What is the BlueInvest Project Pipeline?

See our showcase of innovative projects and entrepreneurs who are shaping the Blue Economy.

Projects consist of innovative, scalable and sustainable business ventures from traditional and emerging sectors of the maritime economy.

The graphs below provide an overview of the country distribution, sector, and TRL of projects currently listed in the BlueInvest Project Pipeline.

 

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Selection Criteria:

Your company is EU-based or from an eligible sea basin region (Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Mauritania, United Kingdom, or Norway)

Your project TRL is 4 or higher

Your project sector is in one of the 10 blue economy sectors identified for this initiative

Your solution has a clear sustainable impact on the blue economy

Your project is looking for investment

Project Country

Country in which the project is being developed and / or implemented. 

Project Sector

Main blue economy sector the project relates to.

Project TRL

Current technology readiness level of the project. 

Acuinuga SL

ECOPEMER, a new production system for competitive aquaseed

  • Aquaculture

Company behind project
Acuinuga SL

Spain

About Us
Please refer to https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-antonio-perez-carrasco-2867876/



Problem we are solving
Aquaseed is a scarce commodity worldwide which is becoming increasingly essential for sustainable food production, environmental restoration and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The multi-stream project ECOPEMER addresses the production of bivalve mollusk seed for planting, as well as organic fish fingerlings and algae seedlings for further ongrowing. ECOPEMER incorporates novel technologies based on synergistic protocols, resulting in further value addition and lower production costs.

Sustainable Impact on Blue Ecconomy
Key project assets are:
• An installation located in a pristine, sensitive environment, with strong productive potential (p 31)
• New seawater recirculation system (SRS-RAS) minimizing environmental impact (p 21)
• Novel nutritional techniques such as the in situ formulation of ongrowing feed from local ingredients (p 23);
• Advance Oxidative Process (AOPs)-based technologies for water treatment ensuring the health and biosecurity of the crop;
• Energy-efficient, highest water quality parameters;
• IPR (Patents and technical assets)(p 17).

Key project processes are:
• Food management protocols allowing for the ecological certification of the final product (p 25);
• Novel production techniques monitoring growth, densities adjustment, mortality, yield and quality of the different crops (p 24);
• Genetic /biotechnologies ensuring high performance and full DNA traceability of the aquaseed;
• Improved design and choice of spawning substrates, hatcheries and nurseries;
• Low stocking densities and moderate feeding levels throughout the different production phases, ensuring sustainability (p 36).

Key project features are:
• Low environmental footprint, pursuing the improvement of social perception and sustainability of aquaculture;
• Heavy impact on local job generation, high traction capacity (p 34);
• Highly profitable: IRR=11%@yr5, IRR=43%@yr10, NVP(6%)=5,2M€ (p. 48)
• Strong export sales and project replication potential worldwide (p 16).

TRL
  • TRL 7 - System prototype demonstration in a relevant environment

  • Readiness Assistance Beneficiary


Financial NeedsECOPEMER’s promoting company is Acuinuga, an SME in the aquaculture business since 1998, located in Spain’s NW (Galicia), where almost half of the European production of marine bivalves currently takes place. This is a B2B model at the seed stage, completing a private/public funding assemblage aimed at securing 2 M€ in total investment.
People, profit and planet are the three sustainable pillars used for the quantification of project impact. In terms of people, it is expected that ECOPEMER shall result in the generation of 11 direct jobs, 220 indirect jobs and up to 3.000 related jobs. In terms of profit, the project acquires an internal rate of return (IRR) of 11,1% after 5 years, and an IRR of 42,8% after 10 years. The return period is 3,48 years, and the net present value (NPV) is €5.18 million. In terms of environmental impact, it is estimated that the realization of the full project potential shall result in the removal of 27,500 metric tonnes of CO2 per annum. CCS targets are achieved from year 6 onwards.

Planned Funding Allocation
  • Improve our R&D: 20
  • Operations: 30
  • New premises: 50