The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR; www.hcmr.gr) is a public marine research organization operating under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI). HCMR consists of three Research Institutes: the Institute of Oceanography (IO), the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), and the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters (IMBRIW). The Centre is equipped with modern facilities, including three research vessels (the 62-meter RV Aegaeon, the 26-meter Philia, and the 10-meter Alkyon), a manned submarine, and several remotely operated vehicles for underwater activities. Additionally, it has two public aquariums located on the islands of Crete (the Cretaquarium, now called “Thalassocosmos”) and Rhodes. There is also an underwater technology park in Kato Gouves, Heraklion, Crete.
HCMR aims to conduct research, technological development, and experimental studies in various fields related to the aquatic environment. The organisation emphasises the dissemination of knowledge and the implementation and adoption of its findings by both the scientific community and the public. Within the VASEACAD project, HCMR participates through the IMBBC.
IMBBC (https://imbbc.hcmr.gr/) specialises in aquaculture, genomics, molecular biotechnology, marine biodiversity, and ecosystem management. Research in aquaculture encompasses various areas, including fish nutrition and feeding, reproduction and physiology, production technologies, fish health, and fish behaviour. The group also focuses on enhancing the nutritional value of sustainable ingredient sources through biotechnological processes and innovative feed production methods. Additionally, IMBBC is dedicated to developing feeds for new species in aquaculture, evaluating commercial feeds, and sharing knowledge with the aquaculture and aquafeed industries. IMBBC possesses extensive experience in implementing research and development projects, including ARRAINA, AQUAMAX, DIVERSIFY, PERFORMFISH, TAPAS, MedAID, VIOAXIOPOIO, AlgaFeed4Fish, FUTURE EU AQUA, and Insects4Aqua. The institute comprises 31 researchers and has published over 1,800 scientific publications. It currently collaborates with partners in 70 countries worldwide.
HCMR/IMBBC (Fish Nutrition and Omics Technologies Laboratory-FiNuOm) coordinates and manages the VASEACAD project, specifically overseeing WP1. Additionally, it participates in WP3, which focuses on valorising side streams from Mediterranean Sea aquaculture through pilot-scale equipment, and in WP4, which aims to validate, tailor, and optimise sustainable novel feeds for commercially important European farmed fish by utilising inter-species recycling. The laboratory is responsible for the following tasks within the VASEACAD project: 1. Formulating feed compositions and producing the feeds that will be tested in fish trials. 2. Conducting in vivo trials using gilthead seabream to assess growth performance based on the novel dietary ingredients developed in previous project tasks. 3. Performing biochemical, physiological, and histological analyses on fish that are fed the experimental diets. 4. Evaluating how diet formulation impacts the fish’s digestibility capacity.
Dr Ioannis (Yannis) Kotzamanis, the coordinator of the VASEACAD project, is a Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology, and Aquaculture within the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. He leads the laboratory focused on Fish Nutrition and Omics Technologies (FiNuOm). He obtained his B.Sc. in Zootechnical Agriculture and an MSc in Aquaculture Science from the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece. He completed his PhD dissertation in fish nutrition at the Department of Biology, University of Athens, Greece. During his PhD studies, he was awarded a Leonardo Da Vinci scholarship (AquaTT, EU) and spent several months working in the Protein Lab at the Institute of Nutrition (NIFES today) in Bergen, Norway.
Following the completion of his PhD, he served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at INRA-IFREMER, Centre de Brest, France, within the laboratory of fish nutrition as part of the ASEFAF/EU project. Subsequently, he worked as a visiting researcher in the Department of Applied Molecular Biology at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Mainz. Additionally, he completed a short training course in proteomic techniques at the Proteomic Core Facility of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Dr Kotzamanis has over 28 years of research experience in fish nutrition and aquaculture. He has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and given over 100 presentations at international and national peer-reviewed conferences. He is actively involved in various scientific and professional committees and working groups. He has participated in several EU-funded projects and has coordinated multiple Greek national projects. His research interests include evaluating the nutritional quality and effects of novel dietary ingredients, supplements, and bioactive compounds on fish growth performance and health. He also investigates the molecular and physiological mechanisms that control fish appetite, growth, fat deposition, and disease resistance, utilising novel techniques from proteomics and metabolomics.
Dr Kotzamanis will coordinate the overall project, overseeing the timeline, work plan, milestones, and deliverables. He will be responsible for managing any issues that arise between project partners and ensuring effective communication with the SBEP Secretariat. In addition, he will compile and submit both the Interim and Final Progress Reports. He will also supervise the formulation and production of experimental fish diets for the VASEACAD project and oversee the feeding trial. Furthermore, he will actively contribute to dissemination activities under WP6.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. George Triantaphyllidis is a Senior Expert and Research Fellow at HCMR. He holds a PhD in Applied Hydrobiology from the University of Ghent (Belgium 1991-1995), after his BSc in Biology in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1986-1990). He is an experienced senior-level manager and strategic planner, with diverse diplomatic skills and significant experience in EU funded projects, with 22 years professional experience of which more than 18 years’ experience in the field of regional development, Blue Growth, fisheries and aquaculture.
