MULTIPLY

Multiplying feasible microalgae-derived products at scale

Project details

Type of project
Innovation Action - Demonstration
Project focus
Food, feed & cosmetics
Feedstock origin
Aquatic
Feedstock type
Micro/macro algae
Project period
1 June 2025 - 31 May 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 7 450 981,75
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

The global algae market represents a promising opportunity to replace less sustainable biomass in existing bio-based value chains, combining high growth rates with a significant potential for CO2 reduction. However, European producers face challenges in competing with Asian production, which benefits from lower costs and less pressure to mitigate environmental impact.

MULTIPLY aims to tackle these challenges by demonstrating economically feasible and environmentally sustainable microalgae cultivation and biorefinery processes. The project will provide valuable algae ingredients suitable for formulating mid-priced products across the food, feed, biomaterials, cosmetics, and lubricants industries.

The project will help increase the number of industrial microalgae producers, as well as implement sustainable processes, and raise awareness and understanding of the factors influencing the social acceptance of algae products.

  • Demonstrate that microalgae cultivation and biorefinery processes can be economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
  • Develop sustainable methods for upcycling nutrients from urban wastewater, reducing costs and environmental impact for microalgae growth.
  • Enhance microalgae cultivation efficiency by increasing productivity, ensuring economic viability of mid-priced products.
  • Improve harvesting methods and implement water recycling systems to minimise downtime and enable the reuse of over 50% of process water in biorefinery processes.
  • Create efficient extraction processes to boost the yield and purity of key compounds, such as phycocyanin, starch, and oils.
  • Scale up the production of 10 new microalgae-based products, including colorants, bioplastic, sustainable packaging, coatings, cosmetics, and fish feed.
  • Promote the environmental and economic sustainability of algae-based products, fostering social acceptance and market adoption.
  • Collaborate with other EU-funded projects and initiatives to amplify the impact of algae-based innovations.
  • Disseminate knowledge through publications, workshops, and events, engaging over 5,000 stakeholders, and securing patents for novel technologies. 

  • Accelerate market access to algae-based ingredients and increase microalgae biomass availability in Europe.
  • Increase the number of industrial microalgae producers implementing sustainable processes.
  • Generate job opportunities in the European microalgae industry, along with its suppliers and clients.
  • Raise awareness and understanding of the factors that influence the social acceptance of algae products.
  • Improve microalgae biomass exploitation from 25% to 95%, boosting profitability in value chains.  
  • Enhance the environmental performance of five existing products through the use of sustainable algae feedstocks.
  • Drive market adoption of 10 mid-price-range algae-based products, enabling new business models and creating jobs in the microalgae industry.
  • Strengthen European scientific capabilities and ensure a 90% extraction yield at demonstration scale, significantly improving purity and efficiency. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • A4F ALGA FUEL SA LISBOA, Portugal

Consortium

  • FUNDACION CENTRO GALLEGO DE INVESTIGACIONES DEL AGUA SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain
  • GRA NUTRA PORTUGAL SA COIMBRA, Portugal
  • NOVAMONT SPA Novara, Italy
  • ALGIECEL APS Copenhagen, Denmark
  • FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Munchen, Germany
  • AIMPLAS - ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXAS PATERNA VALENCIA, Spain
  • NOFIMA AS Tromso, Norway
  • SWEDISH ALGAE FACTORY AB GOTEBORG, Sweden
  • LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg
  • UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA Lisboa, Portugal
  • OLEON NV Ertvelde, Belgium
  • GREEN AQUA POVOA S.A. POVOA DE SANTA IRIA, Portugal
  • EDONIA BORDEAUX, France
  • AALBORG UNIVERSITET Aalborg, Denmark
  • INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL E TECNOLOGICA Oeiras, Portugal
  • SUBMARINER NETWORK FOR BLUE GROWTH EWIV Berlin, Germany