Three Summits, One Mission: Global Algae Summit 2025 Closes with Expanding Impact
The third edition of the Global Algae Summit (GAS 2025) concluded on 27th August 2025 at Universiti Putra Malaysia, marking another significant milestone in strengthening regional algae innovation ecosystems. This year’s summit, themed “Algae in Action: Transforming Industry with Green Biotechnology,” brought together a dynamic mix of researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to explore the growing role of algae-based solutions in addressing global sustainability challenges.
GAS 2025 was jointly organised by Leave a Nest Malaysia, Euglena Co., Ltd., and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Strategic and industry partners included the Microalgae Biota Technology & Innovation Research Group (ALBIC), AtoZ CarbonCycle, IKA, and SeaVita SOKI from Vietnam. The event attracted 223 participants from 10 countries, including representatives from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
The summit featured thought-provoking keynote speeches, expert panel discussions, innovation showcases, and a vibrant poster presentation segment. Notable sessions included a keynote address by Professor Suzuki Iwane from the University of Tsukuba, and a special lecture by Dr. Ian Watson from the University of Glasgow, both internationally renowned for their work in microalgae research.
One of the highlights of GAS 2025 was the Pocket Talk session, designed to facilitate targeted discussions around algae applications in both industry and academia. The session was divided into two parts. The first Pocket Talk session featured speakers from international companies including Euglena Co., Ltd. (Japan), NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), and SOKI Vietnam, who shared insights on algae cultivation, bioprocessing technologies, and their integration into sustainable industrial systems. The second session focused on the Malaysian academic landscape, with presentations from SUTRALAB (Universiti Malaya), UPM, UTM, Monash University Malaysia, Sunway University, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), and Euglena Malaysia, showcasing a range of research efforts across algae-based health science, food engineering, waste valorization, and biofuel development.
The poster presentation segment was another central feature of the summit, with 71 submissions from university researchers and students. It proved to be one of the most engaging sessions, reflecting the depth and breadth of emerging algae-based technologies. The Best Poster Award was presented to three outstanding teams:
1. Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) – “Optimisation of Protein Hydrolysate Derived from Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) Applying Subcritical Water Extraction”
2. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) – “Efficient Valorization of Pineapple Peel Waste via Subcritical Water Hydrolysis as a Sustainable Substrate for Enhanced DHA Production by Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1”
3. Monash University Malaysia – “Effective Microalgae Harvesting via Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant-assisted Foam Flotation”
These winning projects demonstrated not only technical excellence but also a strong alignment with industrial scalability and sustainability goals.
GAS 2025 served as a powerful reminder of algae’s potential to transform the future of food systems, renewable energy, environmental management, and biobased manufacturing. As interest in circular and climate-resilient technologies grows, the summit reaffirmed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in translating research into real-world impact.
On behalf of the organising committee, we extend our deepest gratitude to all speakers, presenters, partners, and participants for making GAS 2025 a meaningful success. We look forward to your continued involvement and hope to welcome you again at the Global Algae Summit 2026.
For partnership enquiries or updates on upcoming initiatives, please contact [email protected]