CORDIS · EXPLORA
Unlocking the Hidden Treasures of Aquatic Extremophiles: sustainable development of industrially relevant novel active biomolecules.
- Code
EXPLORA- Programme
- HORIZON
- Call
- Targeting aquatic extremophiles for sourcing novel enzymes, drugs, metabolites and chemicals
HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-01-10 - Status
- SIGNED
- Period
- 2024-12-01 – 2028-11-30
Official data · CORDIS · synced 2026-10-17 10:16 · official record
Participants
| Organisations | Role | Country | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICA | coordinator | ES | 813 736 € |
| UNIVERSITAET LEIPZIG | participant | DE | 535 980 € |
| IE UNIVERSIDAD | participant | ES | 512 438 € |
| INEGI - INSTITUTO DE CIENCIA E INOVACAO EM ENGENHARIA MECANICA E ENGENHARIA INDUSTRIAL | participant | PT | 475 272 € |
| NATIONAL ANTARCTIC SCIENTIFIC CENTER | participant | UA | 366 685 € |
| WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY | participant | NL | 365 070 € |
| VENUSROUZES LABSOLUTIONS | participant | BG | 324 775 € |
| FUNDACION PARA EL FOMENTO DE LA INVESTIGACION SANITARIA Y BIOMEDICA DE LA COMUNITAT VALENCIANA | participant | ES | 278 835 € |
| TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT | participant | NL | 220 794 € |
| EURO-FUNDING EU PROJECTS SOCIEDAD LIMITADA | participant | ES | 201 562 € |
| EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN | participant | DE | 199 499 € |
| UNIVERSIDAD MIGUEL HERNANDEZ DE ELCHE | participant | ES | 199 192 € |
| EIDGENOESSISCHE ANSTALT FUER WASSERVERSORGUNG ABWASSERREINIGUNG UND GEWAESSERSCHUTZ | associated partner | CH |
Description
Extreme aquatic environments account with a vast and yet largely unexplored biodiversity that holds immense potential for novel active biomolecules with multiple industrial applications. However, the harsh and challenging conditions such as accessibility, environmental hazards, ineffective or inaccurate sampling techniques, and poor bioprospecting pose significant obstacles to their exploration and sampling. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for unlocking the potential of extremophiles to benefit society. The EXPLORA project will depart from two extreme aquatic ecosystems selected such as the acidic Rio Tinto in Spain and the psychrophilic Antarctic Region. By developing innovative, accurate, and sustainable tailor-made sampling methods, employing cutting-edge bioprospecting techniques, and utilising state-of-the-art analytical tools for isolation of bioactive substances, in the EXPLORA project it is expected to find and isolate microorganisms which produce novel antimicrobial and antioxidants compounds, sialylated extracellular polymeric substances and, plastic-degrading acidophilic enzymes which applicability will be validated for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and for PET recycling purposes, respectively. Additionally, deeper understanding on the legal frameworks in the planned contexts such as the Nagoya Protocol and Antarctic Treaty Legal Requirements is also envisaged. By achieving these objectives, EXPLORA will contribute to the sustainable exploration of biodiversity hotspot regions, advancing the development of next-generation sampling methods, expanding bioprospecting from the screening for new chemicals into biological function, and contributing to the understanding of potential trade-offs inherent in the exploitation of ocean and other aquatic biodiversity.
Official data · CORDIS · synced 2026-10-17 10:16 · official record · Licence: © European Union, CC BY 4.0 (Commission reuse policy).