PROTEUS

What PROTEUS does

PROTEUS (kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS) is an EU-funded research project and consortium coordinated by Alginor ASA, established in 2024 to build the world's first industrial-scale biorefinery dedicated to brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) in Avaldsnes, Norway. The project operates on a €14.4 million four-year budget (May 2024–April 2028), of which €9.6 million is a grant from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) under EU grant agreement No 101156960; the remainder is contributed by consortium partners. PROTEUS was designated a CBE JU flagship project, and the consortium comprises 11 organisations across six countries (Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden), including two affiliated entities of the coordinator (Alginor Biorefinery AS and Hypomar AS).

The project's core technology is an integrated value chain that pairs the Hypomar Ocean 1 hybrid-electric harvesting vessel — delivered in May 2024 with on-board formaldehyde-free pre-processing — with a flexible onshore biorefinery pilot plant that valorises 100% of the kelp biomass (versus an industry baseline of ~15%) without the harmful chemicals or seabed dredging associated with conventional brown seaweed processing. Outputs feed four downstream product lines: bio-based super absorbents for personal care (Essity), animal feed ingredients (Olmix), food ingredients (Vaessen-Schoemaker), and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) for industrial applications (Borregaard, targeting TRL 7-8). The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) provides field-scale acoustic biomass modelling and recovery evidence (5-year biomass, ~8-year biodiversity recovery in southern Nordland), NORSUS leads life-cycle sustainability assessment (WP5), CLIC Innovation designs the commercialisation strategy (WP6), and Steinbeis Innovation leads dissemination and communication (WP7).

The revenue model is grant-funded today: PROTEUS's current income is the €9.6 million CBE JU grant, and the project itself is non-commercial. Post-project monetisation is planned via the four industrial partners integrating kelp-derived ingredients into their existing B2B distribution networks — Essity across 11+ countries, Olmix across 100+ countries, Borregaard across 13 countries, and Vaessen-Schoemaker in European food channels — with a target output of more than 5,000 tonnes of high-value ingredients annually from the flagship biorefinery and planned replication across additional macroalgae species.

Name

PROTEUS

Legal name

PROTEUS (kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS)

Website

https://proteus-cbe.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PROTEUS is an EU-funded CBE JU flagship project coordinated by Alginor ASA, building the world's first industrial-scale biorefinery for brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) in Norway to produce formaldehyde-free bio-based ingredients for food, animal feed, personal care, and industrial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Biorefinery

NAICS

Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423), Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Biorefinery Co-product Recovery, Purification & Separation (Downstream Processing Systems) (EUAAAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF), Bio-based Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, bio-PE, bio-PET, cellulose acetate) (IMAMALAC)

Keywords

• Brown macroalgae biorefinery
• Kelp biomass valorization
• Seaweed harvesting technology
• Bio-based ingredient manufacturing
• Circular bioeconomy processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public grant funding from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU): PROTEUS is funded primarily through a €9.6 million grant from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking under EU grant agreement No 101156960, as part of a €14.4 million four-year project budget (May 2024 – April 2028). This is the project's current revenue source.
2. Planned future commercialization of bio-based ingredients via industrial partners: Post-project, PROTEUS aims to commercialize kelp-based ingredients through industrial partners (Essity for personal care super absorbents, Olmix for animal feed, Vaessen-Schoemaker for food, Borregaard for industrial MFC). CLIC Innovation leads WP6 (Commercialisation Strategy & Exploitation) to design Exploitation, Business and Commercialization Plans, targeting over 5,000 tonnes of high-value ingredients annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PROTEUS is developing the world's first industrial-scale biorefinery for brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea), integrating a hybrid electric harvesting vessel (Hypomar Ocean 1) with on-board formaldehyde-free pre-processing and a flexible onshore biorefinery pilot plant in Norway. Its outputs are a portfolio of bio-based ingredients — including bio-based super absorbents, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), animal feed ingredients, and food ingredients and by-products — targeting the personal care, animal nutrition, food, and industrial biochemicals sectors.

