News

CELABOR Partners in the European OCEOMICS Project to Develop the Next Generation of Sustainable Marine Cosmetic Ingredients

June 2026, the European OCEOMICS project (Ocean Computational Exploration and Analytics for the Novel Bioactive Molecules’ Discovery and Their Exploitation in Cosmetics) was officially launched. This ambitious Horizon Europe initiative brings together 12 partners from Europe and New Zealand. Through its Extraction & Biotechnology Department, CELABOR is proud to contribute to this large-scale project dedicated to the sustainable exploration of marine biodiversity for the development of innovative, high-value cosmetic ingredients.

With a total budget of €5.48 million and coordinated by AINIA (Spain), the project will run for four years, until May 2030. Its objective is to transform the way marine bioactive molecules are discovered, selected, and produced by combining artificial intelligence, genomic analyses, advanced biotechnologies, and sustainable industrial processes.

The oceans represent an exceptional source of natural molecules with unique properties that remain largely untapped. OCEOMICS aims to accelerate their discovery through an integrated approach combining digital tools, computational modelling, marine biology, metabolic engineering, and bioproduction technologies.

The project will focus on identifying novel bioactive compounds for the cosmetics sector, with potential applications in skin protection, oxidative stress reduction, anti-inflammatory activity, UV protection, and enhancement of the skin’s natural barrier function.

CELABOR’s Expertise Supporting the Discovery and Validation of Marine Bioactives

Within OCEOMICS, CELABOR will contribute across several stages of the value chain, from the valorisation of marine resources to the biological validation of bioactive candidates. The Extraction & Biotechnology Department will provide its expertise in sustainable extraction, chromatographic purification, and natural molecule characterization to transform resources identified through bioprospecting and AI-driven approaches into cosmetic ingredients with high commercial potential.

In parallel, CELABOR will lead the biological screening and functional validation of selected extracts, fractions, and molecules. Evaluations will focus on mechanisms associated with skin ageing, including antioxidant and anti-hyperpigmentation activities, as well as the inhibition of key enzymes involved in extracellular matrix degradation, such as elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase. These studies will support the selection of the most promising bioactives for the development of future sustainable and high-performance cosmetic formulations.

This contribution is fully aligned with CELABOR’s strategy to accelerate innovation in bio-based ingredients, marine biotechnology, and the circular bioeconomy, while facilitating the transfer of scientific discoveries into tangible industrial applications.

A Safe and Sustainable by Design Approach

All developments carried out within OCEOMICS will follow the European Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. This approach integrates safety, environmental sustainability, and impact reduction considerations from the earliest stages of innovation and process development. By combining fundamental research, digital technologies, and industrial implementation, the project will strengthen European competitiveness in bio-based cosmetic ingredients while promoting the responsible and sustainable exploitation of marine biodiversity

An International Collaboration Driving Innovation

The OCEOMICS consortium brings together complementary organisations from the fields of research, digital technologies, biotechnology, and the cosmetics industry across Europe and New Zealand. This intercontinental collaboration will facilitate access to diverse marine biodiversity resources while fostering the exchange of cutting-edge scientific and technological expertise.

Alongside CELABOR, the project partners are:

Through this initiative, OCEOMICS aims to pave the way for a new generation of sustainable marine cosmetic ingredients developed through data-driven approaches, artificial intelligence, and advanced biotechnology.

Funding

The OCEOMICS project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101291290).