NWO Take-off grant for Marc van der Maarel and Mariska van der Hoek
Professor Marc van der Maarel (ENTEG) and Mariska van der Hoek have received a Take-off grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). It concerns a Take-off phase 1 feasibility grant of EUR 40,000. This enables Van der Maarel and Van der Hoek to conduct a feasibility study for their research project on the application of the glycogen of the microalga Galdieria in skin care products.
The Take-off financing instrument is aimed at stimulating and supporting scientific activity and entrepreneurship. With this funding, researchers can carry out a feasibility study into setting up a company based on a research finding.

Galdieria glycogen in skin care products
The start-up in formation modAlgae evolves around the sustainable production and commercialization of Galdieria glycogen. Galdieria microalgae turn biodiesel glycerol or milk sugars into large amounts of glycogen. The first market for Galdieria glycogen is the cosmetic sector, facing a governmental push and consumer pull towards sustainable and natural products. The functional and structural properties of the Galdieria glycogen point at an added value in skin care formulations. Van der Maarel and Van der Hoek will use the Take-off grant for a claim-support study and cost price evaluation to evaluate the market potential of Galdieria glycogen and whether or not found modAlgae BV.
Last modified: | 21 December 2022 1.07 p.m. |
More news
-
03 July 2025
Erik Heeres receives RUG Impact Innovator Excellence Award
During the RUG Ventures Innovation Day, Prof. Erik Heeres of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (RUG) was awarded the Impact Innovator Excellence Award.
-
02 July 2025
€ 30 million investment for UG spin-off Portal Biotech
Portal Biotech, a pioneer in nanopore-based protein identification and sequencing technology, has raised € 30 million in Series A funding. The funding will support commercial rollout and team growth.
-
01 July 2025
‘Give seals space’
The Wadden Sea is constantly changing. Native animals need to be able to adapt in order to thrive in an environment that is shaped by the tides. By conducting research on seals in the area, PhD students Margarita Méndez-Aróstegui and Beatriz...