Product overview

PROTEUS is a single, fully integrated flagship project — not a modular software platform — coordinated by Alginor ASA and supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) with eleven partner organisations across six European countries. Its core is the world's first industrial-scale brown macroalgae biorefinery in Avaldsnes, Norway, which integrates the Hypomar Ocean 1 hybrid harvesting vessel and the Alginor Biorefinery (ABR) pilot plant to deliver chemical-free Laminaria hyperborea processing. The biorefinery feeds a portfolio of named downstream products: food ingredients and by-products (with Vaess), animal feed ingredients (with Olmix), bio-based super absorbents for hygiene and health (with Essity), and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) for industrial applications (with Borregaard). Research and sustainability modules — IMR's kelp forest recovery monitoring (e.g., the Nordland Blueprint), NORSUS's life-cycle sustainability assessment, CLIC Innovation's commercialisation strategy (WP6), and Steinbeis Innovation's dissemination and communication (WP7) — together support the flagship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bio-based super absorbents from Laminaria hyperborea Bio-based super absorbent material derived from brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) using PROTEUS's proprietary formaldehyde-free extraction process, intended as a renewable alternative to fossil-based and wood-pulp-derived super absorbents for hygiene products such as feminine care, incontinence care, and baby care. The product line is being developed for commercialization through industrial partner Essity (Sweden), which sells hygiene products in more than 150 countries.
• Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC) from kelp Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) produced from brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) at the Alginor Biorefinery pilot plant, intended as a sustainable, renewable alternative to wood-pulp-derived MFC for industrial applications across construction, agriculture, personal care, and food. The product line is being developed for commercialization through Borregaard (Norway), which operates in 13 countries and has a global sales network.
• Animal feed ingredients from Laminaria hyperborea Animal feed ingredients and additives derived from brown macroalgae (Laminaria hyperborea) using PROTEUS's green extraction process, formulated for aquaculture, swine, poultry, and ruminant nutrition to displace soy, fishmeal, and synthetic additives with a marine-sourced, sustainable alternative. The product line is being developed for commercialization through Olmix (France), which operates in approximately 100 countries.
• Food ingredients and by-products from kelp Food ingredients and by-products derived from Laminaria hyperborea biomass using PROTEUS's formaldehyde-free extraction process, intended as clean-label functional ingredients and hydrocolloid/texturizer alternatives for meat, dairy, sauces, and bakery applications. The product line is being developed for commercialization through Vaessen-Schoemaker (Netherlands), a specialist food ingredient processor.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increases industrial brown seaweed biomass utilisation from 15% to 100% via formaldehyde-free value chains
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core and minor.

