“Seaweed” is a colloquial term commonly applied to macroscopic, multicellular, large marine algae that inhabit coastal as well as oceanic waters. Prof. MOP Iyengar was the first Indian algologist who initiated seaweed research in the country [Bull. Madras Govt. Mus. New Ser. Nat. Hist., 1927, 185]. The century following this has witnessed a plethora of research, development, demonstration and deployment in the domain of conventional and more recently applied phycology in India. The efforts of two visionary algologist Dr. Mrs. Francisca Thivy and Prof. V. Krishnamurthy, who were instrumental in establishing India’s oldest Phycological Society named ‘Seaweed Research and Utilization Association’ need to be sincerely acknowledged. These enduring efforts were responsible for the establishment, advancement and progress of domestic seaweed-based industries. At the cusp of its strategic expansion of the seaweed sector in India, this talk is centred around enlisting and discussing key research projects those were undertaken by CSIR-CSMCRI. This lecture provides a broad-brush stroke picture of information in the areas of applied phycology encompassing seaweed biodiversity, resource potential, IPR position, industry processing and production. The landmark and innovative discoveries those have translated in to business opportunities are discussed. The commercial cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii in India has provided diversification of livelihood to the fisherfolk those are involved in seaweed gathering. The resilience of the commercial seaweed cultivation section to the COVID-19 pandemic is briefly discussed. Further, the talk delves into the regulatory, governance and policy support through various Government agencies with special reference to the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Government of India. With the strategic perspective, the Indian seaweed industry seems to be a successful example of achieving “triple bottom line” objectives of balanced economic, social and environmental outcome as proposed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and World Bank (WB).