From Seaweed to Solutions: BEAP-MAR Partners Explore Marine Innovation in Saint-Malo

WestBIC is an Enterprise Ireland partner providing hands-on startup support, funding readiness and investment preparation for early-stage founders in the west of Ireland.

As Communications Leader for the BEAP-MAR project, WestBIC was delighted to join project partners for the second in-person consortium meeting of the year in the stunning coastal city of Saint-Malo, France.

The BEAP-MAR project brings together eight partners from six Atlantic regions to address key challenges in the Blue Bioeconomy. The focus is on exploring the untapped potential of marine organisms — such as new algal strains, marine fungi, and sponges — and valorising these resources to develop innovative bioactive compounds and products for a range of industries.

The meeting, hosted by project partner Anses, spanned two days of engaging discussion, research sharing, and strategic planning.
Day one included a formal board meeting where partners presented the latest research and testing results. These sessions highlighted exciting opportunities in marine biotechnology and reinforced the importance of transnational collaboration in unlocking sustainable innovation from the sea.

A standout moment of the visit was a guided tour of Natural Plant Protection Ltd (NPPL), including the Goemar facility. Partners saw firsthand the full process of transforming seaweed into high-value concentrated products and explored research facilities ranging from growth rooms to greenhouses and laboratories. The visit offered a tangible look at how marine resources can be harnessed for commercial and environmental benefit.

Day two focused entirely on the Pill-3 Workshop, with insights into marine-based product development, genome mapping, patenting, and presentations from sister projects including Hub4Food, STARSKI, and ATLASea.

The Saint-Malo meeting energised the consortium as we move into the next project phase, with renewed focus on key deliverables and collaboration across regions.

A sincere thank you to the team at Anses for their warm welcome and excellent organisation.

To learn more about BEAP-MAR or to get involved, visit: www.beap-mar.eu