Project description
Digital tools make sure tiny organisms get what they need to be optimal workers
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms found in marine and freshwater environments. They are virtual powerhouses of activity, with photosynthetic efficiencies as much as 10 times greater than that of terrestrial plants. Aside from their important contribution to wastewater remediation, microalgae are attracting increasing global attention for their application potential in fields like renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. However, many barriers remain, including a lack of digital and automation technologies supporting the sustainable deployment of large-scale cultivation systems. The EU-funded DigitAlgaesation project is training early-stage researchers in multidisciplinary skills to enable the automation and optimisation of microalgae cultivation processes for more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly enhanced productivity.
Objective
Microalgae and other photosynthetic microorganisms represent a highly promising source for food, feed, chemicals, and fuels. Europe has been leading world research and industrial deployment of microalgae based technologies. However, despite the enormous potential and the impressive R&D effort, industrial use of microalgae is still at its first developmental stage. A major step forward can derive by the development and implementation of digital technologies, capable of automatizing and optimising culture conditions at industrial scale. Europe has a tradition of leading researches in the field of automatic control for biotechnological processes. As envisaged by DigitAlgaesation, the widespread definition and adoption of effective tools for better design and operation urgently requires skilled multidisciplinary scientists and engineers, who can develop and implement the next generation of sustainable production process with enhanced productivity, reduced environmental impact and costs, despite climate fluctuations that may strongly affect microalgae productivity. All this demands a European commitment to concerted, inter- and transdisciplinary research and innovation.
DigitAlgaesation will train 15 early-stage researchers (ESRs) in all aspects of microalgae technological innovation to pave the way towards a knowledge-based breakthrough in monitoring methods and instrumentation, biological modelling and simulation, and automatic control. By training in scientific, technical and soft skills, they will become highly sought-after scientists and engineers for the rapidly emerging microalgae-based industry and broader bioprocessing industries of Europe.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Coordinator
35122 Padova
Italy