L’Oréal R&I and Genopole have announced a call for applications for a program targeting innovative startups within the Green Sciences sector. This initiative brings together L’Oréal, a leader in the beauty industry with extensive research and development capabilities, and Genopole, an organization dedicated to scaling up biotechnology startups in health and the environment. The program is designed to support innovators by providing access to unique lab facilities, business support, and technological platforms to advance their solutions.
Program Focus and Eligibility
This opportunity is designed for startups that meet the following criteria:
• Currently developing an innovative solution for cosmetics application or seeking to adapt a solution in development for the cosmetics industry.
• In need of specialized lab facilities, business support, or technological platforms to advance their solution.
The program is seeking innovators across three primary domains:
• Ingredients from new & resilient feedstocks: Focusing on sustainable ingredients to reinvent cosmetic functionalities.
• Low carbon technologies: Including biocircularity, carbon capture & utilisation, industrial side streams, and low carbon transformation processes.
• Emerging Green Sciences: Exploring innovative fermentation processes, emerging green chemistry processes, and hybrid technical solutions that can revolutionize performance and cost.
Program Structure and Support
L’Oréal and Genopole will provide a comprehensive program lasting from six months to one year, tailored to the specific solution, technological maturity, and challenges of each selected startup. Participants may receive support from L’Oréal experts and access to Genopole's resources, which include:
• Expert Biotechnology Support: The Upscale Bio expert support package offers fully tailored assistance in areas such as fundraising, communication, market access, and technological development to accelerate and mitigate risks associated with scaling up.
• Financial Assistance: Support is available for setting up at Genopole, which includes access to BSL 1 and 2 equipped laboratories and shared services.
• Privileged Access to Technology Platforms: Startups gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructures designed to develop bioprocesses, scale up, prototype, and test products.
Genopole Technology Platforms
Genopole provides access to advanced infrastructures, including:
• GATEX and Protopia: Protopia is designed as the next step after GATEX, focusing on formulation, prototyping, and testing. It features an analytical platform (texturometer, rheometer, etc.), 5 secure private boxes, laboratory areas for formulation, microbiology, and L2 cell culture, and a professional HACCP-compliant experimental kitchen.
• Shared Technology Platforms: Over 21 shared platforms are available, covering mass spectrometry, structural biology, photonic imaging, flow cytometry, and sequencing.
• Access Benefits: This model removes the need for startups to invest in or maintain cutting-edge equipment and allows them to leverage the expertise of Genopole's platform engineers without internalizing these skills.
• Access Process: Upon establishment, Genopole meets with the startup to assess needs and compatibility with existing equipment. The startup is then connected with platform experts for rapid onboarding. If needs are not fully met, Genopole will work to acquire necessary modules or provide access to off-site partner platforms.
Application Timeline
• March 11th: Call for applications opens
• May 6th: Call for applications closes
• May 20th: Analysis, discussions, and selection of winners begin
• July 1st: Winners announced
• Q4 2026: Start of the program
This collaboration presents a significant opportunity for startups in the Green Sciences field to accelerate and de-risk their scaling-up process. By leveraging the combined expertise and resources of L’Oréal and Genopole, selected innovators can potentially engage in further collaborations, co-development, or investment opportunities following the program's conclusion.