ARDITI is a non-profit organization that supports research and innovation, promotes scientific and technological training, and contributes to the modernization and development of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM), Portugal. Its activities align with Madeira’s economic and social development plan, promoting sustainable economic growth and encouraging qualified employment in the region. By coordinating the Region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), ARDITI has helped define the strategy for the development and promotion of Marine Resources and Technologies. ARDITI hosts the Madeira branch of MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, an R&D&I center with seven hubs located in mainland Portugal and Madeira (MARE-Madeira), recently ranked as an Excellent R&D Unit by the Portuguese National Science Foundation. The unit carries out its activities across different facilities, offering various resources for marine-related research, including mesocosms, laboratories, and field equipment. Its research focuses on coastal ecology, marine biological invasions, habitat mapping, marine litter, ecology and conservation, fisheries, aquaculture, climate change, and human-related activities and impacts on coastal ecosystems.
ARDITI in ACUICONECTA: within the framework of the project, the specialized MARE Madeira hub at ARDITI will carry out development and innovation activities for the production of low trophic level marine species, biomass utilization studies of fouling organisms in offshore fish farms, and comparative studies on the geographic origin and sustainability labeling of aquaculture products from Macaronesia and third countries. In parallel, ARDITI will work on the design and engineering of semi-intensive production hatcheries best suited for isolated and low-tech geographic contexts. It will also take part in forums and events promoting food self-sufficiency in isolated or dependent regions with low food security, and support the drafting of guides related to the aquaculture value chain (introduction of aquaculture products into food, feed, processing, multipurpose platforms, etc.). This includes its scientific and technological services for companies within the specialized aquaculture platform to be developed through the project, offering advisory and knowledge transfer services, as well as analysis, infrastructure, and equipment services. ARDITI will also contribute to the training of students and trainers for Europe and the project's cooperation area.
Go to the website of the Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation