The global market for marine biotechnology products has the potential to reach €5.5 billion by 2025. Europe is recognised as a high-potential region with largely unexplored marine resources. Given that people of all ages care about maintaining their appearance and that the median age of the world’s population is increasing, the dermo-cosmetical market is set to expand rapidly. As such, it is expected to double in value over the next 10 years. Substances of animal origin and synthetic products are not favoured in dermo-cosmetical products; therefore, their isolation from marine microorganisms is of high commercial and industrial importance. Algae are recognised as an important renewable source of natural bioactive substances with reportedly beneficial skin effects, such as UV-protection and treatment of aged skin. So far, Dunaliella, Phaeodactylum and Porphyridum are the only marine microalgal species that have been studied and used in commercial applications. Since new developments in the high-throughput techniques have enabled the discovery of new promising microorganisms, their identification compounds therein remains a scientific challenge and opportunity for their valorisation.

The overall objective of the proposed research is to extract compounds of high biotechnological value from selected microorganisms isolated from the Sečovlje Saltpans and use them in cosmetic products. The specific objectives are as follows:

• (1) Assessment of microbial biodiversity of the Sečovlje saltpans to provide a basis for future work on the characterisation of species with biotechnology potential.
• (2) Optimisation of microbial growth of selected microorganisms and optimised biosynthesis of selected compounds, including the operation of pilot-scale cultivation ponds and biomass harvesting.
• (3) Optimisation of extraction and purification protocols of bioactive compounds.
• (4) Prototype production of a new cosmetics line based on isolated ingredients.

The project consortium has three scientific partners: the National Institute of Biology (NIB) as a leading research organisation, and the Faculties of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (FKKT), and of Pharmacy (FFA) from the University of Ljubljana. The project also involves two business actors: AlgEn (Algal Technology Centre) and Soline (Salt Production Company). The project teams are experts in high-throughput molecular methods (FKKT); statistical design and analysis of experiments, network analysis, marine chemistry (NIB); algal growth technologies (Algen); biochemistry and molecular biotechnology (FKKT); expertise in using compounds, naturally present in Sečovlje Saltpans cosmetic products (Soline); and cosmetic product development and evaluation (FFA). This project aims to develop the pilot pipeline needed for establishing the first actual marine biotechnology production in Slovenia. This project attempts to efficiently bridge the gap between applied scientific discovery methodology development and industrial take-up and product finalisation.

The project is funded by the Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency (ARIS), Soline and AlgEn.

ARRS project ID: L4-4564

Duration: 1.10.2022 – 30.09.2025