The Demo Day of the Algae Acceleration Programme, organised as part of the MACRO CLEAN Project, was held on 24 October 2026 at Biruni Technopark.
The event focused on the potential of macroalgae to generate sustainable economic value, within the broader objectives of promoting the sustainable management of macroalgal blooms in the Black Sea, reducing pollution and exploring opportunities for the economic valorisation of macroalgae.
During the opening session, Sezgin Erzan, General Manager of Biruni Technopark; Seda Sezin Dermanlı, MACRO CLEAN Project Local Coordinator at the Marmara Municipalities Union and Hakan Arca, Co-Founder of Global Solutions Network, addressed the participants. Following the opening remarks, Seda Sezin Dermanlı delivered a presentation on the objectives of the MACRO CLEAN Project, the activities carried out and the results achieved.
As part of the programme, a panel discussion entitled “What Do Investors Look for in Niche Areas Such as the Blue Economy?” explored investment trends in the blue economy and the relationship between entrepreneurial ventures and the investment ecosystem. The panel featured Birkant Çelik, Co-Founder of Fonangels, Sezgin Erzan, General Manager of Biruni Technopark and Mehmet Can Sucu, CTO of Kybele’s Garden.
The event continued with presentations by entrepreneurs, who had the opportunity to introduce their business ideas and innovative solutions to the participants. Through the entrepreneur presentations and networking sessions, the event aimed to encourage knowledge exchange and foster potential collaboration opportunities among entrepreneurs, representatives of the investment ecosystem and other stakeholders.
The Algae Acceleration Programme Demo Day served as an important platform for increasing the visibility of entrepreneurial solutions focused on the valorisation of macroalgae and strengthening collaboration opportunities in this field.