Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues

What Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues does

CEVA (Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues) is a French algae-focused technical institute founded in 1982 and headquartered on the Pen Lan peninsula in Pleubian, Côtes d'Armor, Brittany. It operates as a research and innovation center serving professional and industrial actors across the algae value chain, providing services in six business areas: water/environment and biodiversity, aquaculture and sourcing, agri-food health and nutrition, animal and plant health, cosmetics and bioactive extracts, and biotechnologies and bio-based materials.

CEVA's technology stack encompasses algal biology, cultivation systems, extraction processes, and environmental monitoring, with proprietary platforms including the ALVOPTIQ optical spectroscopy system for quantifying nitrogen and phosphorus in algae and plants (developed in collaboration with Photonics Bretagne and Vegenov) and a connected sea culture platform installed in the Trieux estuary that performs high-frequency monitoring of water quality parameters (temperature, O2, pH, turbidity, conductivity, Chlorophyll-a) with real-time 4G data transmission. CEVA also operates multi-hyperspectral imaging combined with GIS for cartography and prediction model development for aquatic vegetation. The institute holds a portfolio of 50 patents and maintains an ecosystem of 82 international partners.

Commercially, CEVA generates revenue through three primary streams: tailored technical services and consulting (feasibility studies, scale-up support, processing line design, specific analyses), QUALIOPI-certified professional training programs delivered as catalog sessions or custom intra-company formats, and custom production services including filtered and concentrated seawater supply, grinding, filtration, freeze-drying, and packaging. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The organization has been qualified as an Agricultural Technical Institute (ITA) and Agro-Industrial Technical Institute (ITAI) since 2018, is a member of the Carnot AgriFood Transition network, and benefits from eligibility for France's Research Tax Credit (CIR) at 200%. It is led by CEO Stéphanie Pédron.

Name

Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues

Legal name

CEVA – Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues

Website

https://ceva-algues.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEVA is a French algae-focused technical institute serving industrial and professional clients across water/environment, aquaculture, agri-food, cosmetics, and biotechnology sectors through consulting, custom production, and certified training services from its Brittany headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Algae Research and Biotechnology Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

CEA Monitoring, Sensors & Automation Software (SCADA, IoT, Climate/Recipe Control) (AFAAAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Treatment, Filtration & Recirculation (RO, UV, Sterilization) (AFAAAHAH), Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Algae research services
• Marine biotechnology consulting
• Algal cultivation development
• Water quality monitoring
• Bio-based ingredient development

Headquarters

HQ city

Pleubian

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Technical Services and Consulting: CEVA provides tailored technical solutions and consulting services to professionals and industrial actors in the algae sector, including water quality monitoring, cultivation development, effluents treatment, and innovation support.
2. Training Programs: Catalog training sessions (1-2 days) and custom intra-company training programs on algae biology, cultivation, processing, and applications. Trainings are QUALIOPI certified but not eligible for CPF.
3. Custom Production: Custom production services including filtered and concentrated seawater supply, processing under client quality standards, and unit operations (grinding, filtration, freeze-drying, packaging).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CEVA is a technical center dedicated to algae at the service of professionals and industrial actors, providing tailored technical solutions spanning water quality monitoring, algal cultivation development, sourcing, effluent treatment, innovative food product design, bio-based ingredient development, custom production, and industrial transfer. It also delivers catalog and custom training programs on algae topics and operates a connected sea culture platform for research and biodiversity monitoring in the Trieux estuary.

