kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS

Project Information

PROTEUS

Grant agreement ID: 101156960

DOI

10.3030/101156960

EC signature date 19 April 2024

Start date 1 May 2024

End date 30 April 2028

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 14 439 806,25

EU contribution

€ 9 605 076,75

Coordinated by

ALGINOR ASA
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PROTEUS (kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS)

Reporting period: 2024-05-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The PROTEUS Flagship project, under the acronym “kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS”, is designed to unlock the potential of kelp-derived ingredients for the creation of innovative, sustainable biobased value chains. With its focus on scientific thoroughness and technological advancement, PROTEUS is directly relevant to ongoing efforts in the biobased industry and supports the transition to a more circular and resource-efficient bioeconomy.
The biobased industry faces challenges related to resource efficiency, waste management, and the sustainable utilization of marine biomass without use of toxic chemicals. Traditional processing methods often leave side streams non- or underutilized, representing a missed opportunity for innovation and value creation. In response, the project addresses the need for new approaches to valorise kelp processing side streams, motivated by both environmental imperatives and the growing demand for renewable materials.
PROTEUS is guided by a set of well-defined objectives. These objectives are carefully aligned with international sustainability agendas, including the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that project outcomes contribute real impacts on environmental stewardship, technological innovation, and industrial competitiveness and autonomy.
PROTEUS is structured to deliver tangible impacts along the entire value chain. Project activities are designed to overcome technical, operational, and integration challenges. This pathway is reinforced by iterative evaluation and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that results are relevant, applicable, and capable of driving systemic change. The project supports key policy frameworks at both the European and national levels, including the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Horizon Europe’s sustainability pillars, and national circular economy initiatives. By aligning its objectives and outputs with these frameworks, PROTEUS enhances its capacity to contribute to policy goals and to demonstrate impact in areas of strategic importance for both public and private stakeholders.
The scale of PROTEUS’s expected impact is significant, with the potential to transform the utilization of marine processing side streams and set new standards for biobased value chain development. The project’s outcomes are anticipated to deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits—ranging from reduced waste and greenhouse gas emissions to job creation and increased competitiveness in the biorefinery sector. By setting a replicable example, PROTEUS paves the way for broader adoption of sustainable practices across the industry.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the reporting period, the PROTEUS Flagship project has made progress toward delivering results that extend beyond the current state of the art in biobased value chains, despite early-phase challenges and a notable delay in work package 1. The project has partially achieved its goals and outcomes and remain aligned with sustainable innovation and the objectives outlined in the Description of Action. Key advancements include the establishment of a robust framework for biorefinery operations, which serves as a foundation for future technological breakthroughs in valorising kelp processing side streams into high-value biobased products.
The potential impacts of these results include the creation of new, sustainable value chains, contributing to the circular bioeconomy and supporting the industrial project consortium partners’ long-term development goals. However, to ensure further uptake and progress, several key needs have been identified: continued research and demonstration activities to validate and optimize novel processes; improved access to primary and secondary markets and financial robustness to facilitate scale-up and commercialization; targeted IPR support to protect innovations; and a supportive regulatory and standardization framework to ease market entry and time-to-market. Internationalization efforts and stakeholder engagement will also be essential for maximizing impact and fostering widespread adoption. As the project progresses toward its milestones, ongoing adjustments and recovery measures are in place to address operational and integration challenges, setting the stage for meaningful technological and commercial outcomes in the subsequent reporting periods.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

As the PROTEUS Flagship project is currently in its initial reporting period, it is premature to provide a comprehensive account of results beyond the state of the art or to detail their potential impacts. The project is still in the early stages of implementation, and while foundational activities have commenced, the full scope of outcomes and key needs for further uptake will only become evident as the project progresses and matures in subsequent periods.