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Multiplying feasible microalgae-derived products at scale

Project description

Boosting sustainable microalgae-derived products use at scale

Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms encountered in aquatic environments such as oceans, lakes and rivers. Emerging evidence indicates that apart from their role in ecosystems, they can be harnessed as a sustainable source of ingredients for food, cosmetics and other industrial applications. Despite their potential, utilisation of microalgae in Europe remains limited, primarily due to high production costs and the absence of scalable processing technologies. To address this issue, the EU-funded MULTIPLY project proposes to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable methods for cultivating and processing microalgae. By exploring different production and extraction methods for different microalgae and using digital tools and circular approaches, the consortium hopes to pave the way for competitive and sustainable microalgae for different industry fields in Europe.

Objective

Microalgae biomass holds a great potential to become the reference source of sustainable ingredients for a broad range of bio-based industries. However, it is still an underexploited feedstock in Europe, mostly used to produce low volume/high value products, due to lack of cost-competitive technological solutions for cultivation and biorefinery processes. MULTIPLY aims to demonstrate economically feasible and environmentally sustainable microalgae cultivation and biorefinery processes, for the provision of valuable algal ingredients, suited for the formulation of mid-price products for the food, feed, biomaterials, lubricants and cosmetics sectors. By enhancing and upscaling efficient, innovative and green technologies for the main steps of microalgae cultivation and downstream processing, implementing circular economy approaches and incorporating advanced monitoring and digital tools, MULTIPLY will increase productivity, reduce the use of resources and associated costs and improve the environmental performance of the processes. Based on 5 microalgae species, MULTIPLY will deliver 10 products of improved environmental impact, meeting market requirements. Led by the industry and backed up on institutes and universities of excellence, MULTIPLY brings together microalgae primary producers from southern and northern Europe, technology developers, researchers and industrial end-users of algae ingredients. A strong dissemination, communication and exploitation strategy will ensure an effective uptake of the project results, enabled by a better understanding of the social acceptance drivers and stimulating the enhanced public acceptance for algae-based products and processes. MULTIPLY will create new value chains, paving the way for the deployment of a sustainable, circular and digital microalgae industry in Europe.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

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Coordinator

A4F ALGA FUEL SA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 836 578,50
Address
ESTRADA DO PACO DO LUMIAR CAMPUS DO LUMIAR EDIFICIO E R/C
1649 038 LISBOA
Portugal

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 394 297,50

Participants (16)

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