The Foundation for Science and Technology has named GreenCoLab as a 'Collaborative Laboratory' to spearhead exciting developments with algae.
The new research lab was proposed by the Center for Marine Sciences at the Algarve University to promote marine biotechnology and delve into the mysteries of algae and how it can help mankind in so many ways.
GreenCoLab is bringing two research units and four companies into the new structure, this is a first for the developing algae biotechnology sector in Portugal.
The project aims to promote "economic growth and innovation in this sector that has high potential" and will focus on ramping up production of a range of algae-based products.
GreenCoLab has the National Laboratory of Energy and Geology as a partner alongside four Portuguese companies that have a sound track record in algae biotechnology, Allmicroalgae, Necton, Algaplus and Sparos - a spin-off from the University.
Within the new structure, these partners can work strategically in an integrated way to develop new technologies, products and services.
"GreenCoLab will in the short term optimise the current industrial production of algae-based compounds for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and animal feed to ensure that these products respond to market needs," commented Adelino Canário, director of CCMAR.
"In the long term," he continued, "we expect GreenCoLab to diversify the range of industrial products that can be extracted from algae, to include bio-fertilizers used to recover soils and algae-products for carbon sequestration or waste water treatment."
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The Foundation for Science and Technology, FCT, is an organisation within the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in Portugal which evaluates and funds scientific research activities, in particular in the areas of natural sciences, exact sciences, social sciences and humanities.
The Centre of Marine Sciences – CCMAR - is one of the foremost marine science research centres in Portugal, gathering experts in the fields of marine biology, ecology, oceanography, environmental sciences, biotechnology, fisheries and aquaculture.
Located in the South of Portugal, CCMAR is an independent non-profit research organisation within the University of the Algarve. Dedicated to R&D in marine sciences, CCMAR aims to promote multidisciplinary research and education related with the marine environment, with emphasis on the processes of environmental change that affect marine ecosystems. With a multidisciplinary team of about 250 scientific researchers, well-equipped marine facilities and laboratories and facilitated access to important marine and coastal ecosystems, CCMAR develops activities that fall into five different core areas: Research, Training, Business, Society and Cooperation.
GreenCoLAB is a collaborative platform between research and industry, whose research and innovation agenda is based on the exploration of microalgae as an essential component for the food, feed, nutraceutical, bioenergy, wastewater and cosmetic industries.
The National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG) is an R&D institution oriented to meet the needs of society and business ad aims at a sustainable research in a sustainability frame through the generation of knowledge of our land.
