planetary awarded CHF 1.8 million by Innosuisse Start-up Innovation Projects  

Earlier in 2025, planetary (Switzerland) was awarded a CHF 1.8 million grant from Innosuisse’s Start-up Innovation Project programme. Catalyze is proud to have supported them towards the successful submission. We heard from Prof. Dr. Ian Marison, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, on planetary’s mission and impact, and his experience of collaborating with Catalyze towards the award.

Prof. Dr. Ian Marison, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer of planetary.

planetary – the bioeconomy’s industrial backbone

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, planetary operates the BioBlocks™ technology platform to enable large-scale fermentation production of food, materials, and other bio-based products.

Prof. Dr. Marison highlights, “By turning main and lower-value agricultural side-streams into high-value sustainable goods, planetary supports a circular, resource-efficient economy for the future.”

planetary has two main activities:

1. Ingredient Sales – Supplying functional mycoprotein to food manufacturers and alternative protein producers. planetary provides cost-effective, scalable mycoprotein with superior texture, nutrition, and functionality, making it an ideal alternative for meat and dairy products.
2. Technology Licensing – Partnering with sugar and starch producers to upcycle their sugar and byproducts (including molasses) into high-value mycoprotein.

Optimising BioBlocks™ with CHF 1.8 million Innosuisse award

Through their new two year SIP project, commencing August 2025, planetary will optimise the BioBlocks™ platform, a large-scale continuous fermentation system for mycoprotein production. This project will enable planetary’s market entry with a B2B direct sales model for mycoprotein supply to food manufacturers, and recurring revenue from BioBlocks™ technology licensing for agro-industries, such as the starch and sugar sectors.

Prof. Dr. Marison comments, “The SIP funding will help the company reach commercial scale much sooner by granting planetary the necessary resources to put into place its BioBlocks™ optimisation project.”

On the collaboration with Catalyze

Catalyze and planetary collaborated over several months throughout the Startup Innovation project application process. This included an initial application to Innosuisse, and preparation for the subsequent pitch to the Innovation Council. Following the pitch, planetary’s project was awarded.

Prof. Dr. Marison shares, “Our experience with Catalyze was a very positive one. The team took the time to understand our project on a deeper level and draft a clear application for the SIP grant. The team also helped us put our best foot forward during the SIP pitch by providing tailored training and feedback.

“We believe the support of Catalyze was instrumental in putting together a well thought-through grant application and ultimately convince Innosuisse of our project’s value.”

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