I-Tech acquires rights to biologically derived antifouling technology to expand sustainable solutions portfolio
I-Tech acquires rights to biologically derived antifouling technology to expand sustainable solutions portfolio
I-Tech AB (publ) (“I-Tech”), the biotechnology company behind the marine antifouling technology Selektope®, has acquired the rights to a new biologically derived additive designed to enhance antifouling performance. The acquisition marks a further step in I-Tech's strategy to broaden its portfolio of sustainable fouling prevention technologies and expand its presence in adjacent market segments.
The new technology helps modify the physical characteristics of underwater surfaces, thereby preventing fouling species from settling on surfaces treated with coatings containing the additive. The biochemical additive is produced through microbial fermentation using a specific strain of a naturally occurring microorganism.
“Mimicking nature’s own methods for preventing biofouling can be a successful strategy for creating sustainable antifouling solutions,” says Markus Jönsson, CEO of I-Tech.
“The technology adds to the toolbox of non-biocidal options available to coating formulators and supports I-Tech’s strategy to expand both its product portfolio and target markets. We see potential applications across several market segments, including aquaculture, which is an area of increasing strategic interest for I-Tech. The technology has reached a medium level of maturity, with continued development activities aimed at supporting commercial introduction in the coming years, subject to customer validation and production scale-up,” he concludes.
The technology has demonstrated promising performance in laboratory studies and initial field testing and is currently undergoing further testing under real-life operating conditions.
Potential target markets include net coatings for aquaculture, yacht coatings and antifouling coatings for a range of professional marine and industrial applications. By complementing I-Tech’s existing offering, the technology expands the company’s opportunity to address additional customer needs and market segments.
Aquaculture is currently the most mature application area for the technology and is expected to be a key focus segment during continued development and validation. The acquisition reflects I-Tech’s ambition to broaden its technology portfolio and expand its presence in selected adjacent market segments over time.
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About aquatic food systems and aquaculture
Aquatic food systems play an increasingly important role in addressing nutrition, food security and poverty alleviation. In 2023, 3.1 billion people derived at least 20 percent of their animal protein and obtained a significant share of vital micronutrients from aquatic animal foods. Globally, aquatic food systems contribute to the livelihoods of 600 million people. Global aquaculture production of aquatic animals is projected to expand steadily over the period 2024–2034, reaching 119 million tonnes in 2034 and corresponding to an overall growth of 16 percent. The FAO has launched the Blue Transformation Roadmap where sustainable aquaculture expansion and intensification is one of the three key objectives.
Source: FAO 2026 - THE STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE