Research and innovation project
INNOVALG
Innovative microalgae ingredients for the food and nutraceutical industries
A collaborative research and innovation project led by PhycoFerm, developing high-protein Chlorella vulgaris and astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis through strain improvement, AI-driven fermentation and circular bioeconomy practices.
Programme
COMPETE 2030
Type
Research and human resources
Duration
2025 to 2028
Total budget
€634,000
About the project
Taking two proprietary strains from laboratory proof to pilot validation
INNOVALG exists to close the gap between a strain that performs in a flask and a process that holds at pilot volume. The project runs strain improvement and fermentation development in parallel, so the biology and the process are optimised against each other rather than in sequence.
Three technical threads run through it: transforming agro-industrial by-products into algal growth media, improving strain productivity and target compound content, and using AI-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to monitor cultures non-invasively while they run. Environmental and techno-economic assessment runs alongside, so a route is judged on cost and footprint as well as on titre.
PhycoFerm is the lead partner and carries the strain and bioprocess work. The academic partners bring monitoring, analytics and side stream expertise.
At a glance
Grant funding (COMPETE)
€487,000
Own contribution
€147,000
Total project budget
€634,000
Target maturity
TRL 4 to TRL 7
Expected outcomes
What the project delivers
- Laboratory-to-pilot research across TRL 4 to 7
- Process validation and techno-economic assessment
- Pilot validation of proprietary bioprocesses
- AI-enhanced non-invasive culture monitoring
- Growth media built from agro-industrial by-products
- A working research and industry partnership
Project partners
- PhycoFerm (lead)
- University of Porto
- University of the Azores
- IST-ID, Lisbon
The INNOVALG concept: agro-industrial by-products into growth media, strain and growth optimisation, AI-enhanced Raman monitoring, scale-up from TRL 3 to TRL 7, environmental and techno-economic assessment, and brand development with nutritional claims.
Funding
How the project is financed
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grant funding, COMPETE | €487,000 |
| PhycoFerm own contribution | €147,000 |
| Total project budget | €634,000 |
INNOVALG is co-financed by COMPETE 2030 under Portugal 2030 and the European Union. The content of this page reflects the views of the beneficiary only.