He participated in more than 60 EU funded and co-funded projects and consultancies among which in several projects and consultancies for DG Fish, DG Mare and EASME. He is currently the Project Manager of the H2020 CLAIM project and member of the Coordination Management Group, where HCMR/IO is the Coordinator. He also participated in the VIOAXIOPOIO project (Production of high quality and value-added biomolecules using fish by-products and discards) that was coordinated by HCMR/IMBBC and Dr. Yannis Kotzamanis. He has published 23 peer-reviewed articles and 22 publications in referred conference proceedings as well as numerous reports in European and National RTD projects and consultancies
Dr Triantafyllidis is the Project Manager for the VASEACAD project, coordinating twinning and demonstration activities in close cooperation with Blue EcoTech. He will also participate in WP3 and contribute to dissemination activities in WP6.
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Efstratios Roussos is a research staff member at the Fish Nutrition and Omics Technologies Laboratory at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). He earned his Integrated Master’s degree from the Department of Agriculture, Ichthyology, and Aquatic Environment at the University of Thessaly. His thesis focused on the effects of partially substituting fishmeal with a combination of vegetable proteins and nutritional additives on the growth and health of sea bream fry. Since August 2025, he has been a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology at the School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His research focuses on replacing fishmeal with novel, sustainable ingredients and on their effects on fish growth, physiology, and health. This work is conducted under the supervision of Professor Efthymia Antonopoulou and Dr Yannis Kotzamanis. Since beginning his internship in 2017, he has gained substantial experience in fish nutrition through collaboration with the FiNuOm laboratory.
Mr Roussos has developed expertise in experimental design and has successfully conducted numerous growth trials. His practical experience covers the entire process, including formulating fish feeds, operating an experimental extruder for feed production, and rearing fish under intensive conditions. He is proficient in performing complex biochemical analyses on various sample types to assess nutritional trials involving alternative raw materials. He holds FELASA accreditation in accordance with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament (Functions A-D). Furthermore, he manages the biochemistry laboratory and the research fish rearing facilities at the FiNuOm laboratory. He has actively contributed to several national and European research projects (Insects4Aqua, AltMedSeaBream, and Vioaxiopoio), provided consultation for EU-funded aquafeed projects, and participated in international collaborations, including Ocean4Biotech and AQUAEXCEL3.0, where he secured competitive research grants.
Mr. Roussos will contribute to formulating and producing the experimental fish diets for the VASEACAD project and participate in the feeding trial with sea bream. He will also conduct analyses of amino acids and fatty acids in both diets and fish tissues, as well as assist in writing reports and publications (WP4). Additionally, he will be involved in WP1 and WP5.
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Vasiliki Ilia is a highly experienced Ichthyologist with experience in the husbandry of Mediterranean fish species (seabass, seabream, meagre, brown meagre, red porgy, sharpsnout seabream). In addition, she has a long-standing experience in biochemical analytical techniques for fish feeds and fish tissues (total nitrogen – Kjeldahl procedure; total fats – Soxhlet procedure; fibrous substances, carbohydrates, total minerals – ash content; use of biochemical analysers for blood and serum and amino acids. She has been trained to work in accredited laboratories in accordance with the revised ISO 17025:2017 standard of the Hellenic Chemical Society. She is also qualified as a certified analyst, having worked at the former Laboratory of Nutrition and Pathology of HCMR, which was accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD) for conducting chemical analyses under the international standard ISO/IEC 17025.
Ms. Ilia will participate in the feeding trials with sea bream. Her responsibilities will include analysing the proximate composition of the diets and fish, including moisture, ash, protein, and lipid content in tissues, as well as performing biochemical analyses of blood samples (WP4). She will also be involved in WP3 and WP5.
Email: [email protected]
On January 1st 2019, the former Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght joined together, becoming Ireland’s first Technological University – TU Dublin. With 28,500 students TU Dublin is the place where the arts, business, science, engineering and technology converge. The school of Food Science & Environmental Health delivers high quality, practice based, and research informed education designed for diverse and innovative learners in food science, industrial biotechnology, environmental health and safety management. In our teaching and research, we focus on external and internal collaboration, and the interconnectedness of food, environment and health for socioeconomic sustainability and circular bioeconomy. The research will be conducted in the Sustainability and Health Research Hub and is affiliated with the research conducted in the Food Innovation and Health Research Centre.
Azza Silotry Naik is leading the work package 2 in VASEACAD project titled “Generation of Bioactive Hydrolysates from European Sprat and Blue Whiting,” and teams with Prof. Christine O’Connor in supervising postgraduate researcher Ranahansi Bandara, who will carry out research on developing natural, health enhancing ingredients from these underused fish species.
This work package focuses on creating extracts that can help reduce age‑related inflammation in muscles and skin. Ranahansi’s research will involve hydrolysing sprat, seabream, seabass, salmon, bluefin tuna and blue whiting using protease assisted green processing methods to identify which approach produces the most beneficial bioactive compounds.
The most promising extracts will be studied for their potential to support skin and muscle function—particularly their ability to reduce inflammation, protect cells from damage, and combat signs of ageing. Once the strongest candidates are identified, they will be produced at a larger scale and thoroughly assessed for quality, safety, taste, smell, and overall consumer appeal. Human sensory panels will help determine how acceptable and pleasant these products are.
Dr. Azza Silotry Naik is a food scientist and researcher whose work spans functional ingredients, sustainable food processing, and the development of bioactive compounds that support human health. She currently serves as a Lecturer and Programme Chair in Food Science at TU Dublin, where she leads teaching, research, and programme development in innovative food systems. In 2025, she was appointed Irish Delegate to the Food Chemistry Division of EUChemS, contributing to European-level scientific strategy and collaboration.
