The European project ATL.A.HUB (Atlantic Hubs to boost Marine Algae Land-based Aquaculture and Biotechnology) aims to foster the sustainable development of the European algae sector through the establishment of Atlantic hubs specialising in land-based aquaculture and marine biotechnology.
ATL.A.HUB proposes a series of actions designed to tackle the main bottlenecks in the European algae production value chain. To this end, it will draw upon two of the largest algae cultivation and processing infrastructures in Europe, located in Pozo Izquierdo (Gran Canaria, Spain) and Vila Franca de Xira (Lisbon, Portugal), which will serve as launch platforms for the development and validation of new algae-based products.
The project will also include a replication plan to identify other areas within the European Atlantic region that offer suitable conditions for algae cultivation and favourable regulatory frameworks.
The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), which operates under the Department of Universities, Science and Innovation of the Government of the Canary Islands, coordinates the ATL.A.HUB consortium, which comprises seven organisations from Spain, Portugal, Latvia and France.
This initiative is funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) of the European Commission, under the call ‘Smart Specialisation for Sustainable Blue Economy and Regenerative Ocean Farming’ of the Horizon Europe programme, through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
The project offers all the information about the progress of its activity through its Instagram and LinkedIn channels.
The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), which coordinates the European project, presented progress made by this initiative at the S3 CoP Annual Conference 2026, highlighting its objective to establish Atlantic hubs for land-based aquaculture and algae biotechnology, supported by infrastructure in the Canary Islands and Portugal
ITC played a prominent role in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026, an international forum for discussion on sustainability in islands held in Gran Canaria from 20 to 22 April, through a series of presentations and a visit by participants to its technology facilities in Pozo Izquierdo as part of the event programme
The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) is leading the European project ATL.A.HUB, funded with €1.57 million from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), with the participation of partners from Spain, Portugal, France and Latvia
ATL.A.HUB, coordinated by the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, will promote the creation of Atlantic hubs to accelerate land-based algae aquaculture and marine biotechnology in Europe
CONSORTIUM (7):
Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC). Spain
A4F AlgaFuel S.A. Portugal
Universidad de La Laguna (ULL). Spain
Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información (ACIISI) del Gobierno de Canarias. Spain
Asociación Portuguesa de Acuicultores. Portugal
LCA Dynamics SIA. Latvia
Edonia. France
ASSOCIATED PARTICIPANTS:
Macrocarbon S.L. Spain
Fresh Frutas Canarias 2016 S.L. Spain
EU funding: 1.578.076,28 € (EMFAF – European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund)
October 2025 – September 2028 (36 months)
General objective: The overall objective of the project is to accelerate the deployment of land-based algae aquaculture in Europe through the consolidation of a collaborative network bringing together research, industry, and public administrations.
Specific objectives: Its specific objectives include the design of marketing strategies tailored to different business models, the demonstration of success stories featuring investment-ready products, and the promotion of the blue economy through the diversification of algae-based biotechnological products.
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