From Prototyping to Market Entry – the CO2BioClean Success Story

The start-up CO2BioClean transforms CO2 emissions into natural biopolymers and convinces with the project CO2Textile in the funding program EIC Accelerator. A total of €6.6 million in funding for CO2BioClean: €2.2 million grant and €4.4 million equity for market entry with CO2TEXTILE.

CO2BioClean addresses two problems at once: Climate change and pollution

CO2BioClean founders Alessandro Carfagnini and Fabiana Fantinel

The CO2BioClean GmbH was founded as a start-up, in March 2019 by Dr. Fabiana Fantinel and Alessandro Carfagnini. CO2BioClean creates a decentralized value chain using CO2 industrial emitters as feedstock for the production of biodegradable biopolymers.

Biopolymers are used as raw materials for the production of consumer goods, packaging and textiles, among other things. Industrial CO2 emissions are the main cause of climate change; plastic waste that decomposes into microplastics causes severe environmental damage.

We are delighted to have our technology recognized by the European Innovation Council and to be able to make a valuable contribution to the EU’s Green Deal, says Dr. Fabiana Fantinel.

At a glance:

  • Funding program: EIC Accelerator
  • Project: CO2TEXTILE
  • Funding: € 2.2 million grant, € 4.4 million equity capital

Innovativer Gamechanger: CO2TEXTILE

CO2Textile, the project of CO2BioClean

The CO2TEXTILE project, with EIC Accelerator funding, addresses both of these societal challenges simultaneously by using environmentally harmful CO2 materials to produce biodegradable plastics for an innovative circular economy. This CO2 is captured directly at the point of production, thus avoiding its release into the atmosphere. The biopolymer PHA is produced from the practically unlimited available starting material in a patented fermentation process.

The highlight here: the PHA produced is itself biodegradable. This creates a process with neutral CO2 footprint and in addition, the accumulation of plastic in nature is avoided at the same time. In this project PHA fibers are produced, which can be used for applications in the textile industry by specific modification. These fibers form the basis for recyclable plastic clothing, for example. This eliminates the need for petroleum-based raw materials.

Innovation promotion of the top class – the Champions League of innovation promotion

The European funding program EIC Accelerator is one of the most demanding funding programs among the EU’s funding offerings, has a very large budget and is at the same time very competitive. Funding is provided for highly disruptive innovations that have the potential to permanently change the European market. The prerequisite is a functioning prototype (TRL 6).

The aim is to accelerate market entry. In general, the EIC offers an open-topic submission. In addition, the topic areas and have been brought into focus until 2021 green deal, health und digital technologies. Starting in 2022, there will be new topic areas: technologies for open strategic autonomy und fit for 55.

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Procedure of an EIC Accelerator application

To receive funding, applicants must prove themselves in a three-stage application process beginning with a project outline and pitch video, through the full proposal, and ending with a pitch interview in front of a selected jury of experts.

DORUCON prepares the full proposal and all necessary documents, such as financial sheets, annexes and the pitch deck, in detail across all stages and handles the submission to the EIC. Each stage is followed by an evaluation by the European Innovation Council. Only after a positive result in each case can the application be continued.

Results of the cooperation between DORUCON and CO2BioClean

The good cooperation between CO2BioClean and DORUCON meant that the project went through all three stages smoothly and at the end the pitch interview was waiting for Fabiana and Alessandro. They convinced the jury and were additionally awarded as Green Deal Testimonial by the jury. The result: a total of €6.6 million in funding for CO2BioClean, €2.2 million in grants and €4.4 million in equity capital for the market launch with CO2TEXTILE.

CO2BioClean founder Fabiana Fantinel

The conclusion of founder Dr. Fabiana Fantinel:

With the full-service consulting of DORUCON, we can exploit the full potential of our project. We would work together again at any time.”

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