Published on 30 May 2025
About European Maritime Day (EMD)
European Maritime Day 2025 (EMD) was the annual flagship event where Europe’s maritime community came together to network, discuss key topics, and drive joint action on maritime affairs and the regenerative blue economy. Held over three days, from 21 to 23 May in Cork, Ireland, it brought together businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs, academia, and engaged EU citizens – all working toward ocean-focused solutions and opportunities.
EU4Algae in Action: Greening Europe One Algae at a Time
As one of the featured exhibitors, EU4Algae proudly showcased its groundbreaking work in algae innovation, sustainability, and awareness. Visitors explored algae up close through a diverse range of products and samples, while our team was on hand to answer questions and share insights.
Featured products included sardine-shaped chocolates infused with algae (Equador/Alga+), seaweed-based tampons (Vyld), canned Tu-nah and Sal-nom made from algae (BettaF!sh), spirulina face masks (Aitana Espirulina), and algae crackers (Nordic SeaFarm).
The stand also featured Xulia Pisón’s engaging comic books, the EU4Algae Booklet, the EU4Algae Interactive Platform, and a preview of the upcoming EU4Algae Consumer Infographic — stay tuned for its release!
Throughout the event, the stand attracted a steady flow of interested visitors, fostering meaningful conversations and connections around the future of algae in Europe.
Driving Algae Innovation: Key Takeaways from the EU4Algae Workshop
On 23 May, EU4Algae hosted a dynamic workshop titled “Driving Innovation in the Blue Bioeconomy: Algae”, moderated by Adrien Vincent from EU4Algae’s Advisory Board. The session began with welcoming remarks from Maris Stulgis, Policy Officer for Blue Bioeconomy, Algae, and Aquaculture at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), an overview of the EU4Algae project and its support to the EU Algae Initiative by Laura Maragna, EU4Algae Project Manager at EurA AG, and an in-depth analysis of the Commission's financial support to the sector by Luca Marangoni, Deputy Head of Unit at CINEA for Sustainable Blue Economy, who set the stage by emphasizing the importance of collaborative innovation to accelerate Europe’s blue bioeconomy.
The workshop featured presentations from EU-funded algae projects and companies aligned with the EU Algae Initiative’s strategic pillars:
- Awareness, represented by Mariana Cerca, Project Researcher at Trinity College Dublin, consortium lead of the C-FAARER project, which focuses on supporting marine innovators, entrepreneurs, and community pioneers across the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basins in transitioning toward sustainable, community-driven business models for algae and regenerative ocean farming. The project contributes to the broader EU Algae Initiative by raising awareness of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of algae-based solutions.
- Governance, represented by Silvia Rosatto, Project Manager at s.Pro, a member of the ShapingBio project, aims to better understand the bioeconomy innovation ecosystem by providing a comprehensive mapping and analysis of initiatives, structures, policy instruments, and key gaps across EU macro-regions. It focuses on areas such as policy and governance, applied R&D and technology transfer, cross-sectoral collaboration, and financing.
- Business and Innovation, represented by Maeve Edwards, Project Coordinator at Irishseaweed, part of the I3-4-SEAWEED project, demonstrating the interregional collaboration to scale and commercialise ventures in the seaweed sector. By connecting innovative SMEs, universities, and industry clusters, the project supports a sustainable value chain based on new cultivation techniques and algal biotechnologies. Its investment cases – ranging from food to biofertilisers and cosmetics – demonstrate seaweed’s versatility and potential to drive sustainable growth in Europe’s coastal and maritime regions.
The workshop concluded with an interactive discussion inviting participants to share feedback and insights on policy development, helping shape a more effective and supportive environment for algae initiatives across Europe. The exchange of ideas underscored the value of dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and industry players in driving forward the EU’s algae ambitions.
Additional information
Join the #EU4Algae conversation and keep an eye on the EU4Algae Forum to stay updated on ongoing activities, initiatives, and sector updates.
Got questions? Contact us at: contact
eu4algae [dot] eu (contact[at]eu4algae[dot]eu).