On 4th and 5th May 2026, the University of Algarve, NERA and PTA, organised the DIBEST Iberian Business Meeting.
The initiative took place in Faro and Vila Real de Santo António and brought together companies, universities, technology parks, public entities and stakeholders from Algarve, Andalusia and Galicia, for two days dedicated to cross-border cooperation, digital innovation and sustainability within the blue economy and coastal tourism sectors.
The first day of the event was held at the facilities of the Division of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (CRIA), in the university Gambelas Campus, in Faro, and included presentations on the DIBEST project results in Portugal and Spain, company pitches, stakeholder presentations and networking sessions between Portuguese and Spanish participants.
The programme also included an institutional networking dinner, creating an informal environment for dialogue and relationship-building among participants and partner organisations.
On the second day, participants joined a teambuilding activity in Vila Real de Santo António, along the Guadiana River, reinforcing collaboration and encouraging the creation of new connections between both territories.
According to Eurídice Cristo, Project Manager at CRIA and coordinator of the initiative,
“The strong engagement of participants and the quality of interactions demonstrated the importance of these face-to-face spaces for sharing, cooperation and building trust between territories”.
Sónia Palomo, Director of Technology Transfer and International Relations at Málaga TechPark, also highlighted the relevance of international cooperation in the context of digital transformation within blue economy microenterprises.
“DIBEST shows how collaboration between regions can accelerate innovation, digitalisation and knowledge transfer processes, contributing to more resilient, sustainable and competitive coastal territories,” she stated.
The feedback collected from participants highlighted a very positive perception regarding the quality of the event and the relevance of the interactions created throughout the two days.
More than a dissemination event, the meeting became a starting point for new collaboration opportunities between companies, universities, technology parks and public entities from Algarve and Andalusia.
Among new contacts, shared ideas and future opportunities identified during the event, participants recognised the potential for the DIBEST network to continue generating cooperation beyond the current lifecycle of the project.