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Blue biotechnology is a new and emerging sector. It is closely linked to other sectors, such as fishing and aquaculture, and cooperation between various operators creates favorable conditions for the further development of the sector. Blue biotechnology, or marine biotechnology, is concerned with the exploration and exploitation of marine organisms to develop new knowledge, products, and services in a multitude of fields (OECD, 2016). This exciting sector contributes to the blue bio-economy, turning aquatic biomass into novel foods, feed, energy, packaging, and much more. This includes micro-organisms (microalgae, bacteria, and fungi), algae, and invertebrates (e.g. starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins).
Blue biotechnology is key to realizing the potential of marine bio-resources – a potential that until now remains largely untapped. These resources could produce new products and processes, and help address the global challenges of food, energy, and health.
The companies working in the field of blue biotechnologies are counting on a promising future. For the past ten years, they have been growing very rapidly: 10% per year, according to Sup’Biotech, with a global market that amounted to 3.8 billion euros in 2017*. This growth is strongly driven by a societal demand for natural products and by legislative developments in the field of sustainable development*.
The European labor market is facing a shortage of specialized and technical skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and math (STEM) and also challenges due to the changing dynamics brought about by technological change. As a relatively new sector driven by breakthroughs in scientific research, marine biotechnology and related innovation is confronted with such challenges. The sector includes aquaculture, biomass production, and micro-algae compounds sub-sectors.
Occupation | Description |
Researcher/Scientist | Scientists conduct experiments to learn more about scientific theories and practices. They perform extensive research on a topic to determine available scientific knowledge, then develop new ideas about how to expand upon existing studies. Scientists set strict experiment parameters, record data, and interpret results. They perform desk studies and system analyses bringing together knowledge and systems, calculating scenarios, reporting, and translating research results into concrete advice for the government, commercial parties, and other stakeholders. |
Biomedical Engineer | Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare. |
Bioprocess Engineer | Process engineers in the biotechnology field are in charge of improving biomedical manufacturing practices. They determine the order to implement key tasks and organize workflows to increase efficiency. They also test different versions of technical systems, gather performance data, and implement the most successful ones |
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems. They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and natural habitats. |
Microbiologists | Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites. They try to understand how these organisms live, grow, and interact with their environments. |
Biochemists and Biophysicists | Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and biological processes, such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease. |
Process Development Scientist | They supervise the manufacturing process in an organization’s laboratory. They always look for pathways for improving the efficiency and quality of the product. |
Biostatisticians | Biostatisticians collect and analyze data related to living organisms. The design research projects to gather biological samples, review archival documents, and identify data trends. They determine the requirements for data samples and use statistical modeling to learn more about the use and development of biotechnology. Biostatisticians make predictions about medical, environmental, and biological trends based on their analysis |
No | Education/Specialty | Program | University | Country | City | Web page |
1. | Industrial biotechnology* | MSc | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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2. | Biochemistry | MSc, PhD | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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3. | Biophysics | MSc, PhD | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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4. | Genetics and genomics | MSc, PhD | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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5. | Plant biotechnology | MSc | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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6. | Ecological biotechnology* | MSc | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia |
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7. | The technology of Biologically Active Substances | PhD | Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria | Sofia | https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/education/phd_students/accredited_scientific_majors
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8. | Biotechnology* | MSc | University of Chemical technologies and metallurgy | Bulgaria | Sofia | https://uctm.edu/en/case-study/magister/biotechnology
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9. | Industrial and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies* | MSc | University of food technologies | Bulgaria | Plovdiv | https://uft-plovdiv.bg/%D0%BAkatedra-biotehnologiq/
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10. | Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology* | MSc | University of food technologies | Bulgaria | Plovdiv | https://uft-plovdiv.bg/%D0%BAkatedra-biotehnologiq/
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11. | Biochemistry* | MSc, PhD | Hacettepe University | Turkey | Ankara | https://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/teaching/graduate_programs
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12. | Bioengineering* | MSc, PhD | Hacettepe University | Turkey | Ankara | https://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/teaching/graduate_programs
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13. | Bioinformatics* | Msc, | Hacettepe University | Turkey | Ankara | https://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/teaching/graduate_programs
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14. | Bioinformatics | PhD | Hacettepe University | Turkey | Ankara | https://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/teaching/graduate_programs
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15. | Biology (Biotechnology)* | MSc, PhD | Hacettepe University | Turkey | Ankara | https://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/teaching/graduate_programs
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16. | Biomedical Technology | MSc | DOKUZ Eylul University | Turkey | Izmir | https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_9594_eng.html
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17. | Biotechnology*(30% in English) | MSc, PhD | DOKUZ Eylul University | Turkey | Izmir | https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_9554_eng.html
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18. | Molecular biology – Genetics, and Biotechnology | MSc, PhD | Istanbul Technical University | Turkey | Istanbul | https://fbe.itu.edu.tr/en/education/programs?program=MBG_MG
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19. | Biotechnology | MSc, PhD | METU | Turkey | Ankara | https://fbe.itu.edu.tr/en/education/programs?program=MBG_MG
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20. | Biomedical Engineering | MSc, PhD | METU | Turkey | Ankara |
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21. | Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Bioengineering | MSc, PhD | Sabanci University | Turkey | Tuzla, Istanbul |
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22. | Industrial Biotechnology | MSc | National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” | Ukraine | Kyiv | https://prombiotech.kpi.ua/en/
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23. | Bioenergy, Bioinformatics, and Environmental biotechnology* |
| National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” | Ukraine | Kyiv |
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24. | Bioengineering |
| National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” | Ukraine | Kyiv | https://bioengineering.kpi.ua/en/
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25. | Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | MSc | University of Bucharest | Romania | Bucharest | https://unibuc.ro/studii/programe-de-studii/master/?lang=en
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26. | Applied bioinformatics for life science | MSc | University of Bucharest | Romania | Bucharest | https://unibuc.ro/studii/programe-de-studii/master/?lang=en
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27. | Biotechnology of natural resources* | MSc | Dunarea de Jos University | Romania | Galati | https://www.en.ugal.ro/education/study-programmes/master/romanian_master
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28. | Biotechnology* | MSc | University of agronomic sciences and veterinary medicine of Bucharest | Romania | Bucharest | http://www.biotehnologii.usamv.ro/
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29. | Industrial Biotechnology* | MSc | University of agronomic sciences and veterinary medicine of Bucharest | Romania | Bucharest | http://www.biotehnologii.usamv.ro/
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30. | Master of Applied Genetics | MSc | Ilia State University | Georgia | Tbilisi |
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31. | Master of Sciences of Biochemistry/ Biopharmaceutics | MSc | Ilia State University | Georgia | Tbilisi |
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000240.
