OCEOMICS · OCEAN COMPUTATIONAL EXPLORATION AND ANALYTICS FOR THE NOVEL BIOACTIVE MOLECULES’ DISCOVERY AND THEIR EXPLOITATION IN COSMETICS

Marine environments offer untapped potential for developing sustainable natural products with unique properties. However, traditional marine bioprospecting exhibits low discovery rates and limited capacity to identify novel compounds. The incipient integration of digital methods and biotechnological tools is revolutionising marine bioprospecting by replacing trial-and-error approaches with targeted, data-driven methods, accelerating biodiscovery and increasing the chances of identifying unique, sustainable marine compounds for high-value applications. Acknowledging the ocean's pivotal role in sustainable development and the urgency for action, the main goal of OCEOMICS is to establish a multidisciplinary, industry-driven approach to advance marine bioprospecting through the integration of digital technologies and biotechnological tools to discover, characterise, optimise, scale-up and demonstrate the production of a range of novel bioactive compounds (ribosomally synthesised precursor peptides, non-ribosomal peptides, mycosporine-like amino acids and terpenes) for high-value cosmetic product formulations with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, barrier and UV-protecting effects. The project will integrate artificial intelligence and computational screening with biotechnological tools including bioprospecting, metabolic engineering, bioproduction and purification. OCEOMICS will adopt Safe and Sustainable by Design principles, ensuring safety for workers and end users, while delivering environmentally sustainable, cost-effective solutions that maximise social impact. The participatory approached, grounded on broad stakeholder engagement, will facilitate translation of blue biotechnology research into commercially solutions, creating a better framework for blue biotechnology innovations. Cooperation between northern and southern hemisphere partners will maximise access to unexplored marine biodiversity, fostering a future where economic growth aligns with sustainability.