The EU-funded project IMPRESS successfully co-hosted a hybrid workshop on “Developing Novel Blue Biorefineries from Aquatic Resources”, bringing together 97 researchers, innovators, and industry stakeholders to explore practical pathways for valorising aquatic biomass and side streams. The event was co-hosted with CIRCALGAE and FOODIMAR and organised by CEVA (Centre d’Etude et de Valorisation des Algues), with on-site sessions at the Park Inn by Radisson Reykjavik Keflavík Airport and a concurrent online stream.
Workshop Highlights
- Cross-project collaboration: Sessions showcased insights from IMPRESS, CIRCALGAE, and FOODIMAR. They highlighted complementary R&I on seaweed, microalgae, and marine side-stream valorisation within a circular bioeconomy framework.
- Active community engagement: Participants from academia and industry engaged in dynamic discussions throughout the workshop.
- Hybrid access and regional focus: through its strategic location in Iceland, combined with live streaming, broad participation was secured, and Nordic/Atlantic perspectives were also accounted for.
Programme & Format
The workshop included presentations and discussions covering:
- Aquatic biomass conversion to high-value products such as seaweed, microalgae, and marine side streams, among others.
- Circular, low-waste processing concepts that are suitable for scale-up.
- Interactive Q&A sessions addressing technical, market, and policy considerations for blue-biorefinery uptake.
About the Co-Hosts
- IMPRESS (Horizon Europe) develops zero-waste, multi-product biorefineries for aquatic resources, supporting EU bioeconomy and blue-growth strategies.
- CIRCALGAE (Horizon Europe) focuses on circular solutions to transform algae biomass and by-products into ingredients for food, feed, and cosmetics.
- FOODIMAR (Horizon Europe) aims to convert underused marine side streams into functional, high-value applications using green technologies.
About the Organisers
CEVA is Europe’s leading centre for the study and valorisation of seaweed, coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives across the blue bioeconomy.
