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UK company active in Algae R&D seeks partners to collaborate on an EIT Food Impact Funding Framework (IFF) Call under the Protein Pillar.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Research & Development Request
POD Reference
RDRGB20250129010
Term of Validity
30 January 2025 - 30 January 2026
Company's Country
  • United Kingdom
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Sweden
  • Spain
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General information

Short Summary
The UK based company is active in R&D specialising in industrial-scale, sustainable production of high-value, light-induced ingredients using microalgae. The company’s innovative technology maximizes the production of specialty biomolecules, such as carotenoids, while minimizing environmental impact.
Full Description
The company is R&D intensive and has identified and scoped a R&D project that can have significant outcomes in terms of process efficiency, and operational costs associated with value added products from algae.

This approach uniquely positions the company to address the growing demand for eco-friendly, naturally sourced ingredients in food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, offering a scalable alternative to resource-intensive traditional production methods.

Additionally, by replacing land-intensive marigold farming with year-round, traceable microalgae cultivation, the company aims to reduce water, land, and carbon footprints while supporting the local economy.

The company is seeking partners across Europe to support both the final development and demonstration phase of their project and to explore broader, long-term R&D collaborations for the project and scope of work detailed below.

Project Overview
Objective: Develop a scalable, cost-effective photobioreactor platform for sustainable lutein production from microalgae, supporting Europe’s bioeconomy and healthier aging.

The Challenge: Europe imports 90% of its lutein, primarily from resource-intensive marigold farming in Asia. Lutein, a carotenoid essential for eye health and cognitive function, holds a $488M market opportunity by 2028.

Scope of work:
• Optimized Photobioreactor: Advanced CAD designs refined for fluid dynamics (mixing), and light penetration.
• AI-Driven Cultivation: Sensor-based monitoring (OD/biomass, light, pH, nutrients) to enhance biomass yields.
• Eco-Friendly Extraction: Green methods to ensure purity, and sustainability.
Advantages and Innovations
Main advantages / benefits for partners include:
• Be part of a high-impact, innovative solution addressing sustainability and healthier aging.
• Access a growing market with high commercial potential for natural, sustainable ingredients.
• Contribute to strengthening Europe’s bioeconomy and reducing dependency on imports.
Stage of Development
  • Concept stage
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Goal 15: Life on Land
  • Goal 14: Life Below Water
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
IPR description
The company is seeking partners across Europe to support both the final development and demonstration phase of our project and to explore broader, long-term collaborations:

1. Engineering & Manufacturing:
○ Partners with expertise in designing and building (bio)reactors, metalwork, and Perspex/acrylic fabrication.
○ Expertise in (micro)biological reactor/fermenter commissioning and scaling.
2. Sensor & AI Integration:
○ Development and integration of real-time monitoring systems for microalgae cultivation (OD, light, pH/temperature, nutrients, …).
○ Feedback algorithms for AI-driven process optimization.
3. R&D Collaboration:
○ Institutions with expertise in algae cultivation and extraction especially targeted towards lutein
4. Commercial Partnerships:
○ Channels to market partners to help understand and meet the needs and requirements of lutein off-takers.
○ Focus on food, nutraceutical, and beverage sectors.
5. Downstream Processing
○ Specialists in natural ingredient extraction technologies applicable to microalgae.

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The partners could be from academia (Universities) or the private sector, centres of excellence or research and technology organisations (RTOs). The expectation is that partners can bring expertise and application in
• Technical – engineering & manufacturing, sensors and AI, algae cultivation (including extraction of commodities such as lutein)
• Commercial – knowledge of and ideally part of the lutein, food, nutraceutical and beverage supply chains.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME <=10
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program
  • Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
Call title and identifier
EIT Food Single Project Co-Funding - Impact Funding Framework.
Coordinator required
No
Deadline for EoI
Deadline of the call
Project duration in weeks
72
Web link to the call
https://www.eitfood.eu/open-calls/impact-funding-framework

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 06006003 - Biobased chemical building blocks
  • 06006011 - Fermentation
Market keywords
  • 08001016 - Commodity chemicals and polymers
Targeted countries
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Sweden
  • Spain