Blue biotechnology is key to realizing the potential of marine bio-resources – a potential that until now remains largely untapped. These resources could produce new products and processes, and help address the global challenges of food, energy, and health.
For example, aquatic organisms are used for pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetics, or research. E.g. algae can be used for food, drugs, and biofuels. Jellyfish can be used for the research of neurons by exploiting their fluorescence. Other critical outcomes of marine biotechnology work include the development of innovative tools and solutions for more sustainable marine environmental management.
The companies working in the field of blue biotechnologies are counting on a promising future. For the past ten years, they have been growing very rapidly: 10% per year, according to Sup’Biotech, with a global market that amounted to 3.8 billion euros in 2017*. This growth is strongly driven by a societal demand for natural products and by legislative developments in the field of sustainable development*.
According to a poll conducted by the Blue Bioeconomy Forum in 2018, the blue bio–economy market is foreseen to grow to about EUR 10 billion in 2030*. The 2018 EUMOFA report includes references to studies that quote growth in aquaculture of 77 % between 2008 and 2030 (compared to a modest 4 % in capture fisheries).
Тhe blue biotechnology sector is also one of the least affected by the Covid 19 impact.
The European labor market is facing a shortage of specialized and technical skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and math (STEM) and also challenges due to the changing dynamics brought about by technological change. As a relatively new sector driven by breakthroughs in scientific research, marine biotechnology and related innovation is confronted with such challenges. The sector includes aquaculture, biomass production, and micro-algae compounds sub-sectors.
Among the most promising sub-sectors of marine biotechnology are algae. Alone the EU algal biomass sub-sector employs over 14,000 people in 2018 and has a value of EUR 1.69 billion, which includes research and development, equipment production, and jobs in the larger supply chain that depends on the output from the algae sector*. In 2019, there were 126 microalgae and macroalgae-producing companies in the EU, running a total of 144 production plants, and 15 producing companies in other EEA countries with one plant each.
The available data on the turnover and employment in the algae sector refers to the aquaculture industry. These data are very fragmented and cover only France (macro-, microalgae, and Spirulina), Spain (macro-, microalgae, and Spirulina), and Portugal (macroalgae). The analysis of the data shows that 87% of the total number of algae aquaculture companies are micro-enterprises with fewer than five employees. The EU aquaculture (considering these countries) employs 509 persons, 399 in full-time equivalent (FTE). The sector has a total reported turnover (in these countries) of €10.7 million*.
According to the collected data, the EU aquaculture employs a total of 509 persons for 399 full-time equivalent jobs (FTE). The distribution of employees between MS reflects the share in the number of companies.
Figure: Total number of employees and FTEs in the EU-27 algae aquaculture per MS for the average of the last two years of reporting (2018-2019)
Very little reported data is available for microalgae production with only Bulgaria and Spain reporting on volumes smaller than 1.5 tonnes (wet weight). Spirulina Spp. production is reported by France, Spain, and Greece. France accounts for 72% of the total biomass production and Spain for less than 0.2%.
Figure: Production volume (tonnes wet weight) for microalgae and Spirulina Spp. in the EU-27 countries (FAO + EUROSTAT data*
Germany, France, and Spain host the largest number of microalgae producers in Europe while France dominates the Spirulina production landscape with 65%* of the mapped production units in Europe. Sixteen European countries have microalgae and 15 have Spirulina production plants.
France, with the second largest maritime area in the world with nearly 20,000 kilometers of coastline, including the overseas territories, has a leading role to play in this promising field. Research centers are developing (university laboratories and research institutes mainly in Bretagne and the PACA region), around which clusters of companies specialized in the marine biotechnology sector are emerging. In western France, the Capbiotek technological innovation center in Rennes has identified more than 120 start-ups and SMEs in this sector. Bretagne, the 3rd largest French region in biotechnology, even takes second place on the international scene as an international supplier of marine ingredients, behind Norway and ahead of Denmark, Ireland, and Iceland*.
Figure Algae biomass production, 2008-2017, percentage*
Of these, 57 % of the companies produced macroalgae and 43 % microalgae. France hosts the largest number of companies followed by Spain, Ireland, and Germany. In France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the number of macro- and microalgae producers is approximately equal. Algae production in Germany, Italy, and Austria is dominated by microalgae while in Ireland and Denmark macroalgae production is dominant*. Spirulina producers are not mapped yet, but based on JRC estimates, there are around 250 Spirulina farms operating in the EU of which approximately 150 are located in France.
Survey results showed (2019)* that the macro and microalgae production sector is mainly based on small size enterprises with less than 20 employees each (79 % of the companies), working mostly full-time According to the data collected, the macro and microalgae biomass producing sectors have been estimated to directly employ approximately 3,000 people.
