VALUEMAG · Project

Magnetic Algae Technology Cuts Costs of Producing High-Value Food and Cosmetic Ingredients

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Imagine tiny algae that can be grown like crops and harvested like picking up iron filings with a magnet. That's essentially what VALUEMAG built — they injected microscopic magnetic particles into algae cells so they stick to a magnetic surface, grow in thin water layers under sunlight, and get collected instantly without expensive filtering. The harvested algae then go into a mini-factory that extracts valuable ingredients for supplements, food additives, and cosmetics, while recycling the CO2 and water back into the growing system.

By the numbers

EUR 4,789,000

EU funding invested in development

consortium partners across the value chain

countries represented in consortium

SMEs involved in development and validation

71%

industry partner ratio in consortium

demo systems delivered (nanoparticle separation + integrated system)

The business problem

What needed solving

Microalgae contain high-value compounds for food, supplements, and cosmetics — but conventional farming is expensive, water-intensive, and harvesting alone can account for a major share of production costs. Companies sourcing algae-based ingredients face tight margins, unreliable supply, and limited options for scaling up without massive water and energy consumption.

The solution

What was built

The project built a magnetic nanoparticle system that makes algae harvestable by magnetism, a greenhouse-based conical growing surface (SOMAC) that minimizes water use, and an integrated biorefinery that extracts pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetic ingredients using supercritical CO2 while recycling water and CO2 back into the growth cycle. Two demo systems were delivered: a nanoparticle separation unit and a full integrated system.

Audience

Who needs this

Algae-based supplement and nutraceutical producers looking to cut harvesting costsNatural cosmetics companies sourcing sustainable bioactive ingredientsFood additive manufacturers seeking cost-effective natural colorants and antioxidantsBiorefinery operators wanting to add microalgae processing to their portfolioAgricultural technology companies exploring algae as a new crop platform

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements

SME

Target: Producers of algae-based omega-3, astaxanthin, or spirulina supplements

If you are a supplement manufacturer struggling with high raw material costs from conventional algae farming — this project developed a magnetic cultivation system that minimizes water use and makes harvesting fast and inexpensive. The integrated biorefinery extracts natural products using supercritical CO2, avoiding chemical solvents. With 10 SME partners across 10 countries already involved, the technology was designed with industrial scale-up in mind.

Natural Cosmetics & Personal Care

mid-size

Target: Cosmetics companies sourcing natural bioactive ingredients from microalgae

If you are a cosmetics company looking for sustainably sourced natural ingredients — VALUEMAG built a selective magnetic separation method for precise extraction of value-added compounds from microalgae biomass. The system recycles CO2 and water, lowering your environmental footprint. The project consortium included 10 industry partners who validated the approach for cosmetic-grade ingredient production.

Food Ingredients & Additives

any

Target: Food additive manufacturers seeking plant-based colorants, antioxidants, or proteins from algae

If you are a food ingredients company facing rising demand for natural additives but struggling with algae production costs — this project created an integrated system where magnetic algae grow on a conical surface under greenhouse conditions, dramatically cutting water consumption and contamination risk. The biorefinery processes biomass into food-grade molecules, and the EUR 4,789,000 project delivered a complete demo system validated by 14 partners.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology actually cost compared to conventional algae farming?

The project objective states that its innovations 'dramatically lower costs of biomass production' by minimizing water use and making harvesting fast and inexpensive. However, no specific cost reduction percentages or per-kilogram prices are published in the available data. You would need to contact the consortium for detailed cost benchmarks.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

VALUEMAG delivered two demo systems: a 'System for uptake and separation of magnetic nanoparticles' and an 'Integrated system.' The project explicitly aimed at scaling up biomass transformation systems for integrated bio-refineries. With 10 industry partners and 10 SMEs in the consortium, the technology was designed with industrial adoption in mind, though full commercial-scale deployment would require further investment.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

The project was funded under BBI-RIA (Bio-Based Industries Research and Innovation Action) with EUR 4,789,000 in EU contribution across 14 partners in 10 countries. IP ownership typically follows EU grant rules where each partner owns the results they generate. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the relevant consortium members, coordinated through the lead partner in Greece.

Is this technology compliant with food and cosmetics regulations?

The project targeted pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food additive, and cosmetic applications. The use of supercritical CO2 extraction is an established food-grade method. However, the magnetic nanoparticle component would require regulatory clearance — the consortium developed a dedicated 'System for uptake and separation of magnetic nanoparticles' to address nanoparticle removal from final products.

How long before this could be deployed in my facility?

The project ran from 2017 to 2020 and is now closed. Demo-level systems were built and tested. Based on available project data, moving from the demonstrated integrated system to a commercial installation in your facility would likely require an engineering adaptation phase. The 10 industry partners in the consortium could potentially support technology transfer.

Can the system integrate with my existing algae production or extraction setup?

VALUEMAG designed a complete chain from cultivation through biorefinery, but individual components — such as the magnetic harvesting or the supercritical CO2 extraction — could potentially be integrated into existing setups. The modular nature of the demo deliverables suggests component-level adoption is feasible. Consult with the consortium partners for integration specifications.

Consortium

Who built it

VALUEMAG assembled a heavily industry-weighted consortium: 10 out of 14 partners (71%) are from industry, and 10 are SMEs — signaling strong commercial intent rather than a purely academic exercise. The consortium spans 10 countries (AT, BE, CY, EL, ES, FR, IT, NL, SK, UK), giving it broad European market access. With only 2 universities and 2 research organizations supporting 10 industry players, this project was designed to move technology toward market, not just publish papers. The Greek technical university (NTUA) leads coordination, bringing engineering depth while the SME-heavy consortium ensures real-world validation and commercial pathways.

ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNIONCoordinator · EL
EPARELLA GMBHparticipant · AT
PNO CONSULTANTSthirdparty · FR
AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILEparticipant · IT
EXERGY LTDparticipant · UK
VERTECH GROUPparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELLA CAMPANIA LUIGI VANVITELLIparticipant · IT
FYZIKALNY USTAV SLOVENSKEJ AKADEMIE VIEDparticipant · SK
PNO INNOVATIONparticipant · BE
PNO INNOVATIEADVIES BVthirdparty · NL
IRIS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITADAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Coordinated by National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. Contact through SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction to the right technical lead.

Order a report on this consortium See ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the magnetic algae cultivation system or the biorefinery extraction methods? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the consortium partners best suited to your needs — from ingredient supply to technology transfer.

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