BLC3

BLC3 COMPANY SUMMARY

Association BLC3 – Technology and Innovation Campus (of Portugal) is a non-profit association founded in May 2010, beginning its activities in September 2011, with a new model for the development of research activities and excellence in technological enrichment, the incubation of companies and business ideas and support to the economic fabric of rural inner regions. Its associates/members come mainly from a technical/scientific background. It is the first and only Portuguese entity devoted to the development of Biorefineries (2nd and 3rd generation), Bioeconomy and “Smart Regions”, focusing on the concept of Circular Economy.

In 2016, BLC3 project “Centre Bio” won the RegioStars award, presented by the European Commission in the category of “Sustainable Growth: Circular Economy”, having been chosen amongst 23 finalists from all over Europe. This project from Portugal’s central region represents a public-private investment of 9.2 million euros, boosting the creation of 24 Research and Development subprojects, 4 spin-offs and 6 new countries. The RegioStars Awards is launched annually aiming at recognizing good practices in regional development and highlighting the most original and innovative projects, supported by EU cohesion policy funds, which have a positive impact on citizens’ lives.
In 2015, BLC3 was awarded by the University Business Incubator (UBI) ad by I3P- Innovative

Enterprise Incubator of the Politecnico of Torino, featuring in the Top 10 European and Top 25 World’s best incubators rankings.

Also in 2015, it was distinguished as one of the 30 most important brands in the “Beira Serra” region by the “Boa Nova” radio.

In 2014, it ranked 2nd in the European Enterprises Promotion Awards (EEPA) in “Supporting the development of ecological markets and resource efficiency”.

In 2013, BLC3 received the Excellence Award: Technology and Innovation awarded by the bank “Caixa de Crédito Agrícola”.

The association’s field of action is multidimensional and varied according to the type and scope of the project. In strategic areas such as Biorefineries, Bioindustries, Bioproducts, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy, BLC3 develops its industrial biotechnology activities at a national and international scale. BLC3 also develops local and regional activities for politics implementation regarding the establishment of critical mass, the valorization of endogenous resources and the territory’s genetic patrimony.

The BLC3 brand and identity are associated with its flag and anchor project, the biorefinery project, the name/acronym deriving from Lignocellulosic Biomass and the number 3 from 3G – Microalgae; It aims at the development of bioindustries, biorefineries and bioproducts to replace petroleum derivatives, for the resolution and minimization of forest fires and the valorization of lignocellulosic resources, contaminated effluents and materials.

BLC3 has a structure and network of international excellence constituted by 55 entities from 9 European countries and more than 115 researchers and scientists of excellence, focusing on the transfer of knowledge to the market and industrialization.

The Mission of BLC3 is to lead in R&D+i, regarding the development of solutions for biorefineries and bioindustries; as well as in the creation of policies for the valorization of natural resources and mass flows, resulting from economic activity for the generation of high added value bioproducts, based on the Circular Economy concept.

To stimulate Bioeconomy and “Smart Regions” concepts for the settling of critical mass and young people in inner regions and to solve environmental/education problems and the lack of technological implementation in the agroforestry and agro-food sectors, turning them into opportunities.

To establish a link among stakeholders and decision-making agents, companies, technology centers and the academia.

The Vision of BLC3 is the promotion of a new, innovative, scientific, creative, quality-driven and entrepreneurship-guided vision, to encourage the creation of new business ideas and a new generation of entrepreneurs.