2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit in Berlin

From October 16 to 17, 2025, the 2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit gathered policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders in Berlin to discuss one central ambition:

How can we move from potential to policy to unlock Europe’s algae future?

Organised by the EU4Algae initiative with the support of the European Commission, the Summit served as a meeting point for all those committed to building a strong and sustainable European algae sector, a sector that can contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives, the bioeconomy strategy, and the blue economy agenda.

1 From vision to action: paving the way for a European algae roadmap

Over two days of exhibitions and discussions, participants at the Summit had the opportunity to attend insightful and inspiring conferences, exploring the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities shaping the algae sector.

It was also a fantastic opportunity to connect with people who, like us, are actively exploring and implementing innovative solutions using algae.The event offered a rich mix of networking, experience sharing, and discovery, bringing together experts and organisations from across Europe.

Beyond the networking opportunities, the conferences were highly strategic and forward-looking, allowing us to take a step back and gain a broader perspective on the evolution of our sector.

The top-ranking actions identified during the Summit included:

• Strengthening the connection between supply and demand, to ensure a better match between producers and industrial end-users;
• Mobilising and creating incentives for investment, particularly to support innovative SMEs and start-ups;
• Scaling and optimising processing capacity, to increase efficiency and product diversity;
• Expanding European production capacity, to meet future market needs and reduce dependency on imports;
• Driving production costs down, to make algae-based solutions more competitive;
• Boosting European demand, through communication, standardisation, and new market opportunities. 

The overall goal is clear: to normalise and industrialise the use of algae in Europe across a wide range of sectors, from cosmetics and textiles to food, feed, and pharmaceuticals. 

2 CIRCALGAE’s presence: contributing to a shared European ambition 

During the event, CIRCALGAE had the opportunity to showcase several product prototypes developed by its partners tangible results of the project’s ongoing work to explore the potential of algae-based innovations. Visitors discovered our first skincare products, including creams and lotions formulated with algae extracts, as well as our very first toothpaste derived from marine ingredients.  

We also presented our algae-based cakes and energy balls (for display only, not for tasting!) and even introduced an algae-infused tea, which is not yet edible but already demonstrates the versatility of these remarkable organisms.  

These prototypes attracted strong interest from both younger visitors and adults, sparking curiosity and conversations around the nutritional, functional, and sustainable value that micro- and macroalgae can offer. 

For CIRCALGAE, it was a moment of pride to present the work achieved by our partners, but also an invaluable opportunity to collect feedback from a diverse audience. 

Beyond our own showcase, the event was also an inspiring discovery journey with exhibitors presenting innovative algae-based products such as syrups, clothing, food supplements, and even natural paints.  

All these examples reminded us of the vast potential of algae valorisation, opening new perspectives, and reaffirming the limitless possibilities offered by these fascinating marine resources. 

3 Towards a shared European roadmap 

The insights collected during the Summit will contribute to the upcoming EU Algae Roadmap, currently being developed by the EU4Algae consortium. This roadmap will serve as a strategic framework to guide future actions, policies, and investments supporting the sustainable growth of the algae sector. 

CIRCALGAE’s contribution to these discussions reaffirms its commitment to building a competitive and circular algae industry, fully integrated into Europe’s green and blue transitions. 

CIRCALGAE will continue to work hand in hand with its partners, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders to advance innovation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration for the sustainable future of the European algae sector.