability Officer, Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics; Research and Project Developer, Center for Responsible Business and Leadership, Consultant.

• Raquel Gaião Silva, Associate, Faber Ocean/Climate Tech; Executive Board Member, BlueBio Alliance

• Pedro Póvoa, Associate Partner, Positive Benefits; Founder, Wateresuse; Research Reviewer, International Water Association (IWA)

  
  

FAM Foundation may also engage additional independent expert consultants to provide further technical and scientific evaluation when necessary.

---

FAM Foundation is committed with the sustainable development goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.