Seaweed Farming Development Program in Holland

Our minister of economics calls for proposals for small entrepeneurs to develop viable seaweed farming techniques for open sea or ocean connected rivers. This because the expertise is not developed yet while Holland does have great expertise regarding offshore technology and land is expensive compared to space in the north sea. Holland also has a developed biorefining industry. This ties in with the currenly implemented ?bio-based economy? and ?climate change? policies.

There are three phases, total budget 1,32 mln Euro. Phase I is 200,000 Euro for a maximum of four feasibility studies. Phase II R&D for these projects. Phase III for their commercialization.

The project is aimed at creating and implementing viable commercial models based on seaweed farming.

The ministry of economics estimates a fossil fuel savings potential from seaweed of 100 petajoule (3% of total energy consumption). It can take the lead in building expertise in the still undeveloped field.

Questions to be answered:

1. How does a seaweed farming system look
2. How is it made profitable
3. What new products does farming yield
4. Who can use the produced biomass
5. Can production be connected to existing offshore infrastructure
6. How does it tie into existing industrial infrastructure

Score of applications (enter before jan 21 2010 17:00)

1.    (20 points)
a.    Usefullness in farming seaweed, prefering concepts that cover all necessary aspects.
b.    How often can the concept be repeated in the dutch North Sea (expressed in PetJoule, Dry Tons or Euro value).
c. How viable is the proposing organization (the cooperation between entrepeneurs, scientists other necessary pertners)
2.    (10 points)
a.    Is the proposed method applicable in the widest possible variety of locations.
b.    It the approach technologically up to date or even innovative. Can it mean a breakthrough.
3.    (10 points)
a.    Assesment of the economic potential, export potential, long term fit of the proposing company (will it continue to work on this longer, is it in line with company?s main focus).
4.    (10 points)
a.    Consequences for the maritime environment
b.    Consequences for the participating companies
c.    Consequences for dutch society, climat policy and biobased economy policy.


Schedule

1. Invitation of proposals Nov 16th 2009 until Jan 21th 2010
2. Review of proposals until March 18th
3. Start execution of Phase I April 1st
4. Completion of projects Okt 1st
5. End project report Okt 22nd 2010
6. Deadline proposals phase 2 December 31st
7. Review of proposals until Feb 1st
8. Start execution phase II March 1st
9. End of Phase II Februari 2013 (two years)
10. End project report March 2013
11. Start execution phase III May 2013

Adress of SenterNovem/Agentschap.nl (who execute this tender)

SenterNovem, afdeling SBIR
t.a.v. SBIR Zeewieren
Postbus 8242
3503 RE Utrecht.

Website http://www.agentschapnl.nl/