Blue Economy Centre
The Astra campus building, currently under construction by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation in Turku, will house the new Blue Economy Centre, which will focus on advancing the development of the blue economy. Aboa Advest will bring together various actors from the blue economy sector within the centre’s premises.
The Astra campus building will be completed in 2025, with Åbo Akademi University, the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, and several companies and startups moving in. Åbo Akademi University will occupy three of the building’s five floors, the top floor is reserved for the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, and the fourth floor will house other tenants including the space rented by Aboa Advest.
“The foundation’s goal is for Astra to become a hub for various parties, providing opportunities for new collaborations to emerge. We are delighted to see that an actor with close ties to Åbo Akademi will be operating in Astra. We at the foundation also look forward to being part of the Astra community,” says Lasse Svens, CEO.Blue Economy Centre combines business and research
One of the future tenants in Astra is the investment company Aboa Advest, specializing in impact investing, which seeks measurable societal or environmental benefits alongside financial returns. Aboa Advest is leasing a 450-square-meter space in Astra for the Blue Economy Centre, designed to bring together companies and startups operating in the blue economy. The Blue Economy refers to business activities that regenerate ocean ecosystems in coastal areas, with the goal of fostering economic growth and creating jobs.
A’Pelago, a company dedicated to promoting the Blue Economy, will also move to Astra. Aboa Advest is one of its founding partners.
“We focus on sustainable, ocean-related business activities, which often require the construction of new value chains. That is why we are especially pleased to develop and strengthen A’Pelago’s ecosystem with the launch of the Blue Economy Centre. The centre will serve as a critical hub for our operations. The proximity to other actors in Astra enables quick and creative solutions that combine entrepreneurial, scientific, and financial aspects,” says Patrik Anckar, co-founder and shareholder of A’Pelago.A key part of A’Pelago’s operations is its annual business Accelerator programme aimed at supporting the creation of profitable businesses within the Blue Economy.
The key functions of
the Blue Economy Centre are:
ACCELERATOR BASECAMP
A’Pelago Accelerator - the Blue Accelerator programme in the Baltic Sea Region operated by A’Pelago and the participating companies
SCIENCE HUB
A place where business meets with science e.g. Centre for Sustainable Ocean Science at Åbo Akademi University and Digital Waters at the University of Turku
BLUE VC FUND
Redstone Blue Fund I and associated companies in the Blue Economy such as accounting, marketing and staffing firms.
The Blue Economy Centre will also offer companies flexible workspaces in collaboration with Spacent. Spacent is enabling hybrid work everywhere with over 315 coworking spaces in +75 cities in the Nordics and around Europe.
“The goal of A’Pelago’s business accelerator is to establish 30 new Blue Economy companies within the next five years. We aim to lease space in Astra to these companies and other future Blue Economy stars,” says Timo Ketonen, owner of Aboa Advest and co-founder of A’Pelago. “For us, it has been important that the planning and construction of Astra take environmental impacts into account. Most importantly, however, the central location near our partners and university research units has been crucial.”