The six investment cases range from new sustainable processes for extracting pigment from seaweed in Ireland to bringing new seaweed-based food products to the table in Belgium and the Netherlands. © The Seaweed Company
With the aim to invest in seaweed innovation across different European regions, the I3-4-Seaweed project brings together partners from Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Germany to drive sustainable growth and address regional needs in the blue economy.
With the global demand for sustainable products on the rise, seaweed is widely seen as offering immense potential as a sustainable and renewable resource in a wide range of applications: from food and cosmetics, to bioplastics and pharmaceuticals.
Six key beneficiaries
The new project is designed to boost the sector by aligning the resources and expertise in six key European countries, ensuring a collaborative and holistic approach.
The project will link and support six investment cases to develop seaweed technology and products. The investment cases range from new sustainable processes for extracting pigment from seaweed in Ireland to bringing new seaweed-based food products to the table in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In Spain, project partners will develop less polluting biostimulants, making use of seaweed extracts to aid crop growth without damaging the natural environment, while the Portuguese investment cases include sustainable seaweed-based cosmetics as well as new monitoring technologies to increase yield and efficiency in seaweed farms.
Expert research and consultancy partners from the participating countries will support the investment cases with technical and business resources, with collaboration across regions being a central approach.
Berlin-based project partner the Submariner Network for Blue Growth will play an important role in the project through communication and dissemination support, stakeholder engagement and outreach as well as through policy advocacy and market positioning.
“Joining the I3-4-Seaweed consortium is a significant step in further developing our expertise and network in the algae sector, while providing a major boost to investment across European regions”, said the Submariner Network’s managing director, Angela Schultz-Zehden.
Funding for startups too
With €9 million in funding secured for the three-year project, including €6.8 million from the EU’s European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), I3-4-Seaweed is expected to have a substantial impact on the fast developing seaweed sector while connecting the seaweed industry across Ireland, Benelux and the Iberian peninsula. Reaching beyond the project partners, Thirty seaweed-focused startups and SMEs in the partners’ regions will have the opportunity to bid for financial support of up to €60,000 each from the project, to support them in developing sustainable seaweed-based solutions and tackle the challenges faced by the sector while providing dedicated training support.
Seaweed-based products are not universally recognised across the target regions – so I3-4-Seaweed will launch regional awareness campaigns to showcase the potential of seaweed products and the opportunities for innovative products. Collaborative sessions with industry leaders as well as case studies demonstrating seaweed product uptake among organisations, will provide evidence and content to help broaden this exciting and fast-developing market.
