Ifremer (French Ocean Research Institute, 1500 employees, 220 M€ annual budget, 25 mainland and overseas locations in France) was created in 1984 and is a “public industrial and commercial institution” (EPIC) under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Sea. Through research, studies and expert assessments performed on main current socio-economic questions (climate change, marine biodiversity, pollution prevention, sustainable fishery and aquaculture, etc.), Ifremer contributes to increase knowledge about the oceans and their resources, the monitoring of marine and coastal zones and the sustainable development of maritime activities. For these goals, the Institute designs and operates observational, experimental and monitoring tools and facilities.

In this project, Ifremer focuses on the study of biotic interactions within microbial communities associated with toxic and harmful microalgae (WP2) and on the analysis of the genetic potential for the biosynthesis of new anionic exopolysaccharides, their production and structuring in microgels for biopreservation (bacterial encapsulation, WP3).