20. Nov 2025
ReefCircular gains international dream partner: New collaboration with WSP is a direct result of Clean-funded pilot project
The Danish nature-positive startup ReefCircular is now taking a significant step into the world. The company has entered into a collaboration with the global environmental and engineering giant WSP UK & Ireland – and the partnership is a direct result of the international innovation pilot that ReefCircular received funding for through Clean.
Together, they will develop the world’s first nature-inclusive reef design targeted at offshore infrastructure. A solution that can set completely new standards for how offshore wind and other marine installations can coexist with the marine environment.
A little about WSP
William Sale Partnership is one of the world’s largest consulting and engineering firms, working with everything from infrastructure and energy to the environment and sustainability. In the UK, WSP has over 7,000 employees and is a key player in green transition and complex technical solutions.
From natural habitats to advanced artificial reefs
ReefCircular specializes in restoring marine environments through artificial reefs inspired by natural habitats and designed specifically for selected species and ecosystems. The reefs are currently produced in clay, which has a significantly lower carbon footprint than concrete.
At the same time, the company is developing a new biodegradable material, Aegironite, made from marine binders and crushed seashells. The material is expected to be ready for use by the end of 2026 and will be even more climate-friendly and ecosystem-friendly than current solutions.
When the reef modules are installed on the seabed, they quickly become living microhabitats that create new surfaces, hiding places, and food sources for marine species. In Danish pilot projects, Reef Circular has already recorded a 400% increase in biodiversity.
Clean paved the way for international breakthrough
With support from Clean’s international innovation pilot, Reef Circular was able to seek out a global partner – and this led directly to the collaboration with WSP.
We were recently awarded funding from Clean to set up an international partnership. So, now we are working with the global environmental consultancy group WSP to develop a world-first offshore biodiversity project… hopefully in the new year, we will have some very exciting announcements to share! – Shannon Hanson, Founder, ReefCircular
For Reef Circular, this is a breakthrough that both accelerates technological development and opens the door to new markets.
The offshore industry calls for nature-positive solutions
There is global demand for solutions that can make offshore wind and offshore infrastructure more nature-friendly. This is where Reef Circular’s technology comes in: the reef modules can both function as scour protection and build new, viable ecosystems around the facilities.
Together with WSP, the company will now further develop the design and test the technology with the help of underwater robots and AI-based species recognition, among other things.
Clean as a bridge builder in the process
The collaboration between ReefCircular and WSP stems from the international innovation pilot in which the company participated through Clean. The pilot program has given ReefCircular access to new professional environments and international contacts, which have been important for the company’s further development.
In addition, ReefCircular’s membership of Clean has enabled them to participate in events such as TechBBQ and Loop Forum, as well as project participation in Beyond Beta and Endurance, which has given the company industry-specific sparring, increased visibility, and more opportunities to present their technology to potential partners and investors, both nationally and internationally.
Next step: global impact
With WSP as a development partner and Aegironite on track for 2026, ReefCircular is in the midst of a growth journey where they are not only restoring marine environments—they are helping to define the nature-positive offshore solutions of the future.
There will most likely be more to tell in the coming year.
About us
International Innovation Pilot is co-financed by the Danish Business Promotion Board and the European Union.
Cluster organizations such as Clean have been established to bring together companies, knowledge institutions, and other players in order to strengthen collaboration and innovation. The aim is to help SMEs in particular to develop new solutions, gain access to markets, and create growth through strong networks.
Want to know more?
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Henrik Nørgaard
Project Manager - Startup Navigator
Tel +45 22 58 82 30
hen@cleancluster.dk
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