Azza’s research career includes industry and academic roles across Ireland and India. Before joining TU Dublin, she worked as a Senior Scientist at Nuritas Ltd, applying bioinformatics and peptide discovery tools to health enhancing ingredients. She has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Limerick and Teagasc, advancing research on protein hydrolysates, marine resources, and functional food applications. Earlier in her career, she served as an Assistant Professor at D.Y. Patil University in Mumbai, teaching and researching food chemistry and processing.
Azza has been highly successful in securing competitive funding. Recent awards include the Enterprise Ireland funded MSCA SUSTAIN FIT fellowship (€263,280), Horizon Europe SBEP 2 funding (€300,000) for valorising seafood side streams, Enterprise Ireland feasibility grants, and national PhD and master’s funding programmes. She also received a COST Action Ocean4Biotech STSM award for research at the University of Copenhagen.
Across academia, industry, and European networks, Azza’s work focuses on converting underused natural resources into high value,
Email: [email protected]
Prof Christine O’Connor is the Head of Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Sciences and Health at TU Dublin. Previously she held a lectureship in the School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences in Dublin Institute of Technology before becoming Assistant Head of School of Food Science and Environmental Health. She subsequently was the Head of Discipline of Food Safety and Environmental Health Management in TU Dublin. Christine is an active researcher in the areas of waste valorisation and bioactive analysis and trace chemical and environmental analysis in food products such as Dairy, Meat and Whiskey industries. The instruments used in her research are UV/Vis, Fluorescence, IR, Raman, NMR spectroscopy along with UPLC-DAD, LCMSMS, GC-FID, GCMS, AAS and ICP-MS. Her current research group is funded by Research Ireland (€456,383), FIRM (€300,000), Teagasc (~€450,000), Irish Research Council (€110,000) and Horizon Europe. She was previously involved in the ERA-Net BlueShell project based on the valorisation of crab shell waste. Christine is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and a long term member of the Educational Committee of Ireland and Chair of the RSC Ireland Steering Group. Christine is a member of the Royal Irish Academy, Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee.
Ranahansi Bandara joined TU Dublin in 2025 as a PhD researcher. Her doctoral research focuses on the valorization of marine fish biomass to produce beneficial bioactive compounds. She obtained her BSc in Agricultural Resource Management and Technology from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, where she was honored with the Vice Chancellor’s Award for outstanding academic performance. Following this, she completed her MSc in Chemistry at Qilu University of Technology, China, where she was awarded the Chinese University Postgraduate Scholarship. Prior to joining TU Dublin, she worked as a Research Officer in the Coconut Processing Research Division at the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Her current and previous roles have primarily focused on by-product valorization and innovation within the field of food science.
Email: [email protected]
Frederick Research Center (FRC) is the research centre of Frederick University and has extensive experience in applied research in the fields of aquaculture, blue economy and sustainable management of marine resources. Its research activities cover a broad range of topics including aquaculture engineering, energy and environmental sustainability of marine production systems, economic analysis and investment evaluation in the aquaculture sector, as well as the development of innovative solutions that support the sustainable growth of the blue economy. Through its participation in European and international research projects focusing on sustainable marine ecosystem management and the transition towards a more circular and resilient blue economy, FRC actively contributes to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
In the VASEACAD project, FRC coordinates Work Package 5 (WP5), which focuses on Economic Viability Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and the overall environmental sustainability of the proposed technologies for valorising seafood side streams. Its role includes evaluating the economic feasibility of biomolecule extraction methods by considering production costs, market demand and potential revenue streams, as well as assessing the environmental impacts of the proposed processes. In addition, through its strong links with the aquaculture and fisheries industry in Cyprus, the FRC team facilitates knowledge transfer and integrates valuable industry feedback into the project’s research activities.
Michalis Menicou is a Professor at Frederick University and a researcher at the Frederick Research Center (FRC) in Cyprus, specialising in aquaculture engineering, sustainable aquaculture systems and the economic and environmental assessment of blue economy technologies. His research focuses on the sustainability and economic viability of aquaculture production systems, including energy use, resource efficiency and environmental impacts in coastal aquaculture in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He has extensive experience in European and international research projects related to aquaculture, marine resources and the blue economy. In the VASEACAD project, he leads the work on Economic Viability Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental sustainability, evaluating the economic feasibility and environmental performance of innovative processes for valorising seafood side streams and marine biomass.
Email: [email protected]
Marios Charalambides is an Associate Professor at Frederick University and a researcher at the Frederick Research Center (FRC), Cyprus. He holds a PhD in Mathematics with a minor in Finance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA. His research spans both fundamental and applied areas, including numerical analysis, optimisation methods, risk analysis and mathematical modelling for industrial and economic applications.
In the VASEACAD project, he contributes to the economic and environmental assessment activities led by the Frederick Research Center, supporting analyses related to economic feasibility, sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment of innovative processes for valorising seafood side streams in aquaculture and fisheries systems.
Email: [email protected]
Konstantina Oikonomopoulou is a Civil Engineer and PhD candidate at the University of Cyprus, specialising in sustainable construction materials, recycling of construction and demolition waste, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). She holds an MSc in Civil Engineering and has several years of research experience in projects related to innovative and sustainable materials, circular economy approaches, and environmental impact assessment.
Her research focuses on improving the performance of recycled materials and evaluating their environmental footprint through advanced LCA methodologies. In the VASEACAD project, she contributes to the Life Cycle Assessment activities led by the Frederick Research Center, supporting the evaluation of the environmental impacts and sustainability performance of innovative processes for valorising seafood side streams and marine biomass.
