GREEN-MEM

Pioneering Membrane Solutions for a Sustainable Future

GREEN-MEM is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges project that brings together leading academic institutions and industrial partners to develop the next generation of sustainable membrane technologies. The project focuses on designing fully bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable membranes using renewable materials, green chemistry, machine learning, and life cycle assessment to replace conventional fossil-based polymers and hazardous solvents.

Objectives

• Develop innovative bio-based and biodegradable membrane materials.
• Integrate machine learning to optimize membrane design and manufacturing.
• Replace hazardous solvents with environmentally friendly alternatives.
• Improve membrane performance for water treatment and advanced filtration.
• Apply circular economy principles through reuse, recycling, and end-of-life strategies.
• Perform Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) to minimize environmental impacts.
• Promote international knowledge exchange through MSCA Staff Exchanges.
• Strengthen Europe's leadership in sustainable membrane technologies.

SITES Role

Sustainable Innovation Technology Services (SITES) contributes its expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), circular economy, sustainability assessment, communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement.

Within GREEN-MEM, SITES supports the environmental assessment of membrane technologies across their entire lifecycle, contributes to circularity and end-of-life evaluation, and helps maximize the project's visibility, knowledge transfer, and long-term impact through effective communication and dissemination activities.

Consortium

GREEN-MEM brings together 11 organisations from Türkiye, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Latvia, Ireland, and Malaysia, combining complementary expertise in materials science, membrane engineering, machine learning, sustainability assessment, and industrial innovation.

Project Information

• Programme: Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges
• Project Acronym: GREEN-MEM
• Project Title: Pioneering Membrane Solutions for a Sustainable Future
• Grant Agreement: 101299479
• Project Duration: 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2030 (48 months)

Funding

Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges.

Acknowledgement

GREEN-MEM has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges, Grant Agreement No. 101299479.

SEAlgaePower – Transforming Aquaculture Waste into Sustainable Microalgae Solutions

SEAlgaePower is an EU-funded research and innovation project that converts nutrient-rich wastewater from aquaculture and seafood processing into valuable microalgae-based ingredients. By cultivating carefully selected marine microalgae directly in these waste streams, the project simultaneously cleans the water and produces high-quality biomass rich in proteins, omega-3 oils, pigments, and polysaccharides.

Through laboratory screening, pilot-scale cultivation, and advanced biorefinery methods, SEAlgaePower develops sustainable ingredients and prototypes for:

• Food & functional ingredients

• Aquaculture feed rich in omega-3

• Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical extracts

• MedTech materials for wound care & regenerative medicine

• Bio-based fertilizers

Comprehensive environmental, social, and economic assessments ensure every solution is sustainable, circular, and suitable for real-world adoption.

SITES leads project communication, stakeholder engagement, socio-economic evaluation, value-chain circularity assessment, and exploitation strategy—supporting visibility, impact, and long-term application of SEAlgaePower outcomes.

Start date: 31 August 2025

Duration: 3 years

Total budget: €3,008,028

project website: https://www.sealgaepower.eu/  

SARGEX 

SARGEX (Sargassum Bioeconomy) is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges project designed to transform one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—massive Sargassum seaweed blooms—into a long-term opportunity for sustainable development, renewable energy, and circular bio-economy innovation.

Rising sea temperatures, shifting ocean currents, and nutrient loading have intensified Sargassum proliferation, creating ecological, economic, and social threats to coastal regions worldwide. SARGEX responds to this emerging crisis by developing scalable, eco-friendly, and zero-waste valorisation pathways that convert Sargassum biomass into high-value bioinputs, functional materials, and renewable energy solutions.

Project Objectives

Technological & Research Objectives

• O1: Develop sustainable Sargassum collection and processing protocols with >95% efficiency.

• O2: Create innovative agricultural bioinputs (biostimulants, biofertilizers) enriched with Sargassum-derived nutrients, natural zeolites, and encapsulated microorganisms, achieving a 20% productivity increase in field trials.

• O3: Design and build a modular pilot plant with an integrated biodigester (250 L capacity) producing bioinputs and biogas.

• O4: Validate cost-effectiveness, scalability, and reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions by 15%.

• O5: Advance technologies to TRL 6, preparing them for commercial evaluation.

MSCA Staff Exchange Objectives

• O6–O12: Strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance innovation transfer, train staff, deliver workshops, engage civil society, and disseminate results to over 1,000 stakeholders.

Project Description

SARGEX addresses the growing global challenge of Sargassum “golden tides,” which threaten biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal health. By building on advanced extraction, bioprocessing, and valorisation methods, the project transforms this invasive biomass into:

• Agricultural bioinputs (biostimulants, biofertilizers)

• Encapsulated microbial formulations

• Bioactive compounds for functional applications

• Biogas through anaerobic digestion

• Sustainable materials for broader use

The project adopts a zero-waste circular economy model, integrating modular pilot plants, biodigesters, and sustainable harvesting techniques. Multi-omics, advanced analytics, and cross-sector R&I support the development of new materials and agricultural solutions while ensuring environmental safety and economic scalability.

Consortium Partners

Academic & Research Partners

• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) – Coordinator

• Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA)

• University of Antwerp (UANTWERP)

• ICIMAR – Instituto de Ciencias Marinas

• EEPFIH – Escuela Experimental de Producción de Flora y Fauna

Industry & Innovation Partners

• SITES (Sustainable Innovation Technology Services Ltd)

• AERIS Tecnologías Ambientales

• BET – Blue Economy Technologies

• FUH – Fundación Universitaria Hispanoamericana

Together, they bring expertise in marine ecology, biotechnology, process engineering, bioenergy, agricultural sciences, innovation management, and communication.

Project Budget and Duration

• Programme: Horizon Europe – MSCA Staff Exchanges

• Proposal ID: 101236659

• Duration: 48 months

• Start: January 2026

• End: December 2029

  SITES Role in SARGEX

  SITES holds a central role in the project across innovation, exploitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

  Key Responsibilities

  • Lead WP4 – Exploitation of Products and Processes

    • Identify end-users and market segments.

    • Conduct socio-economic assessment and cost-benefit analyses.

    • Build commercialization strategies for bioinputs and pilot plant technologies.

    • Support SMEs in adopting new technologies.

  • Lead WP5 – Dissemination, Communication & Networking

    • Develop and manage the project’s full communication and dissemination plan.

    • Engage policymakers, industry, civil society, and academic audiences.

    • Organize international workshops, outreach events, and multi-actor dialogue.

    • Coordinate branding, visual identity, and stakeholder visibility.

  • Participate in Staff Exchanges

    • Contribute expertise in circular economy, innovation management, and policy.

    • Train secondees in communication, knowledge transfer, and exploitation.

  SITES is the innovation bridge in SARGEX—ensuring that scientific results evolve into market-ready, socially-accepted, and sustainable solutions.

  Impact

  SARGEX contributes directly to EU priorities such as:

  • The European Green Deal

  • The Circular Economy Action Plan

  • The EU Bioeconomy Strategy

  • The EU Algae Initiative

  • The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030

  Through innovative Sargassum valorisation, the project is expected to:

  • Reduce coastal clean-up costs by up to €300M annually.

  • Produce 20 m³ of biogas per ton of biomass.

  • Create sustainable opportunities for SMEs and coastal communities.

  • Advance Europe’s position as a global leader in marine biomass innovation.

    project News

  • SARGEX Kick-off Meeting