THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
In a breakthrough that could reduce India's dependence on imported marine collagen and unlock new economic opportunities from underutilised marine resources, the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), Goa, has developed a patented technology to produce high-value Type-II collagen from jellyfish for use in wound healing, nutraceutical, cosmetic and biomedical applications.
The technology converts jellyfish biomass into cysteine-rich, water-soluble Type-II collagen that is free from fishy odour and offers a sustainable alternative to conventionally available collagen. NIO said the innovation has the potential to reduce imports, generate additional income for fisherfolk by creating value from jellyfish biomass, and support the growth of high-value marine bioproduct industries.
“This innovation has the potential to reduce India's dependence on imported collagen, generate additional income for fisherfolk by utilizing jellyfish biomass, and support the development of sustainable, high-value nutraceutical, cosmetic, biomedical, and wound-care products,” NIO said.
The institute has now invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from industries engaged in marine products, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, biomedical products and allied sectors for technology transfer and commercialisation of the patented process (Patent Application No. 202411092076).
As per NIO, the global marine collagen market is projected to grow from US$1.3 billion in 2026 to US$2.4 billion by 2033, while India imports marine collagen peptides worth an estimated Rs 150-300 crore annually.
Commercial Type-II collagen is primarily sourced from chicken cartilage and is valued at approximately US$1,100-1,500 per kg. The institute said its jellyfish-derived collagen offers a safe and sustainable alternative, eliminating concerns associated with conventional sources while making productive use of an underutilised marine organism.
The collagen contains 21 amino acids, including nutritionally important cysteine, methionine and tryptophan, which are generally absent in commercially available Type-I collagen. It has demonstrated antioxidant activity, oral and topical wound-healing properties, and potential applications in skincare, protection against photoaging, tissue engineering and biomaterial development.
Elemental analysis has confirmed the presence of beneficial minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium, copper, potassium and sulphur, while tests found the product to be free from toxic heavy metals, including mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and chromium.
NIO said the innovation could pave the way for indigenous production of marine collagen, strengthen India's marine bioeconomy and create a new value chain for the utilisation of jellyfish biomass, which is often treated as an underutilised marine resource.
