Over the two years, CLIC Innovation has been working on an ambitious bioeconomy project, PROTEUS. Bringing together 11 leading European organizations, the project explores how to enable sustainable extraction and valorization of macroalgae by leveraging advanced processes and technologies. Recognizing new sustainable value chains and building strong business models for new macroalgae products, the project aims to promote blue- and circular economy transition and resource efficiency in Europe. Throughout the project, CLIC focuses on strategy development and business model building for large-scale sustainable innovations.
About PROTEUS – kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS
PROTEUS is an Innovation Action flagship project under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) with a total budget of €9.6 million. Launched in May 2024, the project is now approaching its halfway point. It is coordinated by Alginor ASA and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium comprising Borregaard, Vaessen-Schoemaker, OLMIX, ESSITY, NORSUS Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research, the Institute of Marine Research, Steinbeis Innovation, and Hypomar. The project aims to unlock the full potential of the brown seaweed Laminaria hyperborea through formaldehyde-free harvesting and extraction techniques. By transforming this valuable marine resource into sustainable products for food, animal feed, personal care, and industrial applications, the initiative seeks to establish new value chains while supporting the continued growth of the European Union’s blue economy.
Macroalgae as a bioeconomy driver
Seaweed is a promising biomaterial gaining global attention, with a market growing 5–6% annually. Its valuable properties – including antimicrobial effects, health benefits, gelling, and moisture-binding capacity – make it a strong alternative for many fossil-based materials. While most seaweed production is concentrated in Asia, Europe holds significant untapped potential, with around 60% of the world’s brown macroalgae biomass found in the coast of Norway.
Despite the high potential of macroalgae as a bio-feedstock, only 15% of it is currently utilized, while rest being thrown back into the ocean. Existing harvesting methods also rely heavily on chemical use but harvested with low impact operations would maximize use of this promising bio-resource.
Project objectives
PROTEUS addresses to apply Alginor ASA’s proprietary technology in developing the world’s first fully integrated biorefinery in Norway. This enables formaldehyde-free processing and the utilization of 100% of the macroalgae biomass, with unlocking new sustainable value chains.
The project develops best practices and assesses environmental impacts and commercial strategies for macroalgae-based value chains. It works to strengthen social acceptance through targeted communication efforts to support circular bio-based solution uptake.
Leveraging macroalgae’s full potential, it supports European self-sufficiency in alginate production and offers new business and investment opportunities, as having potential to create new, skilled jobs in the bio-based sector. By promoting sustainable marine resource use, the project helps to achieve the “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030” goals.
CLIC’s role
CLIC’s role in the project is to support the transition from innovation to market uptake, by creating strong business models and exploitation plans. While markets for alginates are already well established and widely recognized, there is a need to identify and develop markets for side streams such as kelp powders, fucoidans, cellulose, and kelp fibers and extracts.
PROTEUS explores macroalgae’s use possibilities in the fields of food, feed, personal care and industrial applications. Based on research produced by project partners, CLIC explores and analyzes different market opportunities to identify the most promising ones.
Through this analysis, CLIC will develop commercialization strategy and potential business cases.
Impact and added value
Bringing together opportunities to work with new collaborations and businesses across different sectors, the project has given us early access to emerging bio-based solutions and value chains. From this, CLIC has gained valuable insight in scaling innovations from industrial to market level, by identifying viable market segments for totally new bio-based products.
CLIC’s role further amplifies this impact by ensuring that innovation is translated into practical, investable opportunities. By facilitating stakeholder engagement, analyzing market pathways, and supporting exploitation planning, CLIC helps partners move from early-stage results towards scalable business cases and measurable outcomes.
A central contribution lies in transforming emerging bio-based solutions into viable business opportunities. By identifying promising market segments and aligning innovation with real market needs, PROTEUS accelerates the transition from research to commercialization.
Bringing together opportunities to work with new collaborations and businesses across different sectors, the project has given CLIC early access to emerging bio-based solutions and value chains.
Join us as we continue pioneering the future of Europe’s bio- and blue economies.
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