GREENSEA SAS

Their core work

GREENSEA SAS is a French SME specialising in the cultivation and processing of spirulina (Arthrospira sp.) with a focus on extracting high-value pigments, particularly phycocyanin, a blue protein-pigment used in food, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. Their core industrial competence lies in optimising the full spirulina value chain — from biomass production through extraction to co-valorisation of by-products within a biorefinery framework. They bring hands-on production and process knowledge to research consortia, serving as the industry bridge between academic algae science and commercial manufacturing. Their involvement in EU-funded projects reflects an ambition to upgrade extraction efficiency and establish spirulina processing as a scalable, sustainable bioeconomy activity.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

GREENSEA's earliest H2020 involvement (SINGEK, 2016) carried no recorded keywords on their side, suggesting they participated as a material or cultivation provider rather than as a research driver — a supporting role in fundamental science. By 2018, with SpiralG, their profile sharpened dramatically around phycocyanin, spirulina biorefinery, and co-valorisation, signalling a transition from generic algae supplier to a company actively shaping industrial processing methodology. The trend is clear: they are moving up the value chain, from growing biomass to owning the extraction and valorisation process.

GREENSEA is positioning itself as an industrial process innovator in high-value algae ingredients, making them a relevant partner for any consortium targeting natural pigments, functional food ingredients, or sustainable biorefinery scale-up.

How they like to work

GREENSEA has never coordinated an H2020 project, consistently joining as a participant or partner — a pattern typical of industry SMEs that contribute practical production and process knowledge rather than project management capacity. Their two projects span different consortia, suggesting they seek collaborations based on topic fit rather than recurring partnerships with the same academic groups. With 18 unique partners across 8 countries from only 2 projects, they operate within mid-to-large consortia and bring industrial grounding to predominantly research-led projects.

Despite only two projects, GREENSEA has built a network of 18 unique partners spanning 8 countries, indicating they are placed in well-connected European consortia. Their geographic reach suggests active engagement with the broader EU research community rather than a purely domestic French network.

What sets them apart

GREENSEA occupies a rare position as an industrial SME with direct spirulina production capability that also engages in R&D — most European algae companies either grow biomass or do research, not both. Their focus on phycocyanin co-valorisation within a biorefinery model means they understand both the upstream (cultivation) and downstream (extraction, product streams) sides of the process, which is exactly what consortia need when trying to move from lab results to commercial viability. For any project targeting natural food colourants, algae-based nutraceuticals, or sustainable ingredient sourcing, they offer an industry validation partner that is hard to find.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SpiralG
  The flagship project for GREENSEA — a EUR 1.1M Innovation Action targeting the full phycocyanin value chain from spirulina sourcing through extraction to co-valorisation, representing their most substantive R&D investment and clearest statement of industrial purpose.
• SINGEK
  An early and unexpected foray into single-cell genomics of microeukaryotes, revealing biological expertise that extends beyond spirulina and suggesting GREENSEA can contribute to fundamental algae science consortia, not just applied food processing ones.