From 12-14 July 2017 the New Era of Blue Enlightenment event took place in Lisbon, Portugal. Commissioner Moedas hosted this high-level ministerial event to celebrate the launch of the South Atlantic Research and Innovation Flagship Initiative between the European Union, Brazil and South Africa which resulted in the Belen Statement.

Representatives of CIIMAR participated in the event, with Isabel Sousa-Pinto chairing the workshop EuroMarine Network, included in the parallel events organized for building an Atlantic research community.