TU Dublin and BioAtlantis Launch EU-Funded VASEACAD Project to Valorise Fish By-products and Advance the Circular Economy
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Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and leading biotechnology company BioAtlantis have announced the launch of an innovative new research initiative, VASEACAD (Valorising Seafood Side Streams, Residues, Unwanted Catches and Discards). The project is funded under the EU-SBEP-2 Call (Second Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership) and is supported by the Marine Institute.
With a total funding award of €1.6 million, including €299,525 granted to TU Dublin, the VASEACAD project brings together a consortium of 10 partners from across the EU. The project aims to transform fish processing by-products; materials that are typically discarded into bioactive protein hydrolysates and other high value biomolecules through state-of-the-art bioprocessing techniques. The goal is to create functional and sustainable ingredients for commercial use, supporting a circular and resource-efficient bioeconomy.
Leading the research at TU Dublin is Dr Azza Silotry Naik, Principal Investigator, lecturer and expert in food biotechnology and marine byproduct valorisation who stated:
‘This project represents an exciting opportunity to develop sustainable solutions for marine by-products by leveraging bioprocessing to create ingredients with functional and commercial potential. I'm proud to collaborate with BioAtlantis and grateful to the Marine Institute for recognising the importance of this work in supporting both sustainability and innovation’
Dr Naik brings substantial expertise to the initiative, having previously worked on several EU and nationally funded marine research projects, and led the development of functional ingredients in both academic and commercial R&D environments.
Headquartered in County Kerry, BioAtlantis is a pioneering biotech company specialising in bioactives derived from marine and terrestrial sources. It is home to the largest seaweed extraction facility in Ireland and Britian and has a long track record of collaborating with academic institutions. Discussing the partnership, John T. O’Sullivan, CEO of BioAtlantis said:
‘BioAtlantis is delighted to partner with Technological University Dublin in the VASEACAD project, focusing on converting fish by-products into valuable ingredients utilising bioprocessing techniques for different market segments. This project not only supports the circular blue bioeconomy, but also aligns with our commitment to developing sustainable, science-based solutions’.
The Marine Institute, Ireland’s national agency for marine research and innovation, welcomed the project’s alignment with national priorities for sustainability and resource efficiency. Veronica Cunningham, Research Funding Office Manager; Marine Institute commented:
‘We are pleased to support the VASEACAD project under the EU Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership. Valorisation of marine side streams is critical to reducing waste, supporting innovation, and strengthening Ireland’s marine bioeconomy. Projects like this demonstrate the strength of collaborative research in delivering solutions that benefit the environment and provide opportunities for industry too.’
The project is also receiving strategic support from Professor Christine O’Connor, Head of Research and Innovation, Faculty of Sciences and Health at TU Dublin. Prof O’Connor, with her expertise in waste valorisation and chemical analysis, will act as a senior advisor on the project, helping guide its scientific direction and impact.
VASEACAD reflects TU Dublin’s commitment to research with real-world impact, combining academic expertise, industry collaboration, and sustainability driven innovation to contribute to a more resilient and circular blue economy.
The VASEACAD project is carried out with the support of the Marine Institute funded by the Government of Ireland under the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership co-funded by the European Union, and co-branded by the UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021-2030.
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Editors Notes:
We are TU Dublin
Deeply embedded in our region, TU Dublin has campuses in Dublin City Centre, in Blanchardstown and in Tallaght, and, through our major infrastructural development plan, we are currently investing over €500 million in new, state-of-the-art, technology-enabled facilities to enhance our students' experience. A leader in STEM disciplines, TU Dublin also supports the largest cohorts of students of business, media, culinary arts, and the creative and performing arts. We are passionate about life-long learning, and as the largest provider of part-time education, we make an important contribution to the economic life of Ireland, enabling capacity building for the future.
Our distinguished researchers and innovators are pioneers in science and technology discovery, play active roles in informing policy and standards; and contribute to the creative life of Ireland. Our award-winning technology transfer and business incubation activity has delivered over 400 new sustainable businesses with an economic value of almost €700 million. With an international outlook, we welcome students and staff from around the world, while our strong international partnerships provide opportunities for student and staff exchange programmes, major cross-collaboration research projects, and employment opportunities. We are immensely proud of our network of 100,000+ TU Dublin graduates who are making their careers here in Ireland and in 70 countries worldwide. Joining the ranks of exceptional technological universities around the world, TU Dublin is planning an exciting future... Infinite Possibilities.
TU Dublin Research and Innovation
TU Dublin hosts a thriving research community engaged in designing innovative technological solutions, generating scientific insights, influencing policy makers, and reflecting on and contributing to the creative life of Ireland and abroad. This is aligned with our vision of solving the world’s most pressing problems and championing these issues at local, national, and global level. We actively support research and innovation activity from across the broad spectrum of disciplines pursued across all five TU Dublin faculties. We identify in our R and I strategy a set of five research priorities, aligned to selected SDGs, where we believe that coalescing our efforts in a transdisciplinary manner will focus and amplify the excellence and impact of our work. TU Dublin has a large community of research and innovators working individually and in collaboration on a wide of range of challenging and pressing topics. The set of research priorities set out below have been formulated to focus on areas where we have the greatest capability and reputation for delivering at scale and to enable greater impact by being framed through a transdisciplinary lens to amplify our excellence and impact:
- Culture, Innovation, and Inclusivity in a Changing Society
- Health and Wellbeing for a Thriving Society
- Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Transformation
- Sustainable Food Systems and Environmental Protection
- Transformative Digital Solutions
TU Dublin seeks to “Create a Better World Together” and make lasting contributions to technological, economic, social, and cultural progress and create a positive impact for all. Bearing that in mind, the Sustainable Development Goals were our blueprint for the development of our first Research and Innovation Strategy and establishment our priority areas for the next five years.
www.tudublin.ie/research-innovation
Marine Institute
We are the State agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. We carry out environmental, fisheries, and aquaculture surveys and monitoring programmes to meet Ireland’s national and international legal requirements. We provide scientific and technical advice to Government to help inform policy and to support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource. We aim to safeguard Ireland’s unique marine heritage through research and environmental monitoring. Our research, strategic funding programmes, and national marine research platforms support the development of Ireland’s maritime economy.
BioAtlantis
BioAtlantis is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of natural, sustainable solutions to mitigate stress in crops, animals, and humans. Established in 2004, the company has pioneered the development of ‘Molecular Priming’—a technology that induces tolerance in crops against various climate-related stresses, such as cold, drought, heat, and waterlogging. BioAtlantis entered the crop biostimulant market in 2007 with a strong focus on stress mitigation and has since built a robust scientific foundation through global university partnerships and peer-reviewed research. In 2019, the company commissioned a new production facility at its headquarters in County Kerry, Ireland, located on the Atlantic coast at the western edge of Europe. The company specializes in the production and purification of natural bioactive compounds derived from renewable marine and terrestrial resources, delivering environmentally friendly, science-based solutions for global agriculture, while also pioneering innovations to enhance health and immunity in animals and humans. BioAtlantis is recognised as a leader in the Irish and European bioeconomy, employing over 50 people in Ireland and exporting to more than 30 countries worldwide.