From 23 to 26 March 2026, SPI participated in the first Advanced Cooperation Mission organised under the IURC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, held in the Brazilian state of Paraná. The mission brought together representatives from Catalonia and Paraná to explore cooperation opportunities in the blue economy, with a focus on environmental sustainability, research, and community engagement.
Over four days, the delegation carried out technical visits, fieldwork, and institutional meetings in the Paranaguá Bay area, home to one of the largest ports in Brazil. Key highlights included hands-on microplastic sampling exercises in the bay, visits to marine research centres, and meetings with local institutions such as the MarBrasil Association, the Federal University of Paraná, and the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR), where potential pilot projects under the IURC framework were discussed.
The mission concluded with SPI’s participation in the Smart City Expo Curitiba, where SPI’s Igor Lopes, Manager of the Blue Economy Regional Community of Practice, moderated a session on how coastal regions are turning blue economy potential into inclusive and resilient urban strategies, featuring speakers from the Paraná State Government, the Government of Catalonia in Brazil, and the Municipality of Niterói.
This mission reinforces SPI’s active role in promoting international urban and regional cooperation and strengthening EU–Latin America partnerships around shared priorities such as marine sustainability, innovation, and social cohesion.
