- Theme
- EU4Algae
- Created on
- 30 January 2026
Published on 30 January 2026
The Insider’s Perspective series shines a spotlight on the innovative and cutting-edge stakeholders shaping the algae sector’s future. In this twenty-fourth edition, we highlight Boğaziçi University, one of the most prominent research universities in Türkiye (Turkey) where algae biotechnology is positioned as a strategic pillar for the transition toward a resilient, low-carbon bioeconomy. Through the İstanbul Microalgae Biotechnologies Research and Development Unit (İMBİYOTAB), Boğaziçi University has developed one of the region’s most comprehensive microalgae research, development, and demonstration ecosystems. Spanning fundamental science, pilot-to-industrial scale infrastructure, and active engagement with European policy and industry initiatives, the University is translating algae research into tangible environmental, industrial, and climate impact. Discover how Boğaziçi University is helping translate algae research into real-world impact, supporting Europe’s transition towards a resilient, low-carbon bioeconomy.
Boğaziçi University: Advancing Algae Biotechnology from Research to Real-World Impact
Boğaziçi University combines long-standing academic excellence with a strong mission to transform research into societal and industrial value. Within this framework, İMBİYOTAB operates as an applied research hub dedicated to algal biotechnology.
Its work integrates strain optimisation, upstream cultivation, downstream processing, and biorefinery concepts under real-world operating conditions. Activities span multiple application areas, including food, feed, biomaterials, bioenergy, environmental remediation, and climate technologies, aligning closely with EU Green Deal objectives and Türkiye’s long-term net-zero ambitions.
From Lab to Full-Scale Algae Biorefinery: The INDEPENDENT Project
A flagship example of this applied approach is the Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Bioeconomy Driven Development (INDEPENDENT) project. Through INDEPENDENT, Boğaziçi University has established a fully integrated algae biorefinery platform that goes far beyond conventional laboratory-based research.
Co-funded by the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and the European Commission under the Competitiveness and Innovation Sector Operational Programme (CISOP), the platform operates with full-scale upstream cultivation capacity exceeding 100 m³, coupled with downstream processing lines for harvesting, dewatering, extraction, and product fractionation.
Discover the INDEPENDENT Biorefinery in action: Watch the video here.
This infrastructure enables:
- End-to-end validation of algae value chains, from strain selection and cultivation optimisation to finished products.
- Renewable wind-energy-powered operations, ensuring climate-positive development of algae-based products.
- Service provision to SMEs and start-ups, including contract R&D, pilot trials, techno-economic assessments, and scale-up support for algae-based foods, feed ingredients, biopolymers, pigments, and bioactive compounds.
By lowering technical and financial barriers to scale-up, INDEPENDENT functions as a shared innovation facility, accelerating market entry for algae-derived products while embedding sustainability by design.
Algae for Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Climate Mitigation
Boğaziçi University’s contribution to the SUSTEPS Horizon Europe project extends this vision into the energy and climate domain. Within SUSTEPS, microalgae are deployed as third-generation feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), cultivated exclusively using domestic wastewater and industrial flue gases.
This approach deliberately avoids competition with arable land, freshwater, and food resources.
Key elements of the work include:
- Coupling algae cultivation with industrial CO₂ capture, transforming waste emissions into valuable biomass.
- Using municipal and industrial wastewater as nutrient sources, enabling simultaneous biomass production and water treatment.
- Developing integrated pathways from algae biomass to aviation-grade fuel through hydrothermal liquefaction and refining, contributing to the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors.
Learn more about the SUSTEPS project: Watch the video here.
SUSTEPS demonstrates how algae can move beyond niche applications to address strategic EU challenges related to energy security, emissions reduction, and circular resource use.
Innovation, Markets, and the Role of EU4Algae
Boğaziçi University is actively bringing innovative algae applications closer to the market by combining advanced infrastructure, interdisciplinary expertise, and strong industry linkages. Participation in the EU4Algae stakeholder forum has played an important role in this journey.
EU4Algae provides a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, alignment between national and European efforts, and increased visibility of algae-based solutions among policymakers, investors, and the wider public.
The discussions and priorities highlighted during the EU4Algae Annual Meeting 2025 in Riga strongly resonate with Boğaziçi University’s work, particularly around scaling up algae production sustainably, integrating algae into existing industrial systems, and building public trust in algae-derived products.
Unlocking the Full Potential of Algae in Europe
From an insider’s perspective, Assoc. Prof. Berat Haznedaroglu, Director of İMBİYOTAB, identifies three elements that remain essential to fully unlock algae’s potential in the EU:
- More large-scale demonstration facilities bridging the gap between pilot and industrial deployment.
- Stable regulatory and competitive market frameworks for algae-based fuels, foods, and biomaterials.
- Stronger cross-sector collaboration, connecting academia, SMEs, large industry, and public authorities.
“We at Boğaziçi University, through the INDEPENDENT and SUSTEPS projects currently conducted at İMBİYOTAB, are committed to contributing to all three action items. By anchoring algae research in real infrastructure and real markets, we aim to help position algae as a cornerstone of Europe’s sustainable bioeconomy and will continue to assist our stakeholders in their journey to take algae to the next level.”
Stay Connected with Boğaziçi University
Learn more about Boğaziçi University’s work and follow its progress by visiting the official website and staying up to date via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Additional information
Join the #EU4Algae conversation and keep an eye on the EU4Algae Forum to stay updated on ongoing activities, initiatives, and sector updates.
Got questions? Contact us at: contact
eu4algae [dot] eu (contact[at]eu4algae[dot]eu).