Future Projects

 

We are primarily interested in the following calls, however we would be more than happy to discuss other ideas:

BBI.2017.D2	Integrated multi-valorisation of algae into advanced materials and high added-value additives
BBI.2017.R4	Proteins and other bioactive ingredients from side streams and residues
BBI.2017.R6	Competitive biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable bio-based plastics for a sustainable end-of-life phase
SFS - 20 - [2017]	Towards a science-based regionalisation of the Common Fisheries Policy
SFS - 21 - [2016 - 2017]	Advancing basic biological knowledge and improving management tools for commercially important fish and other seafood species
SFS - 22 - [2017]	Smart fisheries technologies for an efficient, compliant and environmentally friendly fishing sector
SFS - 30 - [2017]	Closing loops at farm and regional levels to mitigate GHG emissions and environmental contamination - focus on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in agro-ecosystems
SFS - 32 - [2017]	Promoting and supporting the eco-intensification of aquaculture production systems: inland (including fresh water), coastal zone, and offshore
SFS - 47 - [2017]	Management of soil water resources in the EU and China and its impact on agro-ecosystem functions
BG - 4 - [2017]	Multi-use of the oceans marine space, offshore and near-shore: Enabling technologies
BG - 6 - [2017]	Interaction between people, oceans and seas: a strategic approach towards healthcare and well-being
BG - 7 - [2017]	Blue green innovation for clean coasts and seas
BG - 8 - [2017]	Innovative sustainable solutions for improving the safety and dietary properties of seafood
BBI1 - 2016 - R09 - [2016]	Exploiting algae and other aquatic biomass for production of molecules for pharma, nutraceuticals, food additives and cosmetic applications
EASME/EMFF/2016/1.2.1.3	Blue Technology - transfer of innovative solutions to sea basin economies

 

If you are interested in the above topics or have ideas for other projects in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries and the aquatic environment, please get in touch with us.

Objective

 

Aquaculture is one of five sectors in the EU's Blue Growth Strategy, aimed at harnessing untapped potential for food production and jobs whilst focusing on environmental sustainability. TAPAS addresses this challenge by supporting member states to establish a coherent and efficient regulatory framework aimed at sustainable growth. TAPAS (Tools for Assessment and Planning of Aquaculture Sustainability Aquaculture ) will use a requirements analysis to evaluate existing regulatory and licensing frameworks across the EU, taking account of the range of production environments and specificities and emerging approaches such as offshore technologies, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, and integration with other sectors.

 

We will propose new, flexible approaches to open methods of coordination, working to unified, common standards. TAPAS will also evaluate existing tools for economic assessment of aquaculture sustainability affecting sectoral growth. TAPAS will critically evaluate the capabilities and verification level of existing ecosystem planning tools and will develop new approaches for evaluation of carrying capacities, environmental impact and future risk. TAPAS will improve existing and develop new models for far- and near-field environmental assessment providing better monitoring, observation, forecasting and early warning technologies.

 

The innovative methodologies and components emerging from TAPAS will be integrated in an Aquaculture Sustainability Toolbox complemented by a decision support system to support the development and implementation of coastal and marine spatial planning enabling less costly, more transparent and more efficient licensing. TAPAS partners will collaborate with key industry regulators and certifiers through case studies to ensure the acceptability and utility of project approach and outcomes. Training, dissemination and outreach activities will specifically target improvement of the image of European aquaculture and uptake of outputs by regulators, while promoting an integrated sustainable strategy for development.

 

Project reference: 678396

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 6 918 512.5

EU contribution: EUR 6 918 512.5

Programme acronym: H2020-EU.3.2.

Subprogramme area: H2020-SFS-2015-2

Website : tapas-h2020.eu

More info: 
 TAPAS Brochure

Open Data Platforms:

 

DownScaling CLImate imPACTs and decarbonisation pathways in EU islands, and enhancing socioeconomic and non-market evaluation of Climate Change for Europe, for 2050 and beyond.

 

Objective

 

The project aims at modelling and assessing downscaled Climate Change impacts and low carbon transition pathways in European islands and archipelagos for 2030-2100, complementing current available projections for Europe, and nourishing actual economic models with non-market assessment. The project will develop a thorough understanding on how Climate Change will impact the EU islands located in different regions (Cyprus and Malta; Baltic Islands, Balearic Islands, Sicilia, Sardinia, Corsica, Crete, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and French West Indies) by:

 

• Contributing to the improvement of the economic valuation of climate impacts and related policies for the EU´s Blue Economy sectors, by adopting revealed and stated preference methods. • Increasing the effectiveness of the economic modelling of climate impact chains, through the implementation of an integrated methodological framework (GINFORS, GEM-E3 and non-market indicators), in the analysis of climate-induced socioeconomic impacts in 11 EU islands case studies, under different climate scenarios. • Facilitating climate-related policy decision making for Blue Growth, by ranking and mapping the more appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies. • Delivering downscaled and accurate information to policy makers, practitioners and other relevant stakeholders, about the environmental and socio-economic consequences of global Climate Change in the EU Blue Economy.

 

By developing a work programme corresponding to the above objectives, SOCLIMPACT aims at allowing decision makers from all Small Island Member States and other EU islands and Outermost Regions to get a sound knowledge about the possible climate induced impact chains and a comprehensive evidence-based framework for research and policy. By using EU islands as living labs with a high replicability potential, SOCLIMPACT will provide stronger methodologies to better measure and asses the associated costs, benefits and risks of global Climate Change in other EU coastal regions.

