Masterplan Marine Biotechnology

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

picture: JWS / Fotolia.com

More than two thirds of the world's surface is covered by oceans, which have the largest share of global biodiversity. Approximately less than 1% of marine organisms are known so far. These underexplored marine organisms could be resources for e.g. novel enzymes, biopolymers, biological active natural products and biomaterials with applications in food sector, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, in industrial processes as well as in the field of sustainable energy production. The global market for marine biotechnology products is estimated at 2.8 billion euros. The cumulative rate of growth is calculated conservatively at 4-5%.¹

The northern German federal state Schleswig-Holstein is known as “land between the seas”. Its economy is closely linked to the North and the Baltic Sea. Marine Biotechnology as a future key technology is an integral part of it.

Within the SUBMARINER project, Norgenta generated a regional strategy for short, mid and long term development of marine biotechnology in Schleswig-Holstein. The process included identification of the main industrial topics and markets (neutraceuticals, renewable energy, functional food, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and cosmetics) as well as academic topics (marine genomics, marine microbial diversity, biologically active substances, biobanking, and remediation with marine organisms). An overview of ongoing projects, as well as products and services already on the market were and were conducted. Stakeholder panels were put in place, activated or called in to participate in this process. Additionally an advisory board was set up for evaluation of the roadmap process.

¹ European Science Foundation (2010): Marine Biotechnology: A New Vision and Strategy for Europe, p.9.