Email: [email protected]
Blue EcoTech Ltd. is an innovative company focused on developing sustainable solutions to valorise marine biomass and promote circular economy practices within the blue sector. With expertise in marine resource management, stakeholder engagement, and applied biotechnology, the company contributes to advancing environmentally responsible and economically viable solutions for the aquaculture and fisheries industries.
Part of Blue EcoTech mission is also restoring and protecting marine ecosystems, supporting the recovery of degraded coastal ecosystems and contributing to the protection of natural marine resources. Through these activities, the company integrates technological innovation with environmental stewardship, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable ocean management.
Within the VASEACAD project, Blue EcoTech leads Work Package 6: Dissemination, Collaboration, and Stakeholder Engagement, coordinating communication activities and ensuring effective knowledge transfer to industry, policymakers, and society. The company is responsible for developing the project’s communication strategy and materials, engaging stakeholders across the value chain, and supporting the uptake of project results.
In addition, Blue EcoTech contributes to technical and research activities by facilitating pilot-scale processing in Malta, supporting the deployment of the Mobile Sealab, and organising demonstration workshops to showcase valorisation processes. The company also plays a key role in market analysis and stakeholder networking, helping to identify commercial opportunities and strengthen links with the aquaculture and biotechnology sectors.
Through its multidisciplinary role, Blue EcoTech supports both the scientific and practical implementation of VASEACAD, ensuring that project outcomes are impactful, scalable, and aligned with real-world needs.
Dr. Alexia Massa Gallucci is a marine scientist with a PhD in fisheries science and entrepreneur, specialising in marine conservation, environmental sustainability, and the circular blue economy.
In 2021, she founded Blue EcoTech Ltd., an innovative Greentech start-up focused on valorising marine biomass and waste streams through applied biotechnology to create high-value, bio-based products. The company also actively contributes to marine habitat restoration, supporting the recovery of degraded ecosystems and promoting sustainable ocean management.
Within the VASEACAD project, Dr. Massa Gallucci leads Work Package 6: Dissemination, Collaboration, and Stakeholder Engagement, overseeing communication strategy, stakeholder involvement, and knowledge transfer activities. She also contributes to pilot-scale implementation, market analysis, and industry engagement, ensuring that project outcomes are aligned with real-world needs and have strong potential for uptake.
Through her multidisciplinary expertise and entrepreneurial approach, she plays a key role in driving innovation and impact in the blue bioeconomy.
Phone: +356 99065910
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexia-massa-gallucci-5851373a/
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4952-9277
IRTA is an agri-food research institute owned by the Government of Catalonia and its mission is to contribute to modernising, improving, boosting competitiveness, and fostering sustainable development in the sectors of agriculture, food, agroforestry, aquaculture, and fishing, as well as in all areas of activity directly or indirectly related to the supply of healthy, high-quality foodstuffs to end consumers, while also contributing to food safety and safe processing of foodstuffs and in general enhancing the health and well-being of the population. Its general objectives are to promote research and technological development in the area of agri-food, to facilitate the transfer of scientific advances and to evaluate its own technological advances whilst seeking the utmost coordination and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
IRTA works all around the agri-food chain: plant production, animal production and food industry. Delta del Ebro is a key Mediterranean aquaculture site where shellfish production is the main aquaculture activity (3 tons oysters, 3.000 tons mussels yearly) and land-based activities serving as alternatives to salinized rice fields affected by rising sea levels. IRTA is a demonstrative research centre of the GFCM-FAO (2024) on restorative aquaculture (https://www.fao.org/gfcm/activities/aquaculture/innovation/adc/en/), conceived to be a hub of knowledge transfer and innovation on the aquaculture of low trophic species as well as the promotion of sustainable farming systems within the Mediterranean basin. IRTA Aquaculture Centre has several experimental units for broodstock experimentation, a semi-industrial bivalve hatchery, larval culture, nutritional and disease resistance studies.
WP1. Coordination and Management. Leader: HCMR; Partners: All partners.
Task1.2 Quality Management (IRTA). The Quality Manager will perform quality control of project deliverables and assist the Coordinator in ensuring
compliance with project standards.
WP2: Generation of Bioactive Hydrolysates from Sprat (S), Blue Whiting (BW), Bluefin tuna (BFT), European seabass (ESB), Gilthead seabream (GSB) and Atlantic Salmon (AS) to Target Muscle and Skin Inflammaging
Task 2.3 Bioactivity Screening for Human Muscle &Skin Function and antiinflammation in GSB & ESB
WP4. Validating, tailoring, and optimizing of sustainable novel feeds for commercially important European farmed fish by leveraging inter-species recycling. Leader: IRTA
Task 4.1 Fish feed formulation, production, and validation using interspecies recycling strategies.
Task 4.2 Boosting fish resilience to climate-related biotic and abiotic challenges.
I am a biologist specialised in aquatic pathology, holding a PhD in Fish Pathology from the University of Plymouth (UK). I have worked on the implementation of EU directives related to aquatic animal diseases, water quality, and product safety in fish and bivalve production.
