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

EQUAL ARTS

A New Erasmus+ Project Takes Center Stage to Promote Gender Equality in Performing Arts Across Europe Through Research, Collaboration, And Innovation.

Project Name: Equal Arts project

Project Call: Call 2024 Round 1 KA2 - KA210-VET - Small-scale partnerships in vocational education and training (KA210-VET)

Project ID: 2023-1-IT01-KA220-ADU-000159913

Start date: 1st October 2024

End date: 30th September 2026

We are proud to announce the start of the Equal Arts project, a forward-thinking Erasmus+ initiative addressing gender inequality in the performing arts. The project officially began on 1 October 2024 and will run for 24 months, bringing together a diverse consortium of European partners to foster gender balance, empower women, and raise awareness across the cultural and creative sectors.

Background and Objectives 

The Equal Arts project (Project ID: 2023-1-IT01-KA220-ADU-000159913) was born out of the pressing need to tackle gender-based disparities in the performing arts sector—particularly within leadership and decision-making roles. Despite ongoing societal progress, women remain underrepresented in key managerial positions. The project sets out to identify existing gaps, explore good practices, and co-create strategies that promote equal opportunities in artistic environments.

With a focus on adult education, the initiative aims to enhance skills, support inclusive professional development, and contribute to the cultural sector's transformation. Planned activities include research, interactive toolkits, digital resources, stakeholder training, and public engagement through artistic performances and awareness campaigns.

Partnership and Collaboration 

The project is coordinated by InDance (Italy), and brings together a strong network of partners from across Europe:

• InDance International - Project Coordinator - Applicant/Leading Organisation in charge of the project management and coordination, and referent for the Spanish NA.
• SiTeS - Dissemination Coordinator - Leading Organisation for the Dissemination activities spread across the project, reporting to the Project Coordinator, defining and planning activities and their scheduling.
• Le Voci di Astarte - Quality Assurance Coordinator - Leading Organisation in charge of Quality Assurance activities, the development of guidelines and research of good practices. It will also be responsible for developing the “Equal Arts Digital Portfolio” in the form of a digitized document.

Project Timeline and Activities 

Following the official project start on 1 October 2024, the consortium prepared internal frameworks and coordinated key project documents including the Quality Plan, Management Plan, and Risk Mitigation Strategy.

The Kick-off Meeting, hosted online by InDance on 3 December 2024, laid the groundwork for smooth cooperation. Partners introduced their organisations, reviewed the timeline, and agreed on next steps.

Key milestones to date include:

- 12 December 2024 – First Erasmus+ down payment received to initiate project activities

- 3 January 2025 – Branding and QA Plan (v1.0) completed

- 26 March 2025 – Landing page launched (https://eqa.levocidiastarte.com/), online questionnaire and Quality Plan published

Expected Impact 

The project is expected to produce a transformative effect across the European performing arts sector. It will benefit adult educators, cultural professionals, and civil society organisations by providing tools to address gender imbalances and promote inclusive leadership models.

Through knowledge sharing, training, and artistic engagement, Equal Arts will contribute to a more equitable and innovative cultural landscape—building momentum for long-term systemic change.

"The performing arts have long been a sector marked by significant issues related to the gender gap, particularly in managerial roles. The Equal Arts project aims to shed light on this challenge by building on the current context to design pathways toward genuine equality. This project is especially important to SITES, given its alignment with our core objectives." 

– Leonardo Piccinetti, Managing Director, SITES