The SeaBioComp EU funded project, of which MSE International is a partner, is aiming to build demonstrator products for marine applications from bio-based, thermoplastic composite material.

The project partners are encouraging companies to share ideas for possible demonstrator products. Objects up to 2 meters in diameter can be printed with 3D technology.

The SeaBioComp project aims to develop demonstrator products from bio-based composites that can potentially replace the traditional fiber-reinforced composites used in the marine and maritime industry.

The bio-based composite must have at least the same mechanical properties, achieve a suitable service life (depending on the application) and reduce both CO2 emissions and ecotoxicity by 30 % and 50 % respectively. Because thermoplastic composites are used, the recycling process will also be studied in more detail and used to finalise the protocol.

The demonstrator products and analytical protocols that the project will deliver will hopefully convince the marine and maritime industries that bio-based composites can offer a realistic and feasible alternative to less sustainable materials.

The consortium is therefore launching a call to the marine industry to propose possible applications of bio-based composites in an offshore environment. The consortium will then determine which proposed demonstrator product can be built.

Possible demonstrator items could include marine products such as fishing gear, boats, floating structures (e.g. buoys, floaters) and infrastructure components (e.g. ships, anchors) from different areas of the blue economy (aquaculture, offshore energy, shipping, coastal defense, tourism).

Do you have an idea for a possible application? Please contact us at ids@centexbel.be with your proposal for a demonstrator product.

If you are interested to be kept up to date with the project and its outcomes please sign up to the Interest Group at http://www.seabiocomp.eu/interest_group/

SeaBioComp is co-funded under the EU Interreg 2 Seas Programme.

The project will run to February 2023 with an overall budget of Euro4.1M, Euro2.5M of which (60%) is funded from the European Regional Development Fund. The SeaBioComp project partners include research institutions, university research groups, SMEs and specialist cluster organisations.

To find out more about the SeaBioComp project download the project leaflet and infographic from the website at: http://www.seabiocomp.eu/downloads/