· Online event on sustainable innovation and blue economy solutions as part of EU Green Week 2026.
· The webinar combines scientific knowledge with real-world applications, bringing together experts from EU projects, research, and industry.
Brussels / Vigo, 4 June 2026 — The SMACC+ project, led by the Universidade de Vigo, will organise an online webinar titled “SMACC+: Unlocking the Potential of Microalgae for the Blue Economy” on 8 June 2026, from 11:30 to 13:15 (CEST). The event will take place online and is open free of charge to researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and professionals interested in sustainability and marine innovation.
The initiative is part of EU Green Week, the European Union’s annual flagship event on environmental policy, which brings together public institutions, academia, industry and civil society to promote solutions for sustainability and climate action. Within this framework, the SMACC+ project contributes by addressing the role of microalgae as a sustainable resource capable of supporting the green and blue transition across Europe.
SMACC+ focuses on unlocking the potential of microalgae within the blue economy, promoting research, innovation and collaboration to develop new applications in sectors such as health, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and environmental sustainability. The project aims to respond to the growing need for sustainable bio-based solutions and circular approaches that reduce environmental impact while creating economic opportunities.
A programme connecting science, innovation and market applications
The webinar combines scientific knowledge with real-world applications. During the first part of the session, participants will be introduced to current European environmental priorities and the role of nature-based and bio-based solutions in addressing sustainability challenges.
The programme will then explore the scientific foundations of microalgae, including cultivation methods, bioactive compounds, and their applications in health, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. The webinar will also address how this research is being translated into practical applications across different industries, highlighting the potential of microalgae within the circular bioeconomy.
The final part of the session will focus on collaboration and scaling impact. A roundtable discussion will bring together experts from research centres, industry and European projects to explore funding opportunities, project synergies and the main challenges for advancing the blue economy.
A collaborative approach to advancing the blue economy
The webinar, organised within the SMACC+ project and led by the Universidade de Vigo, brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts from academia, industry and innovation ecosystems. Speakers will include Rocío Armada Gallego, Project Officer at Finnova Foundation, who will present the SMACC+ project and moderate the session; Laura Maragna, EU4Algae Project Manager at EurA AG, who will address EU policy priorities and opportunities for scaling the European algae sector; Dr. Lourdes Mourelle, researcher at the Universidade de Vigo, who will explore the scientific foundations and applications of microalgae; Rafaella Rivera, European Project Officer at Cosmetic Valley, Saeed Alsamhi, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Galway, and Adrián Noheda, EU Project Manager at Finnova Foundation, who will discuss the transition from research to market, circular bioeconomy approaches and EU funding opportunities; and Luis M. Botana, Full Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela (REVALGAE), Aida Ovejero Campos, Fisheries Product Technology Specialist at CETMAR, and María José Chapela, Head of R&D and Innovation Business Development (OTC) at ANFACO-CYTMA, who will address the potential of the blue bioeconomy, collaboration synergies and future challenges for the sector.
The event follows a collaborative and knowledge-sharing approach, fostering dialogue between stakeholders and promoting the exchange of ideas to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions based on marine resources.
Participation is free of charge, and registration is available through the official event platform.
Supporting Europe’s transition through sustainable marine innovation
This initiative reflects the commitment of the SMACC+ project to contribute to Europe’s environmental and economic objectives by promoting innovative, sustainable solutions within the blue economy. Through research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer, the project supports the development of new value chains based on microalgae and reinforces the role of marine biotechnology in the green transition.
About SMACC+
Interreg Atlantic project SMACC+ focuses on valorising microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass to obtain high added-value bioactive compounds for cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals, promoting sustainability and a resilient and circular blue bioeconomy. Co-funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme of the European Union, the project has a total budget of 2.803.068,07€.
SMACC+ consortium is made up of 9 core partners: the Universidad de Vigo (project coordinator), La Rochelle Université, University College Dublin, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, A4F-Algae for Future, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, University of Galway, Alga Biologics and Finnova Foundation. The project also has several associated partners: AQUALGAE, Cantabria Labs, Cosmetic Valley, Xunta de Galicia and Consejo Insular de la Energía de Gran Canaria.
Visit SMACC+ official website for more information: https://smaccplus.eu
