Investments & Finance

Finnish Alternative Protein Firms Secure €10M for Collaborative R&D Projects From Business Finland

Business Finland has granted two Finnish projects — FoodID and FinBioFAB — 10 million euros in R&D funding to create alternative proteins and materials through research collaboration.

The Finnish projects were accepted into the Global Centers program led by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), operated jointly by six countries aiming for breakthrough solutions to global challenges. This year’s funding call focused on the bioeconomy, with the main themes being biofoundries and biodiversity.

Alternative proteins and cacao

The FoodID project seeks to innovate sustainable processes by leveraging digital tools to produce alternative proteins and lipids using plants and fermentation. The aim is to create sustainable and healthy raw materials to improve global food systems.

Finland’s VTT, the University of Helsinki, and companies Fazer, Valio, MeEat, Enifer, and Onego Bio are collaborating in this three-year project coordinated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Each company will contribute to novel production methods, emphasizing efficient material use and circular economy concepts.

PEKILO protein
Enifer’s PEKILO © Iiro Muttilainen
  • Enifer: Through the project, the mycoprotein innovator will deepen the understanding of PEKILO mycoprotein in food products and seek technological advancements to modify its nutritional and functional properties.
  • Onego Bio: Focused on egg white proteins, the startup aims to reduce the environmental impact of its precision fermentation process by 90% and use food industry side streams for sustainability. “The use of side streams and alternative plant biomass as feedstock has the potential to further improve the sustainability of the production of alternative proteins and to increase the circularity and efficiency in the food system,” Onego Bio shared on social media.
  • Fazer: The Finnish food producer will investigate advanced ingredients and fermentation-based technologies to replace traditional cocoa and reduce sugar in food products. The aim is to address cocoa supply issues due to climate change and global health.
  • MeEat: This food tech startup is developing technologies to utilize Finnish fermented faba beans as a source of plant proteins, providing the industry with innovative raw material alternatives. The project will leverage the extensive expertise of Finnish research institutions and the global academic and industrial networks achieved through the FoodID project.
  • Valio: The dairy company will focus its research on hybrid food solutions that combine microbial food components with traditional ingredients to improve sensory and nutritional quality while utilizing industrial side streams for sustainability.
The Finnish food experience company Fazer announces the launch of the world's first chocolate bar powered by Solein in Singapore.
Image courtesy of Fazer

Biodegradable plastic and protein-based materials

On the other hand, FinBioFAB, the Finnish BioFoundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing, aims to contribute positively to the global bioeconomy and environmental sustainability by harnessing synthetic biology and artificial intelligence to develop biodegradable plastics and protein-based materials.

The project collaborates closely with global biofoundries and leading Finnish bio-sector companies, including Neste (sustainable fuels), Onego Bio (egg proteins), AB Enzymes, Solar Foods (air-based proteins), UPM (renewable alternatives to fossil fuel materials), and Finland’s VTT. Each company will seek to innovate and enhance its biomanufacturing methods and explore broader applications of these emerging technologies.

“The strong success of Finnish project proposals in tough international competition and their inclusion in the US National Science Foundation’s research programs show that we are sought-after R&D partners to tackle global challenges.

“In this context, long-term national funding also plays an important role, as these projects are expected to produce breakthrough solutions for international markets only after several years,” commented Director Timo Metsä-Tokila from Business Finland.

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