Product overview

CEVA is a technology and innovation center dedicated to algae, providing a comprehensive portfolio of services to professionals and industrial actors in the algae sector. The organization offers specialized technical services organized around core competencies: water quality monitoring and environmental analysis, sustainable resource management, algal cultivation development, sourcing services, effluent treatment with algae, innovative food product design, custom production, bio-based ingredient development, industrial transfer support, analytical services, innovation acceleration, and filtered seawater production. Additionally, CEVA provides professional training programs covering algae biology, cultivation techniques, food applications, cosmetics, and sustainability practices. The center also operates a connected sea culture platform for research and monitoring purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Quality Monitoring and Aquatic Vegetation Analysis Tailored service for monitoring water quality and analyzing aquatic vegetation malfunctions through biological indicators, prediction models, and biological/ecophysiological studies, serving environmental managers and public-sector actors.
• Sustainable Resource Management Service supporting sustainable management of resources via multi-hyperspectral imaging acquisition and treatment combined with geographic information systems for environmental cartography.
• Algal Cultivation Development Service developing tomorrow's algal cultivation through metabolic regulation of seaweed and microalgae, support for activity diversification of sea professionals, production site implementation, and domestication tests for new species.
• Algae Sourcing Services Service securing algae sourcing via supply of strains, inoculum and pilot productions, identification of microalgae and seaweed species, and maintenance of strain collections.
• Effluent Treatment and Valorization with Algae Service treating and valorizing effluents with algae, including cultivation tests for new species, optimization of cultivation techniques and methods, and biological/ecophysiological studies.
• Innovative Food Products Development Service designing innovative algae-based food products including formulation, identification of nutritional and organoleptic quality, seaweed pre-treatment and stabilization processes for food manufacturers.
• Bio-based Ingredients and Products Development Service developing new bio-based ingredients and products including process development, optimization, objectivation and formulation, and identification of functionality and bioactivity.
• Custom Production Services Custom production of algae-derived products and extracts under customer quality standards, including extraction and purification processes and unit operations such as grinding, filtration, freeze-drying, and packaging.
• Industrial Transfer Services Prototyping and industrial transfer services including feasibility studies, scale-up support, processing line design, and training to bring algae-based innovations into industrial production.
• Specific Analyses Services Specific analytical services including analytical method development, characterization and quantification of compounds, and chemical profiling of algae-based products.
• Innovation Acceleration Consulting Innovation consulting combining expertise, training, regulatory watch, and analyses to secure and accelerate client innovations across the algae value chain.
• Filtered and Concentrated Seawater Production Production and supply of filtered and concentrated seawater for industrial and research applications.
• Professional Training Programs QUALIOPI-certified professional training programs (catalog sessions 1-2 days and custom intra-company) covering algae biology, cultivation techniques, cosmetic innovation, food applications, micro and macroalgae production, and sustainability practices.
• Connected Sea Culture Platform Connected sea culture platform deployed in the Trieux estuary enabling high-frequency monitoring of water quality parameters (temperature, O2, pH, turbidity, conductivity, Chlorophyll-a) and biodiversity, with real-time data via 4G module for research and monitoring applications.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Photonics BretagnecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaborative partner in the ALVOPTIQ project focused on developing optical spectroscopy technology for quantifying nitrogen and phosphorus in algae and plants. Photonics Bretagne contributes photonics expertise and spectroscopy technology.
• VegenovcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaborative partner in the ALVOPTIQ project, contributing expertise in plant biology and analysis of production systems. Vegenov specializes in plant biology and agricultural analysis.
• Carnot AgriFood TransitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Framework for collaborative research projects including ALVOPTIQ, providing institutional support and funding for agri-food transition research involving algae.
• Agrocampus OuestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Academic partner in IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture) projects and professional events on multitrophic aquaculture.
• INRA (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Research partner in the European IMTA-Effect project (ERANet Cofasp) studying integrated multitrophic aquaculture.
• ItaviminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Partner in the Epurval 2 national project on aquaculture, contributing expertise in aquaculture and fish farming.
• CipaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Coordinator of the Epurval 2 project and partner in aquaculture research initiatives.
• Pôle Mer Bretagne AtlantiqueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Marine and maritime cluster supporting aquaculture events and professional meetings in Brittany.
• Acta (Les Instituts des filières animales et végétales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of agricultural technical institutes that CEVA is affiliated with, part of the French agricultural technical institute system.
• ITAI (Institut Technique Agro-Industriel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgro-Industrial Technical Institute network of which CEVA is a qualified member since 2018.
• Act Food BretagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food industry network in Brittany supporting innovation and development in the food sector.
• SENSALG' PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for edible algae stakeholders to join and collaborate on algae industry development in France.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Roquette: Global plant-based ingredients major with expanding algae and fermentation capabilities; a broad incumbent offering R&D and ingredient manufacturing that intersects with CEVA's bio-based ingredients and industrial transfer services.
• Corbion (AlgaPrime DHA): Global ingredients incumbent operating large-scale algae fermentation for DHA omega-3 (AlgaPrime); represents the commercial-scale incumbent that CEVA's algae-food and bio-based ingredient clients are ultimately trying to compete with or supply.

Direct peers

• Fermentalg: French industrial biotech specializing in microalgae cultivation and bio-based ingredients for nutrition and specialty chemicals; directly comparable in geography, target markets (food/cosmetics/bio-based) and willingness to develop novel species.
• IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer): French public marine research institute with deep aquaculture, seaweed cultivation and marine biotechnology programs; shares CEVA's French, public-good, marine-biology mandate and collaborates via joint projects such as IMTA-Effect.
• Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen Food & Biobased Research): Leading Dutch research university with dedicated algae/seaweed cultivation, biorefining and food-application programs — the closest peer in scope as a publicly-supported technical center that delivers algae R&D, training and process scale-up for industry players.
• Olmix Group: Breton-headquartered group commercializing algae-based solutions for animal nutrition, plant health and biostimulants; directly competes with CEVA's agriculture-adjacent service lines and pulls on similar Brittany algae ecosystem resources.
• Microphyt: French microalgae ingredient producer (omega-3, pigments, food actives) building an integrated cultivation-to-extraction platform; CEVA supports Microphyt-type clients as a contract R&D partner and the two vie for the same algal-ingredient roadmap.

Regional players

• Matís (Icelandic Food and Biotech R&D): Icelandic government research institute working on marine biotechnology, algae valorization, and bioeconomy; comparable business model (public technical-institute, applied marine biotech, training) but regional rather than directly competing in France.

Emerging players

• Algama (now Tiamat Sciences): French/European startup commercializing algae-based food ingredients and proteins; an emerging player whose clients overlap CEVA's agri-food segment and which uses CEVA-like technical partners for pilot and scale-up work.
• Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based independent research institute specializing in aquaculture, seaweed and marine bioactive R&D; functionally comparable as a publicly-supported algae/aquaculture technical center, but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Centre-dEtude-et-de-Valorisation-des-Algues-788557767960464

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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