EIC Corporate Day links Unilever Foundry with six EIC-backed startups tackling materials, microbiomes and sustainable lipids
- ›On 27 May 2025 the European Innovation Council hosted an online Corporate Day connecting Unilever Foundry with six EIC-backed startups from six countries.
- ›Selected companies pitched technologies spanning odour and VOC capture, microbiome-mimetic materials, biosourced biodegradable plastics, precision-fermented fats, photo-adaptive UV actives, and agricultural-residue biomaterials.
- ›The activity is part of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme and broader EIC Business Acceleration Services which aim to create pilots, co-development and investment opportunities between corporates and EIC innovators.
- ›Organisers emphasised curated matchmaking and startup training, but significant questions remain on scaling, regulatory fit and commercial validation before large procurement or product launches can follow.
Unilever Foundry meets EIC innovators: what happened and why it matters
On 27 May 2025 the European Innovation Council held a Corporate Day with Unilever Foundry, bringing the consumer goods group together with six early stage companies supported by EIC funding. The event was run online and combined corporate reverse pitching, startup presentations, interactive Q&A and tailored one-to-one meetings. The activity sits within the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme which offers curated matchmaking, training and tailored acceleration services aimed at producing pilots, co-development projects and potential commercial deals.
Who was in the room
Unilever Foundry selected a group of EIC-backed innovators trained through the Corporate Partnership Programme to match the company’s material, ingredient and formulation priorities. The six companies represent six European countries and cover a mix of chemistry, biotechnology and materials innovation that maps to typical consumer goods needs such as packaging, fragrance and skin care.
| Startup | Country | Core technology | Potential Unilever fit |
| Aqdot | United Kingdom | Supramolecular capture technology for odour and VOC elimination | Odour control in home and personal care and reduced reliance on biocides or fragrances |
| Bac3Gel | Portugal | Mucus-mimetic advanced materials for microbiome-driven personal care | New formulations that modulate skin microbiome for personal care products |
| Lactips | France | Biosourced thermoplastic polymer that is fully biodegradable and hydrosoluble | Biodegradable packaging alternatives |
| Melt and Marble | Sweden | Precision fermentation to make designer fats and lipids | Sustainable functional lipids for food and personal care textures |
| Roka Furadada | Spain | Photo-adaptive UV active molecules that change absorption after sunlight exposure | Longer lasting or adaptive photoprotection ingredients for sunscreens and cosmetics |
| Traceless Materials | Germany | Plastic-free, fully biobased materials from agricultural by-products | Paper coatings, single-use items and applications where environmental leakage risk is high |
How the Corporate Day was structured
The online session combined a reverse pitch by Unilever Foundry, where the corporate explained its strategic challenges, with short startup pitches and interactive Q&A. Startups then entered tailored one-on-one meetings intended to explore concrete use cases and next steps such as pilots, technical validation or commercial discussions. EIC organisers said the startups had been pre-selected and trained to align with Unilever’s innovation priorities.
What each technology does and where practical challenges lie
The six startups presented different technical approaches. Below we unpack the science at a practical level, outline plausible commercial uses within a consumer goods company, and flag the hurdles that typically need to be cleared before pilots convert into broad rollouts.
Why Unilever and other corporates take part
Large consumer goods companies like Unilever run continuous innovation pipelines to tackle material constraints, regulatory shifts and changing consumer preferences. Corporate Days give them curated access to vetted startups and a structured way to trial high potential technologies. The EIC offers matchmaking, preparation and follow up support through its Business Acceleration Services. In publicity around the programme EIC cites long running metrics and a roster of corporate partners as proof that curated corporate-startup engagement can produce pilots, procurement and investment outcomes.
What to expect after the Corporate Day and where scepticism is warranted
Corporate Days are useful early steps but they do not guarantee pilots or commercial outcomes. Common hurdles include technical integration, safety testing, regulatory approvals for cosmetic or food ingredients, the ability of a startup to scale production and the commercial terms that make pilots economically viable for both sides. Online formats expand reach but can limit deep technical exchange compared with in person lab visits. For procurement by a multinational the pathway from pilot to global procurement also often requires extended qualification, supplier audits and cost reductions.
The EIC and Unilever have framed the activity as accelerating concrete business outcomes. That is a reasonable aim but will require follow through. Observers should look for published updates on signed pilot agreements, scope of technical validation, commercial terms and timelines for scale. Without measurable follow up the headline matchmaking risks being counted as an output rather than an outcome.
Context on the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme and BAS
The Corporate Day is one action under the EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS). The EIC promotes Corporate Partnership as a structured way to link EIC-funded innovators with large corporates through tailored activities, scouting and mentoring. The EIC text for this programme notes a multi-year track record of initiatives with many corporate partners and claims that participating startups and corporate representatives reported significant business impact. The BAS also runs newsletters, open calls, and other matchmaking channels so corporates and startups can apply to future activities.
Practical next steps for startups and corporates
For startups: when preparing to engage with large consumer goods firms focus on three things. First, show a minimal viable pilot plan that maps technical deliverables, testing protocol, metrics and timelines. Second, be ready to discuss safety, regulatory status and sample availability. Third, explain supply chain scale paths and unit economics at target volumes.
For corporates: clear problem statements, realistic acceptance criteria and a defined path to pilot procurement help focus startup activity. Corporates should also set internal governance for fast decisions on pilots and allocate resources for technical integration. Both sides benefit from defined milestones and commercial options should a pilot succeed.
How to follow up and where to find more information
The EIC encourages interested corporations to apply via its Corporate Partnership Programme and to sign up to the EIC BAS Newsletter for calls and updates. For this Corporate Day the EIC provided training and matchmaking to the selected startups and promoted one-on-one meetings as the primary route to advance pilot discussions. Stakeholders should watch for formal pilot announcements and any public reporting of follow-on funding or procurement outcomes.
A final note on performance claims. Programmes like the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme often publish cumulative impact metrics. Those metrics are useful to show scale but they do not replace transparent case level reporting on time to pilot, pilot conversion rates and commercial outcomes. That detailed reporting is the most relevant signal for whether curated corporate-startup matchmaking is delivering industrial transformation.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on EIC communications about the Corporate Day with Unilever Foundry and public information from the participating startups. It aims to provide context and critical perspective and is not an official statement by the European Commission or Unilever.