My research at IRTA focuses on aquatic animal health, particularly on diseases relevant to Mediterranean aquaculture. My work encompasses epidemiology, risk assessment, biosecurity, diagnostics, microbiology, and in vivo models. I have co-authored 85 peer-reviewed publications (H-index: 23) and have participated in more than 40 regional, national, and international projects, serving as Principal Investigator (PI) in approximately half of them. I am actively involved in research projects and contracts with private companies and public institutions in the field of aquaculture health.I am a member of the IRTA Biosecurity Committee and of the FAO-GFCM Technical Advisory Groups on aquatic health and welfare
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0000-0003-1833-7114
Researcher specializing in fish nutrition and digestive physiology. Over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, h-index of 44. His research program focuses on elucidating the effects of nutrition on fish health and physiological condition, with particular emphasis on the dietary modulation of digestive enzymes and oxidative stress pathways. He has held key positions as Work Package Leader in several Horizon Europe initiatives, including NewTechAqua (Grant Agreement No. 862980) and ACTFAST, both dedicated to advancing sustainable aquaculture practices. His work encompasses the development of innovative aquaculture systems, including aquaponics, with special focus on the integration of the omnivorous flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) as a sustainable, low-trophic-level species for Mediterranean aquaculture diversification. Currently, he serves as Coordinator of the Mediterranean Restorative Aquaculture Centre (MRAC), a state-of-the-art demonstration facility co-funded by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM-FAO) and the Generalitat de Catalunya. The MRAC functions as a strategic research hub for innovation and knowledge transfer in environmentally sustainable aquaculture practices.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0000-0002-7457-8468
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum
SINTEF Ocean conducts research and innovation related to ocean space for national and international industries. Our ambition is to continue Norway’s leading position in marine technology and biomarine research. Many of the challenges of modern society can be solved through sustainable use of the ocean. Transport, food and energy production represent the backbone of ocean-based industries, and are also core areas for SINTEF Ocean. In addition, we focus on environmental technology, with one of the world’s leading professional environments in marine environmental technology. Through cooperation in the SINTEF group, we are also able to integrate our own expertise with expert technological knowledge from other industry sectors.
In the VASEACAD project, SINTEF Ocean leads WP3: Valorising side streams from the Mediterranean Sea aquaculture using downsized equipment. In this work package, SINTEF will take the results from lab bioprospecting in WP2 and run pilot scale tests with enzymatic hydrolysis on Mediterranean raw materials/side streams. The Mobile Sealab pilot processing plant will be transferred to Malta to demonstrate in situ valorisation of side streams, and will produce ingredients to be used for fish feeds in WP4 and base numbers and information for economic analysis in WP5.
Ana Carvajal is research manager and senior scientist at department of Fisheries and new biomarine industry at SINTEF Ocean. She leads the research group for Ingredients technology and works within circular bioeconomy with focus on total utilization of biomass for production of ingredients and reduction of waste.
Competence and research areas:
-Utilisation of biomass for production of ingredients for food, feed and other purposes
-Circular bioeconomy
-Enzymatic hydrolysis of marine and animal rest raw materials
-Food waste
-Process- and technology knowledge for production of ingredients
-Upscaling processing processes from lab through pilot scale to industry
-Raw material handling
-Lipid oxidation and stability
-Project management
Phone: +47 92 46 33 88
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-carvajal-085a261/
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2966-7477
Bendik Toldnes (VASEACAD work package leader) was a master mechanical engineer with a decade of industrial experience as project engineer and general manager/CEO before joining SINTEF in 2010. He develops new machines and processes for the fishing industry, and is the operational manager for Mobile Sealab.
Competence and research areas:
-Mechanical engineering
-Machines, technology and processes for fish industry
-Hydrolysis processing, fish meal & oil, silage, rest raw materials
-Small and large scale pilot testing, methods and equipment
-Innovative design and construction of machines, hygienic design (EHEDG Advanced)
-Techno-economic analysis for (new) marine resources
-Project management
Phone: +47 98 22 24 80
mail: [email protected]
Dr. Rasa Slizyte is a Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF Ocean. She is a biotechnologist with the main focus on utilization of marine raw materials with emphasis on preservation of raw materials, including rest raw materials and new marine species like mesopelagic fish, gammaridae, different seaweeds, use of hydrolysis technology, extraction and separation of proteins. Her research and projects also cover development and optimisation of the technologies to stabilise and process different raw materials included co-stream form agricultural sector. Her PhD work is titled “Hydrolysis of cod (Gadus morhua) by-products: Influence of raw material composition and process conditions” and was defended at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in 2004. She has experience in leading international and industrial projects, has published more than 55 peer-reviewed papers and is co- author of several book chapters.
Competence and research areas:
-Utilisation of biomass for production of ingredients for food, feed and other purposes
-Enzymatic hydrolysis of marine and animal rest raw materials
-Process- and technology knowledge for production of ingredients
-Upscaling processing processes from lab through pilot scale to industry
-Raw material handling and stability
– Development and optimisation of the technologies to extract and stabilise valuable component like collagen and gelatine from different raw and rest raw materials
– Project management and administration
Phone: +47 98 24 50 33
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasa-slizyte-3aa18611/
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7589-2419
Karadeniz Technical University, which was established on May 20, 1955 and launched education in 1963, provides education in the fields of technical sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and health sciences. In addition, it educates qualified and professional individuals for the future with vocational colleges, which are one of the most important educational institutions that will meet the technical needs of our city, region, and country. Likewise, it prepares highly qualified individuals and academic staff for the future through its graduate schools in line with the needs of Türkiye. Since its establishment, KTU has been constantly developing and growing as one of the main educational institutions in our country. It has been providing associate, undergraduate, and postgraduate education at international standards with its infrastructure and qualified staff. Through its scientific research and development activities, KTU contributes to both national and international literature and the technological development of our country and region. Rich and exemplary library, classrooms, and laboratories, equipped with modern and advanced technology, are offered to students with all their facilities. By keeping up with the changing conditions, needs of the information age, and demanding environments, KTU aims to teach our students to access information in the easiest way, to use the information they have acquired in the best way for the benefit of society and humanity, and to produce new information using this information.
