Murcia, Spain | February, 2026
CNR researcher visits the University of Murcia for knowledge transfer actions
As part of the implementation of the knowledge transfer framework of the project (activity 3.2), the University of Murcia hosted a research visit from the Italian National Research Council (CNR) in February 2026. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Spanish and Italian Demonstration Sites.
Dr. Grazia Maria Quero (CNR-IRBIM, Italy) joined researchers from the University of Murcia for field and laboratory activities in Alicante and Murcia. The focus was on adding microbiome analysis to the Spanish pilot. This work introduced monitoring of microbial communities in seawater and macroalgae as a new way to assess ecosystem health and the effectiveness of macroalgae-based bioremediation systems.
During the visit, water and algae samples were collected at the Port of Alicante Demonstration Site and analyzed at the University of Murcia using advanced molecular techniques, including metagenomic analysis and 16S rRNA detection. These tests help evaluate water quality and explore how harvested algae could be used in food, cosmetic and nutraceutical applications.
The program also included meetings with University of Murcia research teams and the private partner Mediterranean Algae. These exchanges focused on marine microbiology, digital tools and blue biotechnology applications. Shared methods and laboratory workflows helped align the work between partner teams and laid the groundwork for continued collaboration between the Spanish and Italian pilots within the 2B-BLUE project.
Photos: CNR/NIB
