From 23 to 27 August 2026, the SMACC+ project was represented at the 28th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering (CHISA 2026), held in Prague, Czech Republic. With a history spanning 64 years, CHISA is one of the world’s longest-standing congresses dedicated to chemical engineering and process industries, bringing together students, young researchers and leading experts to exchange knowledge, ideas and technological advances.
SMACC+ was represented by Víctor Ocampo Blanco, Project Manager from the Universidade de Vigo, the project’s coordinating partner. During the congress, he presented the poster P2.74 – “Pressurized extraction of bioactives and biopolymers from Limnospira platensis and Dunaliella salina grown in natural seawater-based medium”.
The research focuses on pressurized extraction techniques for the recovery of bioactive compounds and biopolymers from microalgae and cyanobacteria, exploring approaches that can contribute to more efficient and sustainable biomass valorisation.
The topic is closely aligned with the objectives of SMACC+, which focuses on developing sustainable, high-value bioactive compounds derived from microalgae and cyanobacteria for cosmeceutical and nutraceutical applications. The project promotes eco-efficient biotechnological processes, sustainable extraction and recovery methods, circular economy approaches and the development of natural alternatives to synthetic ingredients.
Advancing green extraction and biomass valorisation
The work presented at CHISA 2026 highlights the importance of developing green and efficient extraction technologies capable of recovering valuable compounds from algal biomass while supporting their future application in high-value sectors.
Within SMACC+, the development and validation of sustainable cultivation, extraction and recovery processes are key elements of the project’s research and innovation activities. These processes are intended to be technically robust, scalable and suitable for future industrial implementation, contributing to the transition from marine biomass to sustainable bio-based products.
The research presented in Prague therefore represents an important example of how advances in chemical and process engineering can support the valorisation of microalgae and cyanobacteria, helping unlock their potential as renewable sources of valuable bioactive compounds.
Connecting research, innovation and industrial applications
Participation in CHISA 2026 provided SMACC+ with an opportunity to increase its visibility among the international chemical engineering and process engineering community and to exchange knowledge with researchers working on innovative extraction and processing technologies.
The congress’s emphasis on interaction between young researchers and established experts also offered a valuable environment for scientific exchange and networking.
By bringing SMACC+ research to an international chemical engineering forum, the project reinforces its commitment to connecting scientific research with sustainable technological development and market-oriented applications. This approach is central to SMACC+, which aims to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer, foster collaboration between research and industry, and strengthen the Atlantic blue bioeconomy.
About the SMACC+ project
SMACC+ (Sustainable Microalgae and Cyanobacteria-Based Bioactive Compounds for Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals) is a 30-month European cooperation project coordinated by the Universidade de Vigo and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme.
With a total budget of EUR 2.8 million, the project brings together nine core partners and 5 associated partners, from Spain, Portugal, France and Ireland, combining scientific expertise, technological capabilities and industrial knowledge to develop sustainable, high-value bioactive compounds from microalgae and cyanobacteria.
Through research, technology transfer, sustainability assessment and transnational cooperation, SMACC+ aims to support the development of innovative bio-based solutions while contributing to a more resilient, circular and competitive Atlantic blue bioeconomy.
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