Associação BLC3

The BLC3 Association – Technology and Innovation Campus is a non-profit association, which was founded in May 2010 and began its activities in September 2011, with headquarters in Oliveira do Hospital, with an area of 38,000 m2, two poles in the Northern Region of Portugal, in Macedo de Cavaleiros and Alfandega da Fé, and a third one under development in Alentejo, resulting from the work carried out in that region, with the goal of creating regional symbioses.

The BLC3 brand and identity are associated with its flag and anchor project: Biorefineries. The name/acronym derives from Lignocellulosic Biomass and 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 valorisation of lignocellulosic resources, contaminated effluents and materials.

BLC3 develops activities of:

1. Research and technological intensification of excellence, according to the concept of the complete cycle of invention (from idea to market);

2. Incubation of ideas and companies;

3. Support to the economic fabric; and

4. Development of a Bio and Circular Economy, with a particular focus on the concepts of Biorefineries.

As a result of a focus and leadership, BLC3 is the first and only entity in Portugal created for the development and industrialization of Biorefineries (2nd and 3rd generation) and the Bioeconomy and “Smart Regions”. It acts nationally and internationally in strategic areas such as Biorefineries, Bioindustries and Bioproducts, with focus on Bioeconomy and Circular Economy. It also develops local and regional activities for the implementation of policies and strategies linked to the fixation of critical mass, the valorisation of endogenous resources and the territory.

Since its inception, BLC3 has already executed and attracted to the inner regions, as a promoting entity and in partnership, about 20.3 million euros, in a total of 55 R&TD projects. It is the one entity in the Interior Region of Portugal that has created more scientific and qualified technical jobs, in a set of +120 fully dedicated young researchers (average age of 29 years).

BLC3 has a structure and network of international excellence composed of 55 entities from 9 European countries and more than 150 researchers and scientists of excellence. An entity already recognized as (1) an interface structure, in ANI, and (2) a specialized R&DT unit, in FCT, denominated “Centre Bio R&D Unit”, to strengthen the competences and research capacities of BLC3, composed of 36 researchers (7 foreign) of which 12 are PhD.

BLC3 develops its activities in 4 MÓDULOS, in its technology and innovation campus, which were designed and built, both physically and operationally, according the complete cycle of invention (from the birth of ideas to market).

– MODULE 1. R&TD Centre: main module where the research and technological development activities are carried out;

– MODULE 2. Support Centre for Innovative Projects and Ideas, (CAPI):to provide support and connection to the economic fabric for the development of innovative projects and ideas and attracting investment, also integrating an Innovation and Creativity Management department and an Intellectual and Industrial Property Office;

– MODULE 3. Incubator | BLC3: incubation of ideas and companies, with a focus on supporting young entrepreneurs and establishing ideas and companies for the Bioeconomy and Circular Economy market; and

– MODULE 4. Business Centre: dedicated to business hosting, setting up companies, R&DT centres and technological scale-up in an industrialisation.