 

AquaBioTech is the sector lead for the Aquaculture Blue Growth sector and the Island Focal Point for the Maltese Islands.

 

Project reference: 776661

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 4 481 340

EU contribution: EUR 4 481 340

Programme acronym: H2020-EU.3.5.1

Subprogramme area: H2020-SC5-06-2017

Website: soclimpact.org

More info: 
 SOCLIMPACT Brochure

Description:

 

Intelligent Fish feeding through Integration of Enabling technologies and Circular principle (iFishIENCi) is an EU Horizon 2020 project bringing together 16 partners in a transdisciplinary effort towards making genuine improvements to aquaculture management and practices. The overall goal of the iFishIENCi project is to provide new intelligent monitoring and feeding technologies to support ambitious, but sustainable growth for the European aquaculture industry.

 

The Objectives of the iFishIENCi project is to create the following technologies and systems:

• Fish-Talk-To-Me: a product enabling continuous, automated monitoring of fish behaviour, health, physiology and welfare. Fish-Talk-to-Me is a combination of technologies and data processing systems to be integrated with online monitoring systems
• iBOSS: a flexible, open, ‘Biology Online Steering System’ monitoring all aspects of fish and their environment critical for healthy, sustainable farmed fish. It will maximise feed utilization and minimise environmental impacts through smart feeding
• Smart RAS: development of a unique European research, innovation and piloting capacity, based upon Recirculating Aquaculture Systems fully equipped with iBOSS technology
• Waste2Value: a set of streamlined value chain processes for optimal valorisation of waste biomass from different aquaculture production systems

 

Project reference: 818036

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 4 481 340

EU contribution: EUR 4 481 340

Programme acronym: H2020-EU.3.5.1

Website: ifishienci.eu

More info: 
 iFishienci Brochure

Description:

 

The AIRCOAT project promotes a ground-breaking passive air lubrication technology with a high potential to revolutionise the ship-coating sector by reducing energy consumption and ship emissions.

 

The Air Induced friction Reducing ship COATing (AIRCOAT) project aims to develop a passive air lubrication technology inspired by the Salvinia effect. The naturally occurring Salvinia effect allows the Salvinia floating fern to breathe under water by keeping a permanent layer of air. Inspired by this phenomenon, the AIRCOAT project intends to implement this effect on a self-adhesive foil system. It is therefore a prime example of a biomimetic application where technology learns from nature.

 

Applying the AIRCOAT technology to ship-hull surfaces will produce a thin permanent air layer when submerged in water. This will reduce the overall frictional resistance while acting as a physical barrier between water and the hull surface. In addition to reducing energy consumption, the air barrier will inhibit the attachment of marine organisms (biofouling).

 

Objectives of AIRCOAT:

• Reducing biofouling
• Reducing frictional resistance
• Reducing emission of pollutants
• Designing application and production procedures
• Improving public awareness of AIRCOAT technology

 

Project reference: 764553

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 5,901,541.25

EU contribution: EUR 5,299,097.38

Website: aircoat.eu

More info: 
 AirCoat Brochure

Description:

 

The main objective of Biotechnologies for Human Health and Blue Growth (BYTHOS) is the creation of a joint lab space in Sicily and Malta where researchers and experts in biotechnology, business and industry will come together increasing synergic action between academia and enterprise. The lab will provide technologies, tools and expert skills in order to increase investment in innovation and biotechnology research for human health and blue growth.

 

Through the creation of a joint lab in the two areas, the project aims to develop products using bioactive molecule (BAM) extracted from fish waste and use the remaining part to produce eco-innovation fish feed, contributing to achieve a zero waste.

 

Objectives of Bythos:

• Set up a joint lab with 'spaces' in Malta and Sicily where academia and industries can meet to promote integration between research and enterprise.
• Define biotechnology procedures for the production and commercial exploitation of a range of innovative, stakeholder-driven products for human health sourced from fish waste.
• Contribute to generating jobs and business opportunities and increase investment in research and innovation in the economies of Sicily and Malta.
• Minimize the quantity of fish waste from the fishing sector and food service sector zero waste

 

Project reference: C1-1.1-9

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 2,371,592

EU contribution: EUR 1,828,681

Website: bythos.eu

More info: 
 Bythos Brochure

Description:

 

Development of Smart Nanostructured Layers for Sensing Corrosion in Aquatic Structures (SMARTAQUA) aims to develop a sensing nanolayer applied directly on steel structures, to provide cost-effective, reliable means of detecting corrosion degradation. The sensing properties will be achieved by the incorporation of smart additives which are responsive to the local conditions verified close to the metal substrate, combining colorimetric with magnetic detection, thus monitoring the overall integrity of the structure. The additives to be developed are based upon inorganic hosting structures for controlled release of optically active species such as pH indicators and magnetic nanoparticles. Application scenarios for this technology include aquaculture structures, offshore wind foundations, oil and gas structures and ship hulls.

 

Objectives of SmartAqua:

• Develop nanoparticles with magnetic properties.
• Develop a compatible coating matrix for the additives.
• Undergo ecotoxicological and antifouling assessment and field testing of the developed materials.
• Correlate the corrosion degradation of steel substrates with the optical/magnetic signal detected.
• Immobilize the additives in thin layers without risking the sensing ability and integrity of the layer.
• Develop nanostructured additives with ability to release sensing species for colorimetric detection.

 

Project reference: 284002

Status: Execution

Total cost: EUR 738,000

EU contribution: EUR 721,000

Website: sintef.no/projectweb/smartaqua

More info: 
 SmartAqua Brochure