130743Pilot scale production of a biologically active polysaccharide from a marine microalga using photobioreactor technologyClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKGlycoMar Limited, a biotechnology company based in Scotland, and MicroA AS, a microalgae and photobioreactor (PBR) technology company based in Norway, are proposing a feasibility project to evaluate the pilot scale production of an identified high value cosmetic ingredient from a marine microalga. The project will use MicroA’s recently patented PBR technology as the scale-up platform for GlycoMar’s microalgal polysaccharide product development. MicroA will use their pilot scale system (200 litres) to optimise growth conditions for maximum algal polysaccharide production. GlycoMar will optimise downstream processing to maximise recovery of the target product. The project will establish the commercial viability of full-scale production. Success of the project will be an important milestone for both partner companies and the wider biotechnology and microalgae industries, and will lead to commercialisation as a high value natural skin care ingredient within 3 years.