5 EIC Accelerator Winners in March 2024 Round

We are pleased to share more about the EIC Accelerator winners that we supported in the previous March 2024 call. The successful companies and clients of Catalyze are Fonontech, Melt&Marble, Bio-sourcing, BestHealth4U, and Marvel Fusion. You can read more about these exciting companies and their newly funded projects below.

Fonontech

In billion-dollar markets like micro-LED and advanced semiconductor packaging, current technology struggles to meet the demand for millions of interconnects per hour. Interconnects are thin metal strips connecting various electronic components on assembly boards, such as chips, transistors, and capacitors. Miniaturizing electronic components is hindered by limitations in forming 3D interconnects over complex topologies, affecting high-density packaging and progress toward smaller, more powerful devices.

Fonontech’s Impulse Printing technology offers the first scalable solution for 3D interconnect printing, addressing critical limitations of existing slow, nozzle-based technologies. Impulse Printing can handle inks of any viscosity on any surface topology, with throughput 10,000 times higher than competing technologies. This additive manufacturing technology uses resistive heaters and rapid surface heating to transfer ink accurately, making 2D, 3D, and complex 3D printing faster, more affordable, and precise.

With grant & equity support from the EIC, Fonontech aims to further develop their high-resolution printing capabilities and commercialize the technology by 2026.

Melt&Marble

Plant-based fats and oils are the second biggest cause of deforestation and a key contributor to loss of biodiversity. In addition, solid fats such as coconut fat and palm oil can only be sourced from tropical regions which creates supply chain and food security risks.​​ Furthermore, these fats don’t have the same sensory properties as animal fats, resulting in a taste gap between animal-based meat & dairy and plant-based analogues.

Melt&Marble uses precision fermentation to create designer fats that have the desired functionality, flavour, and nutritional profile for use in food, personal care, and specialized nutrition applications. Melt&Marble achieves this by rewiring the metabolism of microbes to produce specific fats. The technology gives the unique ability to control the types of fatty acids that get produced and how they assemble to form specific fat molecules (triglycerides). This approach gives an unparalleled ability to design fats on a molecular level. Precision fermentation is a safe technology platform and has been widely used in industry for decades.

Melt&Marble’s mission is to catalyze the transition to a more sustainable agrifood system by supplying different industries with the ultimate designer fats- made to measure to offer sustainability, performance, and scalability.

With €2.5 million in grant funding and potential future equity investment from the EIC, Melt&Marble will further optimize strains and processes, and scale its production, aiming for commercial viability and full-scale launch in 2026.

Bio-sourcing

Biosimilars remain expensive even after patents expire. For instance, despite over 11 biosimilars for Humira/adalimumab being on the market, each with significant sales of around $2 billion, the average cost of 10mg of Humira exceeds €8000, with a year’s supply potentially costing up to €96,000. These high costs result from various production challenges faced by biosimilar producers. Both Western and emerging economies face significant biopharmaceutical production challenges, limiting access to life-saving medicines such as Monoclonal antibodies.

Bio-sourcing is tackling these challenges with its innovative BioMilk platform, which uses gene therapy and reproductive technologies to produce biopharmaceuticals in the milk of specialized goats. This breakthrough method drastically reduces production costs and carbon footprint while increasing efficiency. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 and nuclear transfer, Bio-sourcing has achieved industrial breakthrough to produce 100% pure goat progeny, ensuring higher yields at lower costs. BioMilk’s technology enhances Europe’s pharmaceutical innovation and self-sufficiency, promoting re-industrialization and economic growth while reinforcing sustainable and strategic bioproduction capabilities, especially crucial during pandemics.

With EIC support of €12.5 million, Bio-sourcing will scale up manufacturing capacity, complete regulatory steps, and bring the first three blockbuster biosimilars to market for EU citizens by 2027.

BestHealth4U

External medical devices, such as ostomy pouches, wound dressings or wearable electronic devices, require the use of medical adhesives for their attachment to the skin. However, prolonged use of current medical adhesives is associated with serious adverse skin reactions called Medical Adhesives-Related Skin Injuries (MARSI). This underreported issue is prevalent in 25% of wound care cases and is associated with enormous health care and economic burden.

BH4U aims to address this challenge with Bio2Skin. A patented revolutionary glueless medical adhesive that uses the natural features of the skin to establish a water-based link and overcomes the disadvantages of acrylic/silicone adhesives. Bio2Skin is a bio-based, cost-effective, recyclable solution offering gentle, safe adhesion and kind removal.

The €4.25 million (grant & equity) funding from the EIC will enable BH4U to establish a lab-scale manufacturing line, complete clinical validation, obtain the necessary certifications, and production at a semi-industrial level to ensure global market entrance. 

Marvel Fusion

Marvel Fusion (MF) GmbH is a German SME dedicated to developing state-of-the-art laser-based fusion technology for clean energy production. As climate change increasingly poses a significant threat to global health and well-being, the demand for clean energy technologies has never been more urgent. Europe’s current energy strategies heavily depend on renewable sources but encounter substantial challenges in achieving a 100% carbon-free energy supply.

MF’s advanced laser technology leverages the power of laser-based fusion, offering an emission-free solution that requires minimal natural resources, thereby paving the way for a greener, energy-sovereign Europe. The company has assembled an exceptional team of pioneering physicists and engineers and is collaborating with world-leading industrials such as Siemens Energy and Thales.

With the support of the EIC Accelerator, MF is set to further develop its proprietary laser and nanostructured target technologies which will be key for the construction of its first pilot power plant. As the leading European fusion company, MF aspires to position Europe at the forefront of fusion energy.

About EIC Accelerator: becoming a winner

Applying for a European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator grant is all about high-risk, high reward. Becoming an EIC Accelerator winner is not easy. In the March 2024 round, 969 companies applied, with 347 passing to the interview stage, and only 68 selected to receive funding. 96% of companies chose the blended finance option.

Only small and medium-sized enterprises with the most radically innovative products, services and business models, stand a chance. Successful applicants receive up to €17,5M funding (max €2,5M grant, €15M equity), access to business coaching and mentoring, and acceleration services to connect them to the exclusive community of EIC Accelerator winners.

Are you considering applying? Short proposals to the programme are allowed at any time. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you.