• Alginor ASAflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Alginor ASA (Haugesund, Norway) is the project coordinator of PROTEUS. It leads flagship biorefinery development from 2024 to 2028, including sustainable harvesting of Laminaria hyperborea, biorefinery process innovations, and commercialization of kelp-based product ingredients. Coordinators: Dr. Ilka Czech and Bjarte Langhelle.
• Borregaard AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Borregaard AS (Sarpsborg, Norway) operates one of the world's most advanced and sustainable biorefineries. Within PROTEUS it investigates fibrillation of cellulose derived from L. hyperborea to make microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) as a replacement for synthetic additives (coatings, adhesives, surfactants, detergents), targeting TRL 7-8 in kelp-based ingredients for industrial applications.
• NORSUS (Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024NORSUS (Krakerey, Norway) is a private not-for-profit research institute (est. 1988) and one of Europe's leading institutes in applying the life cycle approach. It leads PROTEUS WP5, assessing environmental, social and economic sustainability of the value chains developed, and also led the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) workshop in Bréhan (May 2025). CEO and Senior Researcher: Dr. Ellen-Marie Forsberg.
• Institute of Marine Research (IMR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024IMR (Bergen, Norway; ~1,050 employees) is one of the largest marine research institutes in Europe. Within PROTEUS it provides ecosystem knowledge and advice for sustainable kelp stock-, shellfish- and kelp harvesting and for kelp restauration. IMR drove the Nordland monitoring programme and acoustic biomass modelling that underpins the project's sustainability evidence base.
• Alginor Biorefinery AS (ABR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Alginor Biorefinery AS (Avaldsnes, Norway) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alginor ASA. It operates all downstream activities related to biorefining and runs the flexible biorefinery pilot plant that plays a central role in scaling up biorefinery processes and refining manufacturing methods to extract ingredients from kelp biomass.
• Hypomar AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Hypomar AS (Haugesund, Norway) is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Alginor ASA specializing in sustainable marine harvesting. Within PROTEUS it leads harvesting activities and operates the Hypomar Ocean 1 hybrid-electric harvesting vessel (delivered May 2024) with on-board formaldehyde-free pre-processing that stabilises Laminaria hyperborea for the biorefinery.
• CLIC Innovation LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024CLIC Innovation Ltd (Finland) is a non-profit public-private partnership that builds and manages open-innovation collaboration in bioeconomy, energy, and circular economy. Within PROTEUS it leads WP6 (Commercialisation Strategy & Exploitation), designing the Exploitation, Business and Commercialization Plans for the seaweed biorefinery and its products; it also participates in WP5 and WP7.
• Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH (Steinbeis Europa Zentrum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH (Stuttgart, Germany; Adornostr. 8, 70599) brings 35 years of experience in innovation consulting and EU research funding. Within PROTEUS it leads WP7 (Dissemination & Communication), developing the corporate identity, project website, social media assets, and stakeholder engagement strategy. It also acts as the project's press contact (Alparslan Akkus).
• Essity Hygiene and Health ABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Essity (Sweden) is a global, leading hygiene and health company with Business Areas Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and Professional Hygiene. Within PROTEUS it evaluates the performance of newly developed super-absorbing algae-based materials from Alginor, assessing raw materials from Laminaria hyperborea for baby diapers, feminine care, and incontinence products.
• Olmix (Olmix Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Olmix (Bréhan, Brittany, France; founded 1995) is a global company specialised in developing, producing, and distributing high-value biosourced solutions for livestock and crop farming in more than 100 countries. Within PROTEUS it evaluates the regulatory compliance of biorefinery products developed from Laminaria hyperborea by Alginor for use in the feed sector, including in-vitro screening and ingredient development.
• Vaess (Vaessen-Schoemaker)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Vaess (Netherlands) is a pioneering Dutch food engineering company (since 1946) specializing in meat, seafood, bakery, plant-based alternatives, and pet food. Within PROTEUS it assesses by-products from sustainable seaweed cultivation and harvesting for food applications, analysing functionality, organoleptic properties, route to market, sales channels, and regulatory applicability.
• MARMADEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARMADE is a related CBE JU-funded project (grant agreement No 101213231) that develops sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients from marine biomass (crustacean residues and green, red and brown seaweed). PROTEUS partners network with MARMADE as part of shared CBE JU ecosystem collaboration on marine biomass valorisation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Borregaard AS: Norwegian industrial biochemical company operating one of the world's most advanced biorefineries; PROTEUS consortium partner developing kelp-derived microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). Borregaard is both a peer (industrial biorefinery operator using lignocellulosic feedstocks) and an in-project commercialization partner for kelp-based MFC.
• Olmix Group: French biosourced solutions company distributing seaweed-based animal feed and crop farming products in 100+ countries. PROTEUS partner evaluating L. hyperborea for feed applications; comparable as an existing operator in the seaweed-valorization-to-feed value chain that PROTEUS aims to enter.
• Essity Hygiene and Health AB: Global hygiene and health leader (Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, Professional Hygiene) and PROTEUS partner developing bio-based super absorbents from L. hyperborea. Comparable as a downstream industrial off-taker validating bio-based inputs at global commercial scale.
• Alginor ASA: Norwegian public limited company that is the project coordinator of PROTEUS and operator of the Avaldsnes biorefinery and Hypomar harvesting vessel. Alginor is the operational parent through which PROTEUS technology is being commercialized, making it the most directly comparable entity to the PROTEUS project itself.
• Vaessen-Schoemaker (Vaess): Dutch food engineering company (since 1946) and PROTEUS partner assessing kelp-derived ingredients for meat, seafood, bakery, plant-based, and pet food. Comparable as a B2B food ingredient specialist developing novel kelp-derived functional ingredients.

Emerging players

• Ocean Harvest Technology: Irish company developing seaweed-based functional ingredients for animal feed and human nutrition. Comparable as an emerging European operator commercializing macroalgae-derived bioactive ingredients across feed and food verticals.
• Acadian Seaplants: Canadian-based global supplier of sustainably harvested seaweed products for agriculture, animal nutrition, and personal care. Comparable as a vertically integrated seaweed harvesting and ingredient company serving overlapping end-markets with PROTEUS outputs.
• Marinova Pty Ltd: Australian specialist in fucoidan and polyphenol extraction from brown macroalgae for nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Comparable as a focused brown macroalgae valorization player with proprietary extraction IP targeting health and personal care end-markets.

Broad incumbents

• CP Kelco: Global leader in fermentation-derived hydrocolloids (pectin, carrageenan, xanthan) used across food, personal care, and industrial applications. Comparable as a large incumbent supplying seaweed-derived and bio-based functional ingredients to the same end-markets PROTEUS targets.
• Cargill Bioindustrial: Global agribusiness and bioindustrial giant with broad portfolios in plant-based proteins, animal feed, and fermentation-derived ingredients. Comparable as an incumbent industrial off-taker/developer in bio-based ingredients across food, feed, and industrial verticals where PROTEUS outputs compete.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PROTEUS-EU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/proteus-project

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PROTEUS