The project champions interregional collaboration aimed at scaling, demonstrating, and ensuring market readiness of business ventures within the macroalgae/seaweed sector.
Combining the strengths of innovative SMEs, universities, tech hubs, and industry clusters, the project envisions a transformative, transnational value chain rooted in new sustainable seaweed cultivation techniques and algal biotechnological applications. As an untapped reservoir of potential, seaweed not only embodies the promise of sustainable innovation but also holds the power to reshape regional development, in particular in coastal areas and maritime regions of the EU.
Through the project’s investment cases – spanning the food industry, biofertilizers, and cosmetics – seaweed demonstrates its vast versatility and potential to revolutionize multiple sectors, marking a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable future, from healthier diets to lower CO2 emissions.
Develop the value chain for seaweed, promoting the progress of coastal and maritime areas of different regions of the EU.
New seaweed cultivation techniques and algal biotechnological application, into the food, biofertilizers and cosmetics industries.
New products and innovative applications.
Sustainable regional growth reducing the environmental impact.
New jobs to coastal areas in different EU regions.
From 6 EU countries: Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland.
I3-4-SEAWEED ran an open call for cascade funding, awarding financial support to seaweed-based SMEs.
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Each selected application is eligible for a maximum grant of €60,000, covering 100% of the project's costs, including indirect costs. Beyond this financial support, participating SMEs also take part in the project's capacity-building programme, comprising 15 training sessions.
Each year, I3-4-SEAWEED organises the “Seaweed Industry Contribution to the Blue Bioeconomy” Forum, hosted in a different location to highlight regional perspectives, experiences, and developments. The forum provides a platform for meaningful exchange, bringing together industry representatives, researchers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge, discuss emerging opportunities, and explore pathways for sustainable growth of the seaweed sector.
The forum is available both on-site and online, with live streaming provided via our YouTube channel.
I3-4-SEAWEED has kicked off in Coimbra, PT, with 16 partners coming together to champion interregional collaboration to boost the EU seaweed sector.
The website will provide a public presence and serve as one of the main communication channels.
This plan, with a Public dissemination level, will outline objectives, messages, and strategies tailored to different audiences to ensure project visibility.
This center, aimed at promoting algae innovation in Europe, will consolidate research, market trends, and industry needs.
The project plans to implement a third-party funding program to support SMEs with financial grants.
2 October, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Casa Africa C. Alfonso XIII, 5, 35003 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Delivers 15 training sessions to the seaweed-based SMEs supported through the project's cascade funding call.
The I3-4-SEAWEED FORUM, held in Clifden, Ireland on 15 October 2026.
This is the final version of the public knowledge center, which will serve as a central point for promoting algae innovation in Europe.
At this stage, projects funded within the project and achieved results will be actively promoted through the knowledge center and project communication channels, fostering ecosystem development.
A final project conference is planned to share achievements and provide recommendations for future development. The event is intended for a broad audience.
Report with policy recommendations will be prepared and made public, targeting EU, national, and regional policymakers.
Final report
