CFPs: Sustainable Macroalgae systems for Innovative, Added-value Applications Cultivation and Optimised Production Systems

Scopes

• Proposals under this topic should:
  • Select and optimise macroalgal feedstock (both naturally occurring and modified varieties are in scope), focusing on applications with high market potential. Capitalise on existing data, infrastructures, and knowledge. In line with the EU Algae Initiative, harvesting macroalgae from the wild is excluded, as the topic focuses on cultivation.
  • Demonstrate cultivation in suitable and scalable sustainable systems, aiming at high biomass yield, optimised production parameters (e.g. light, O2, CO2, nutrients, pH, temperature, seasonal variations). Cultivation in open environment and/or in closed systems are both in scope. Multitrophic and mixed cultivation approaches (e.g. multiple algae species, algae and fish/shellfish farming etc) are also in scope, as well as algae-mediated remediation and the use of nature-based solutions.
  • Demonstrate further sustainable biomass processing and conversion steps into added value bio-based product(s).
  • Maximize the resource/energy efficiency across the value chain. Integration with renewable energy sources can be considered.

Funding Information

• Grant Amount: €14 million

Expected Outcomes 

• Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
  • Proven industrial scalability potential of sustainable cultivation, pretreatment and valorisation options for macroalgae species.
  • Novel bio-based product(s) and viable business opportunities for bio-based applications from cultivated macroalgae.
  • Socio-economic benefits with demonstrated potential for job creation and/or preservation (e.g. in case of declining blue economy professions).
  • Demonstrated environmental sustainability, encompassing biodiversity and water quality preservation and/or enhancement, and, when applicable, restoration.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from no associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
• A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
• Entities eligible for funding:
  • To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
    • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
      • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
    • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
      • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
    • Countries associated to Horizon Europe;
      • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For more information, visit EC.