KTU campus and the city of Trabzon are full of opportunities for students in this sense. KTU will contribute a lot to you in terms of being a social individual with its campus full of unique natural beauties, infrastructure for all kinds of cultural, sports, and social activities, student clubs for different interests, and wide recreation areas.
KTU is one of the leading universities in Türkiye with 12 faculties, 6 graduate schools, 1 school, and 8 vocational schools. This leading university has a strong academic staff of 2100 people, more than 30.000 students from 81 provinces and many different countries, and more than 250 thousand graduates. Considering all these, KTU is an ecole with its deep-rooted history, well-established traditions, educational experience, infrastructure, excellent campus, and qualified teaching and research staff.
Sürmene Marine Science Faculty (MSF) is one of the important faculties of the university. The department of Fisheries Technology Engineering is one of the department of the faculty. Main research activities involve fisheries management, aquaculture, food processing and marketing, aquatic toxicology, molecular biology, oceanography, marine pollution, marine ecology, fish diseases, and aquatic sciences
The faculty aims to develop active ingredient formulations for human, agricultural, and veterinary drugs, conduct preclinical R&D studies and high-tech research, and gain national and international recognition in these fields. It also aims to design and implement projects for all kinds of preclinical research and development studies to develop active ingredients and formulations for human, agricultural, and veterinary use, and to present new scientific achievements by compiling the data obtained from these projects. Furthermore, it aims to conduct preclinical toxicity studies in human, veterinary, and agricultural drugs and formulations. It seeks to develop university-industry collaboration by opening the center’s resources to the pharmaceutical sector. Finally, it aims to become a nationally and internationally accredited center conducting research on bioactive molecules and pharmaceutical formulations.
Marine Science Faculty:
Driving scientific progress regionally and nationally, the Faculty of Marine Sciences leads various international and domestic projects. These efforts foster collaboration not only among scientists but also between students, decision-makers, and the wider community. Last 10 years, MSF had finalise over 50 international and national projects. Last two years, the ongoing projects are;
Drug and Pharmaceutical Technology Application and Research Centre:
KTU ILAFAR was established in 2018, as a preclinical academic research center. Its purpose and research areas include conducting multidisciplinary pre-clinical R&D projects to develop/identify novel active substances (natural, synthetic, semi-synthetic, biotechnological, repositioning) and pharmaceutical formulations (new excipients, targeted carrier systems); able to conduct pre-clinical studies required for the registration process of drugs (for human use, veterinary use, agricultural use/pestisites) and has GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) certification for toxicity studies since January 2024. Research groups in ILAFAR has extensive experience in preclinical animal models, cell culture techniques, molecular pharmacology and formulation development. Last two years, nationally funded projects have been conducted: TUBITAK1004, PAN-TER (2021-2026); Ministry Of Industry And Technology, CMDP-2025 (2025-2027); KTU-BAP13, SHSY5Y-NEUROTOX (2024-2027).
The responsibilities of the KTU team are;
WP2: Generation of Bioactive Hydrolysates from Sprat (S), Blue Whiting (BW), Bluefin tuna (BFT), European seabass (ESB), Gilthead seabream (GSB) and Atlantic Salmon (AS) to Target Muscle and Skin Inflammaging. Lead: TU Dublin Partners: BioAtlantis (Ireland), KTU MSF, ILAFAR (Türkiye), IRTA (Spain), HCMR (Greece), BET (Malta).
WP6 Dissemination, Collaboration, and Stakeholder Engagement
Task 6.1 Communication Activities.
Task 6.2 Dissemination activities and Knowledge Sharing.
Task 6.3 Stakeholders engagement:
Stakeholder engagement and expected societal, industrial and/or policy impact: The quadruple helix will be well represented in the VASEACAD project as it is composed by prominent research organisations (HCMR, FRC, IRTA, TU Dublin, KTU, SINTEF) and industry (BA), Blue Island, Kimagro Fish farming (Levantina Fish), Blue EcoTech).
The VASEACAD Dissemination Plan will include 4 scientific publications of research findings in reputable scientific journals, ensuring that the outcomes are accessible to the academic community. In addition, the consortium members will participate in conferences and workshops that provide a platform for sharing insights, receiving feedback and fostering collaboration within the scientific community.
She is possessing extensive expertise in ecotoxicology, marine pollution monitoring, and environmental biology. Her primary research focus centers on the biological effects of pollutants, particularly the carcinogenic impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on marine life, oil spill risk assessment, and the fingerprint analysis of illegal petroleum discharges. Over a prolific academic and administrative career, she has led numerous high-profile initiatives funded by TÜBİTAK and official institutions, focusing on integrated marine monitoring, emergency response centers for oil pollution, ballast water management, and the risk assessment of invasive alien species (IAS) in coastal ecosystems like the Kızılırmak Delta.
