The INNOAQUA consortium gathered in Nice, France, on 30 June and 1 July 2025 for its 4th Bi-Annual Meeting, bringing together our 16 project partners from 7 countries to reflect on achievements, review the progress of ongoing activities, and align on the next steps.
On day 1, the event opened with a welcome session led by project coordinator NORCE, setting the tone for two intensive days of discussions and strategic planning.
A summary of the first project year was presented, followed by an insightful session featuring key synergetic projects : LOCALITY, Aquaphoenix, and Giant LEAPS , showcasing opportunities for clustering and future collaboration. A round table discussion on project synergies facilitated further engagement among related initiatives.
The afternoon was dedicated to reviewing the progress of the first 4 Work Packages outlining technological advances and ongoing developments :
- WP1 : Co-creation of social innovations: societal engagement and acceptance led by NORCE
- WP2 : Sustainable Aquaculture Practices led by A4F
- WP3 : Development and optimisation of processing techniques led by LEITAT
- WP4 : Formulation of innovative seafood ingredients and products led by ALGEMY.
The second day resumed with WP5 (Sustainability, safety and regulation led by SUSTAINN) and WP6 (Communication, dissemination, and exploitation led by PEDAL), where consortium members discussed project-wide circularity KPIs, and communication & dissemination strategies.
A breakout session on sustainability, safety, and regulation followed, encouraging focused discussion around critical enabling factors for the project’s success.
The afternoon sessions explored the social and consumer perspectives around algae-based ingredients, featuring:
- An introduction to agent-based models and the decision-making component HUMAT
- A joint WP3 & WP4 session on first impressions and feedback regarding algae-based food ingredients.
The meeting concluded with a Project Steering Committee session to consolidate key decisions and priorities moving forward. The two-day event reaffirmed the INNOAQUA consortium’s shared vision and strong engagement across work packages.
