s.Pro, the founding and managing partner of the SUBMARINER Network, played a central role in organising and delivering the event at the Axica Conference Centre in the heart of Berlin. Through its partnership in EU4Algae, s.Pro contributes to stakeholder engagement, regulatory guidance and industry outreach, helping to embed marine-resource innovation within Europe’s blue bioeconomy.
Launched by the European Commission in 2022, EU4Algae aims to connect and strengthen the algae community across Europe—linking producers, researchers, policymakers and investors to accelerate sustainable growth.
“What a summit! The 2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit brought together the cream of Europe’s algae community – so much energy, so many fresh ideas,” said Maris Stulgis, Policy Officer for Blue Bioeconomy, Algae and Marine Aquaculture at the European Commission (DG MARE).
Photos by: Lars Huebner
Inside the EU Algae Awareness Summit
Over the course of two days, the Summit explored the opportunities and challenges shaping Europe’s algae value chains. The programme combined keynotes, panels and facilitated round-table discussions that covered the full spectrum from cultivation and processing to markets and regulation. Topics included the potential of algae solutions in markets like food, feed, biostimulants, bioremediation, and carbon capture, reflecting a business sector ready to build on the results of European research and innovation.
The Summit also drew high-level political attention, with Alois Rainer, Germany’s Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, and Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, among the distinguished guests. Their presence underlined Europe’s growing political commitment to developing a sustainable algae sector and its importance within the broader blue and green transitions.
A joint Declaration initiated by Germany and France and signed by a growing number of EU Member States, recognises algae as a key resource for Europe’s environmental and economic future.
Alongside the policy discussions, exhibitions showcased new technologies and market-ready products, while networking sessions strengthened links between producers, scientists, policymakers and investors.
From Awareness to Action
The Summit and the EU4Algae initiative mark a shift from discussion to coordinated action. Algae are gaining long-awaited recognition as part of Europe’s bioeconomy, climate strategy and sustainable industry development. The event brought together the full spectrum of stakeholders — scientists, entrepreneurs, regulators, and financiers — as their collaboration is key to driving the Algae sector in Europe.
The presence of innovative companies and demonstration projects confirmed that the industry is ready to scale up. For regional ecosystems such as those in the Baltic Sea region, the discussions highlighted the need for strong clusters, shared infrastructure and cooperation across sectors.
“From eye-catching seaweed-based fashion and genuinely tasty algae-based foods to clever new products, this Summit exceeded expectations,” added Maris Stulgis. “Our national authorities left with a clear takeaway: let’s back this sector with smart, algae-friendly policies that create new jobs, low-carbon products and healthier seas.”
The Summit’s success lies in the momentum it created for implementation. The focus now is on developing real-scale demonstration projects, refining regulation, attracting investment, and strengthening partnerships that turn awareness into long-term progress. The next step is clear: equipping and empowering the value chain to deliver and scale. The will exist, and the community is ready. What is needed now are the tools and structures to sustain this momentum.
Photos by: Lars Huebner
Carrying the Momentum Forward
The SUBMARINER Network and its managing partner s.Pro will continue building on the momentum created in Berlin. Through EU4Algae, we will connect regional clusters, policymakers and industry actors to ensure that local initiatives align with Europe-wide strategies.
Insights from the Summit will guide ongoing work on the EU Algae Industry Roadmap, supporting the practical deployment of algae-based solutions in food, feed, biostimulants, bioremediation and climate mitigation. By linking governments, SMEs and research institutions, we aim to turn the Summit’s outcomes into concrete actions across Europe.
Reflecting on this process, Angela Schultz-Zehden, Managing Director of s.Pro and the SUBMARINER Network, emphasised the importance of building shared understanding among stakeholders:
‘Our process of structured roundtable discussions on actions which need to be taken to scale algae production and increase the availability and uptake of algae products and services in Europe, has been a very important step towards building consensus among stakeholders across authorities, companies and research‘, she reflects. Schultz-Zehden designed the interactive round-table format and is responsible for the Algae Industry Roadmap.
‘Of the many actions suggested, twelve clearly ranked highest among all participants. We will use these results as to refine actions and make them more specific as to enable their concrete uptake,’ Schultz-Zehden adds.
The 2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit showed how far Europe’s algae sector has come—and how much potential remains. With clear policy signals, industrial readiness and growing regional cooperation, algae are emerging as a vital part of a climate-resilient and circular economy.
For the SUBMARINER Network, the path forward is one of collective action: connecting people, policies and ideas to turn Europe’s algae promise into measurable results.