Email: [email protected]
Her professional background spans decades of leadership in high-impact research, notably as a coordinator and researcher for major funded initiatives such as the EU Framework Program’s Traditional United Europe Food (TRUEFOOD) project, multiple TÜBİTAK projects focused on seafood safety and biogenic amines, and specialized “University funded projects” research projects. In addition to her university leadership and instructional roles, she has significant international industrial and administrative exposure, including food quality and safety control work at Signature Seafoods in Seattle, USA.
Email:[email protected]
His core research focuses heavily on seafood quality management, shelf-life determination, and innovative product development. He has technical proficiency in investigating the biochemical, lipid, and fatty acid compositions of various marine species—such as horse mackerel, crabs, and anchovies—and analyzing food safety parameters like biogenic amines and nitrosamines.
Email: [email protected]
She is an accomplished expert in the fields of marine biology, fisheries technology engineering, and aquatic science. Her specialized research heavily focuses on the ecology, reproductive biology, and population dynamics of marine organisms in the Black Sea, with a distinct emphasis on invasive alien species such as the Rapa whelk. She has developed significant expertise in pelagic and demersal fish stocks, feeding behaviors, and the ecological impacts of fishing gears and marine litter. She has collaborated on numerous international and EU-funded projects.
Email: [email protected]
She is a PhD student. Her expertise lies at the intersection of sustainable food technology, valorization of industrial food waste, and the development of innovative plant-based formulations. Throughout her academic career, she has focused extensively on the production and physicochemical characterization of dietary fibers from industrial byproducts, successfully incorporating them into model foods.
Email: [email protected]
She is a pharmacologist whose research focuses on molecular pharmacology, urogenital dysfunction, inflammatory skin diseases and innovative therapeutic interventions. A major thrust of her expertise lies in the neuroprotective roles of immunophilin ligands and various signaling pathways in preserving bladder and erectile function and cavernous nerve recovery following injury, such as from radical prostatectomy and chronic disease models. Her published work extensively emphasizes target areas like nitric oxide signaling, inflammatory signals, senescence and mitochondrial function. Her research interests extend into the evaluation of drug-drug interactions, pharmaceutical care models, and the pharmacological profiles of natural plant extracts. She has also collaborated on many national and international projects. She is the director of the GLP- accredited preclinical drug research laboratory.
Email: [email protected]
He has an academic and research background in the health sciences, with specific expertise spanning pharmacology, therapeutics, pharmacognosy, and pharmaceutical toxicology. His extensive research activity focuses on examining the therapeutic mechanisms of natural extracts and isolated compounds on complex physiological conditions, including erectile dysfunction, corporal fibrosis, pain, inflammation, and psoriasis. In addition to examining in vivo biological activities and potential drug-drug interactions in clinical settings, his expertise is heavily supported by specialized technical certifications.
Email: [email protected]
She has a specializes in preclinical safety and efficacy evaluations, possessing extensive experience in in vitro biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity testing, as well as blood compatibility and acute oral toxicity studies. Her research focus on advanced therapeutic applications, including siRNA-loaded nanoparticle gene silencing, biomaterial development, and the evaluation of novel anticancer, antiviral, and neuroprotective compounds.
Email: [email protected]
The basic fields of the Blue Island Plc (BI) company activities are fry breeding, through our subsidiary, blue fisheries in the Akrotiri area, fish farming through our fish breeding farm at the Governor’s Beach, wholesaling in Cyprus and abroad through the processing and packing unit and warehouses in the Strovolos industrial estate and retail selling through the company’s own shops and shops in supermarket chains. The processing, packing unit and the fish warehouses are located at the Strovolos Industrial Area and the company handles currently more than 3,000 tons of fish per year. Following selection, the packing and in the case of certain kinds of fish, the filleting, the marinating and the warehousing are made in-house. The company’s facilities operate in line with National and European laws and have National and European compliance Approval CYF07. The presence of Blue Island Plc in the retail sector in the Cyprus market is quite significant. The company’s presence accomplishes and secures the leadership of the company in this market.
WP3: Valorising side streams from the Mediterranean Sea aquaculture using pilot scale equipment (Lead: SINTEF, Norway). Participants: Blue Island
WP4. Validating, tailoring, and optimizing of sustainable novel feeds for commercially important European farmed fish by leveraging inter-species recycling. Lead: IRTA, Participants: IRTA, HMCR, Blue Island PLC
The primary goal is to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Mediterranean aquaculture by innovating, validating, and repurposing aquaculture by-products, such as fish bones, offal, and fillet trimmings, which are commonly regarded as “waste”. These by-products will be used to create novel fish feed formulations for inter-species recycling, aiming to promote sustainability within the sector and reduce its environmental impact.
The leftovers from sea bass and sea bream, intended for fish feed, will be analyzed for their nutritional composition. These materials will then be tested in fish feeding trials and optimized for their inclusion levels as feed ingredients and bioactive compounds for inter-species recycling. This inter-species recycling approach will be applied to commercially significant farmed species in the EU, specifically European seabass, and gilthead sea bream, evaluating feed acceptability, growth performance, and fish health status. By exploring and implementing these circular economy strategies aim to close the resource loop in aquaculture, moving toward zero-waste practices and supporting a more sustainable industry, aligning with EU environmental goals.
was born in 1979 and his family comes from Lapithos, Kyrenia. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics from the University of Athens. He has a masters’ degree from the Cyprus Institute of Marketing in the field of Corporate Management and Strategic Planning and a post graduate diploma from Anglia Ruskin University in the field of Marketing and Innovation. In 2011 he became a Certified Manager from the Institute of Certified Professional Managers, and in 2013 he became a Certified Marketer from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. In 2004, he was employed by Blue Island Plc and worked at various sections of the company. He worked as a General Manager from January 2016 up until June 2020. Today he is the C.E.O of the company, a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Board of Blue Island Plc.
