Industries
Marine & Blue Bioeconomy
What changes this industry: bio-solutions with evidence, technologies, suppliers and open money.
Overview of the industry
Biology of the sea as a source of products: algae and seaweed, microalgal omega-3 and carotenoids, marine peptides and nutraceuticals, seaweed and algal proteins, photobioreactors, marine genetic resources under the high-seas treaty, blue carbon and ocean alkalinity. Farming of fish and shellfish is covered under Fishery & aquaculture.
What it replaces 0
No graded substitution linked yet.
Technologies 18
| Algae & macroalgae (seaweed) Large-scale cultivation and processing of macroalgae (seaweed) into sustainable biopolymers, animal feed additives, and biofuels, decoupling production from … | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Algal biofuels Renewable fuels made from micro- and macroalgae through cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, extraction and upgrading — still pre-commercial, with EU standards … | Biofuels & bioenergy |
| Algal protein isolates for food Chlorella, spirulina and specialty microalgae strains are being processed into functional protein isolates and pigmented ingredients for bakery, meat-analogue … | Food & alt-protein |
| Blue carbon Carbon captured by marine ecosystems — mangroves, seagrass, salt marshes and cultivated seaweed/kelp — and the emerging industry of ocean farming, Sargassum … | Blue carbon & restoration |
| Blue tourism: marine wildlife & coastal recreation Boat-based and in-water wildlife experiences run under sustainability programmes and national rules — a commercial segment, for example whale watching in Mexico … | Marine biotech |
| CO2 valorization via microalgae Capturing industrial CO2 emissions using microalgae to produce valuable biomass, biofuels, and bioplastics. | Marine biotech |
| Coastal bioclusters Geographic agglomerations of marine and coastal bio-industries — Iceland's 100% Fish cod-utilization cluster, Norway's GCE Ocean Technology, Maine's Bigelow … | Blue carbon & restoration |
| Marine biomedicine (China) Pharmaceuticals, devices, cosmetics and new raw materials developed from marine biological resources, with Hainan using regulatory-sandbox measures for new … | Marine biotech |
| Marine biotechnology Marine-derived ingredients and biomaterials — microalgal DHA/EPA omega-3, microalgae protein, seaweed biostimulants and bioplastics — cultivated from marine … | Marine biotech |
| Marine genomic prospecting & the BBNJ treaty The UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) entered into force in January 2026, creating the first legal regime for accessing and sharing benefits from marine … | Marine biotech |
| Marine peptides & nutraceuticals Bioactive peptides, low-molecular-weight collagen and omega-3 recovered from fishery by-catch (heads, skin, bones) by enzymatic hydrolysis, tangential … | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Microalgae (seafood/feed) Cultivating microalgae to produce sustainable omega-3 oils and protein for aquafeed and human nutrition. | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Microalgal carotenoids Microalgae-derived carotenoids — natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis and beta-carotene from Dunaliella salina — produced as high-concentration … | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Microalgal omega-3 (EPA/DHA algal oils) Microalgae-derived EPA and DHA omega-3 oils — from Crypthecodinium, Nannochloropsis and Schizochytrium — produced as vegan nutraceutical and infant-nutrition … | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Ocean alkalinity enhancement Accelerating the ocean's natural carbon sink by adding alkaline minerals to seawater to safely sequester CO2. | CDR & carbon management |
| Photobioreactors (microalgae) Closed engineered systems — flat-panel airlift, tubular and single-use bag reactors — that cultivate microalgae under controlled light and CO2 dosing to produce … | Upstream & bioreactors |
| Plant-based, mycoprotein & seaweed-derived seafood Plant-protein isolates, fermented mycoprotein and seaweed are extruded and 3D-structured into whole-cut and canned seafood substitutes — a route distinct from … | Aquaculture & seafood |
| Seaweed consumer products Roasted nori snacks, seaweed chips, kelp burgers and umami seasonings turning macroalgae into a mainstream better-for-you food category — dominated by China's … | Food & alt-protein |
Opportunities 3
| Grant | Europe-wide environmental benchmarking system of the industrial bioeconomy sectors European Commission | Sep 22, 2027 341 days |
| Grant | Improving biomass flows for a sustainable and circular bioeconomy European Commission | Sep 22, 2027 341 days |
| Grant | Towards a Europe of Bioeconomy Places European Commission | Sep 22, 2027 341 days |