Research and innovation project
FERMTECH
Regenerative fermentation technology for sustainable microalgae ingredients
A strategic investment project building the laboratory and pilot infrastructure that lets PhycoFerm take a microalgae fermentation process from bench scale to industrial validation in-house.
Programme
Portugal 2030
Fund
FEDER
Duration
2026 to 2028
Total budget
€738,000
About the project
Building the capability that every other route depends on
A strain and a process are only worth as much as the equipment available to prove them. FERMTECH funds the step change in our own infrastructure: laboratory and office facilities, bioprocessing equipment, and pilot-scale capability under our own roof.
The practical effect is control. Development work that previously had to be scheduled around partner facilities can run continuously, more routes can progress in parallel, and a process can be carried to TRL 6 without leaving the building. It also shortens the loop between a result and the decision that follows it.
The project is aligned with the regional bioeconomy agenda, valorising agro-industrial by-products from the Algarve and southern Portugal as fermentation feedstock rather than treating them as waste.
At a glance
Grant funding (FEDER)
€554,000
Own contribution
€185,000
Total project budget
€738,000
Target maturity
TRL 6
Expected outcomes
What the project delivers
- Laboratory and office facilities established
- Bioprocessing equipment acquired and commissioned
- Pilot-scale infrastructure developed
- In-house process development and scale-up capability
- Readiness for industrial validation and commercialisation
- Regional agro-industrial by-products valorised as feedstock
Funding
How the project is financed
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grant funding, FEDER | €554,000 |
| PhycoFerm own contribution | €185,000 |
| Total project budget | €738,000 |
FERMTECH is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under Portugal 2030 and the European Union. The content of this page reflects the views of the beneficiary only.