Email: [email protected]
is a graduate of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and has obtained his degree in Food Technology (2011 – 2015). In addition, he holds an MSc Food Safety Hygiene and Management from the University of Birmingham (UK) (2015 – 2016) and has been awarded with distinction. He has previously worked as an assistant Production Manager in the dairy industry of Cyprus while he has also completed his internship in the Food Safety Sector in the Health Services of the Medical Services Department in the year 2016-2017. Since 2017 until today, he has been employed at Blue Island Plc as a Quality Assurance Manager and he is responsible for the quality management systems which the company is certified. His research interests and skills include the study of bacteria using mathematical models (predictive microbiology) as well as their behavior in relation to their exposure to silver nanoparticles.
Email: [email protected]
is a leading aquaculture company with extensive expertise in the farming and production of sea bream and sea bass since 1989. The company operates state-of-the-art packaging and processing facilities, including a hatchery and laboratory, and also constructs and maintains its own fleet of vessels to fully support its operations. Kimagro has developed and implemented award-winning, innovative fish feeding platforms—specifically designed to meet the needs of its farms—allowing a single operator to feed up to 3 million fish simultaneously.
The company also actively participates in R&D projects focused on responsible aquaculture practices and circular economy applications within the seafood sector.
In response to market demand, Kimagro has launched a range of ready-to-eat sea bream and sea bass products under the Levantina Fish brand, offering consumers added convenience and high-quality, nutritious options.
Through its unwavering dedication to its operations, the advantageous positioning of its farms, and the use of high-quality fish feeds, the company has been awarded Superior Taste Awards since 2012, with its products consistently recognized for their outstanding taste and quality.
Kimagro’s role in the project is to collaborate with all project partners by supplying fish processing by-products (waste materials) necessary for the implementation of the project. Additionally, the company provides further support where possible to facilitate the successful execution and advancement of project activities.
holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Nicosia (UNIC) and has completed two Master’s degrees, the first in Cancer Biology at the European University of Cyprus (EUC) and the second in Mediterranean Aquaculture at the University of Thessaly (UTH). Her second Master’s thesis focuses on fish pathology, specifically on endoparasites of the gastrointestinal tract of Sparus aurata under intensive farming conditions in Cyprus.
She is currently working as a Fish Health and Pathology Manager in Kimagro Fishfarming LTD, where she is responsible for managing and operating two laboratories, one at the grow-out facilities and one at the hatchery unit. Her professional interests focus on fish health management, disease diagnosis, and the application of laboratory techniques to support sustainable and efficient aquaculture production.
In the VASEACAD project, she supports data collection, sample analysis, and overall evaluation of fish performance and health, contributing to the assessment of innovative valorisation strategies and sustainable aquaculture practices.
Email: [email protected]
holds an MSc in Animal Biotechnology from the Cyprus University of Technology (2013–2016), where she developed a strong foundation in molecular biology, genetics, and biomolecular research, along with practical applications in veterinary pharmacology and biotechnology. She further specialized in quality and food safety management systems, obtaining certifications as a Lead Auditor in ISO 22000:2005 and ISO 19011:2011 (2017), and as a Lead Auditor in ISO 9001:2015 (2018).
She currently serves as Filleting Production Manager and Quality Manager, where she oversees food safety and quality standards, ensuring compliance with HACCP, regulatory, and company requirements. Her role includes managing production specifications, maintaining product traceability, monitoring hygiene practices, and addressing quality issues across the supply chain. She also supports internal teams with product information, coordinates audits and external inspections, ensures accurate product labelling, and drives continuous improvement through the development of new processes and technologies.
In the VASEACAD project, she is responsible for waste management, as well as for organizing and preparing all necessary materials and fish biomass required for the project’s experimental phases.
Email: [email protected]
holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing and has been serving as Export & Marketing Manager since 2014. She manages and strengthens relationships with international clients, ensuring clear and consistent communication. She oversees the full order execution process from receipt to delivery, coordinating closely with logistics teams and agents to guarantee the timely transport of perishable goods across various markets. In addition, she leads the company’s marketing strategy, including branding and digital presence, and serves as the primary liaison between the company and its global distribution network.
In the VASEACAD project, she serves as the coordinator, overseeing the overall implementation of the project and managing logistics to ensure smooth processing and the timely delivery required for the experimental phases.
Email: [email protected]
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.
In VASEACAD, BioAtlantis is focusing on formulation development, scale-up, and the conversion of fish processing by-products into valuable ingredients. Using advanced bioprocessing techniques, these materials are transformed into bioactive protein hydrolysates and other high-value biomolecules, supporting the circular blue bioeconomy and aligning with the company’s commitment to developing sustainable, science-based solutions.
CEO of BioAtlantis with over 30 years’ experience in the food and seaweed processing industries. He leads company strategy, innovation, and oversees product development through to market.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 00353-66-7118477
Chief Chemist at BioAtlantis with over 25 years’ experience in organic, industrial, and natural products chemistry. He manages the chemistry lab and supports efficient, cost-effective product development across production, quality, and R&D teams.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 00353-66-7118477
Research Manager at BioAtlantis, responsible for managing the company’s R&D, intellectual property, and a multidisciplinary team across the natural sciences.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 00353-66-7118477