PBDH brings the Portuguese Blue Economy to the World Ocean Summit 2026
March 9, 2026
Portugal Blue Digital Hub (PBDH) took part in the 13th edition of the World Ocean Summit & Expo, held on 4 and 5 March 2026 in Montreal, Canada. Organised by Economist Impact, the event brought together institutional leaders, companies, investors, academia and other stakeholders connected to the ocean, under the theme Innovate, protect, prosper: securing our ocean future.
The 2026 edition focused on turning international commitments into concrete action across the areas of policy, finance, innovation and ocean governance, addressing topics such as biodiversity, marine protected areas, blue finance, nature-based solutions, offshore renewable energy, as well as innovation and data.
PBDH’s participation was made possible through its coordinator, Fórum Oceano, which was also present at the event. As part of the summit’s official programme, Carlos Pinho, PBDH Lead Manager, took part in the Innovation Stage, where he presented the project and showcased the work being carried out in Portugal to accelerate the digitalisation of the Blue Economy.~
This international presence helped strengthen PBDH’s visibility as a Digital Innovation Hub for the Blue Economy, highlighting its mission to promote the sector’s digital and environmental transition, foster entrepreneurship, support the development of new solutions based on artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data, promote the testing and demonstration of technologies, and contribute to the development of digital skills.
In a setting strongly focused on the practical application of solutions and on bringing together business, investment, science and public policy, PBDH’s participation also provided an opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders from the international blue innovation ecosystem. The World Ocean Summit 2026 programme placed particular emphasis on the role of emerging technologies, ocean data and artificial intelligence in improving decision-making and developing more effective responses to global maritime challenges.
By taking part in this international forum, Portugal Blue Digital Hub further strengthens its position within global networks of collaboration and innovation, underlining Portugal’s contribution to a more digital, sustainable and competitive Blue Economy.