Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate optimised production, harvesting, and product extraction from micro-algae, cyanobacteria and/or other phototrophic bacteria, including aspects related to automation and control when applicable, including a specific focus on downstream separation and purification (quality and purity) of end products depending on final application requirements. Products in scope are those ingredients and intermediates in the medium price range, for which process technologies exist but are currently not cost-competitive enough to meet market demands. The objective is broadening the range of viable products beyond the high-end products for niche markets whose high value presently justifies the use of high-cost technologies.
• Reduce OPEX and CAPEX with respect to state-of-art, demonstrate the downstream conversion of the produced feedstock into added value products with clear market applications. Cascading and circular use of by-products and side streams is also fully in scope.
• Ensure that production and conversion of the feedstock are cost-competitive, resources efficient and sustainable (in terms of land use, water use, energy use including RES when it provides added value to the overall business case, nutrients intake, CO2 and effluents). Regarding the optimized production, consider strain selection, optimization, accumulation (intracellular storage) and extraction of desired products, their yield, stability, toxicity, and quality, including purity.
• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials. Under this context, projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework.

Proposals must apply the concept of the ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system, including end users and consumers (when targeting B2C products).