1 The EIC Accelerator Project

EIC Accelerator Program Overview

The EIC Accelerator program is an initiative under the European Innovation Council (EIC) designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in bringing innovative solutions to the market. This program aims to bolster the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem by providing financial support, mentorship, and access to a network of investors and business experts. The EIC Accelerator targets high-risk, high-potential projects that can significantly impact their respective markets and contribute to Europe’s strategic goals.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator offers a unique blended financing option, combining grants and equity investments.

Purpose and Role in the Ecosystem

The primary goal of the EIC Accelerator is to stimulate innovation and promote the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies. By providing substantial financial support, the program helps startups navigate the often challenging landscape of product development and market entry. The EIC Accelerator also plays a crucial role in enabling companies to attract private investment by demonstrating a solid foundation of public funding and institutional backing.

The program fosters collaboration between innovators and investors, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness and sustainability of the European economy. It serves as a catalyst for companies to scale quickly and effectively while reducing the financial risks associated with high-stakes innovation.

Case Study: ALKION BIOINNOVATIONS and AlkaBurst2.0

Company Overview: ALKION BIOINNOVATIONS, based in France, is a pioneering company dedicated to developing sustainable biotechnological solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. The company’s mission is to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of bioproduction processes.

Project Overview - AlkaBurst2.0: The EIC Accelerator project, named AlkaBurst2.0, focuses on creating a revolutionary bioreactor designed for the sustainable production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This project aims to establish a consistent, traceable, and cost-effective method for bioproduction, which is critical for meeting the growing demand for pharmaceuticals.

Technology Background

The AlkaBurst2.0 bioreactor leverages advanced biotechnological principles to enhance the production efficiency of APIs. Traditional methods of API production often involve complex and resource-intensive processes that can lead to significant waste and environmental impact. The innovative design of the AlkaBurst2.0 bioreactor seeks to address these challenges by optimizing bioprocesses through the use of novel materials and intelligent control systems.

Key features of the AlkaBurst2.0 bioreactor include:

• Sustainability: The bioreactor is designed to minimize environmental impact by utilizing renewable resources and reducing waste production. This aligns with global trends toward sustainability in pharmaceuticals.
• Traceability: The system incorporates advanced monitoring technologies that ensure the traceability of the production process. This is essential for regulatory compliance and consumer safety in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Cost-Effectiveness: By streamlining production processes and reducing resource consumption, AlkaBurst2.0 aims to lower the overall costs associated with API production, making it more accessible for various healthcare applications.

Conclusion

The EIC Accelerator program is a vital component of the European innovation landscape, providing essential support to startups and SMEs in the DeepTech sector. The success of ALKION BIOINNOVATIONS and its project AlkaBurst2.0 exemplifies the program's potential to facilitate groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology. By combining grant funding with equity investment, the EIC Accelerator not only empowers companies to innovate but also positions them strategically to attract further investment, thereby reinforcing the European economy's commitment to sustainable and responsible growth in the pharmaceutical industry.

2 The Funding Rounds

Alkion BioInnovations: Financing and Funding Overview Since EIC Accelerator Success

Financing Raised

Alkion BioInnovations, based in France, has raised a total of approximately €4.5 million in funding. This includes significant support from European funding sources, notably the €2.5 million grant awarded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program around March 2022.

Funding Rounds

The company’s fundraising history consists of several distinct events:

• A seed round in December 2021, where Alkion raised about $640,000–$644,340.
• Multiple earlier incubator/accelerator rounds dating back to its origins as a spin-off or reformation post-acquisition (see further context below).
• The major EIC Accelerator round (€2.5M) shortly after their successful Step 3 interview in March 2022.

Timing and Amounts of Funding Rounds

Date	Round	Amount	Notes
January 2012	Incubator/Accelerator	Not disclosed	Early-stage accelerator
June 14, 2016	Acquisition	Not disclosed	Acquired by Evonik
February 8, 2017	Incubator/Accelerator - II	Not disclosed	Post-acquisition phase
June 6, 2018	Incubator/Accelerator - III	Not disclosed	Relaunch as Alkion BioInnovations
December 2021	Seed	~$640k–€570k	Pre-EIC grant
March 2022	Grant (EIC Accelerator)	€2.5 million	Major EU innovation support

Cumulatively by early/mid-2022: ~€4.5 million total funding reported.

Investor Information

Known investors include: - EIT Food

• Wilco
• Evonik (via prior acquisition)
• Touchstone Innovations

The company also benefited from institutional investment related to its time at Imperial Innovations Ltd., suggesting an ongoing relationship with academic technology transfer networks.

Additional Information on Funding Rounds

Alkion’s founding team brings expertise from both financial markets and biotechnologies; Meryll managed the development through acquisition by Evonik before relaunching under the current brand with new focus areas and renewed fundraising efforts post-acquisition starting in early 2017. The most recent notable infusion was via the highly competitive EIC Accelerator scheme.

Company Valuations

Publicly available sources do not disclose explicit company valuations for Alkion BioInnovations during any specific round or at present; no filings or news have provided this data directly so far.

Exit Events: IPOs or Buyouts/Acquisitions

A key corporate event occurred on June 14th, 2016 when Alkion’s predecessor entity was acquired by German specialty chemicals leader Evonik Industries AG—this marked an exit for that previous venture structure before being re-established as Alkion BioInnovations later that year with a fresh entrepreneurial team but similar scientific leadership focus. Since then:

• There is no public record of any additional acquisition offers.
• No IPO has taken place as of April 2025.

The firm continues to operate independently following its post-acquisition relaunch.

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Sources

• Alkion BioInnovations Company Information - Seedtable
• Alkion BioInnovations Company Information - Funding, Investors ...
• Alkion BioInnovations Stock Price, Funding & Valuation - CB Insights
• Alkion BioInnovations company information & investors – Dealroom Portugal
• Products & Investors – CB Insights Profile
• Official Website – alkinnov.com
• Our Team – alkinnov.com

3 The Press Releases

Alkion BioInnovations: Developments Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Alkion BioInnovations, a French company, made significant strides following its win in the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022. Here are key developments in the company's activities, technology advancements, team updates, and patent achievements:

Company Overview and Technology

Alkion BioInnovations is a pioneer in plant tissue technologies, focusing on biostimulation of plant genes in bioreactors to enhance molecule production. Their innovative method allows for increased yields of high-value compounds, making them more affordable and sustainable. This technology has been instrumental in reducing the environmental impact of traditional farming methods by significantly lowering carbon footprint, water usage, and space requirements.

EIC Accelerator Funding and Biorefinery Setup

In June 2022, Alkion was awarded €5 million from the EIC Accelerator to establish a pilot biorefinery. This funding enabled the company to further develop its sustainable production capabilities for active pharmaceutical ingredients and extracts.

Partnerships and Recognition

Alkion has been involved in several significant events and partnerships: - Cannabis Europa London Conference: Alkion was represented at the Cannabis Europa conference in London by Sarah-Meryll Buet, highlighting their role in medical cannabinoids production.

• ICBC Berlin Conference: The company participated in the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin.
• Zayed Sustainability Prize Finalist: Alkion was a finalist in the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize during COP28, underscoring its commitment to sustainable practices.

Research & Development and Patents

Alkion has developed a patented R&D and production platform for high-value natural ingredients. Their technology involves an innovative hydroponic method using bioreactors to stimulate plant genes, ensuring high-quality active compounds with exceptional yields. The company owns four patent families covering its breakthrough processes and technologies.

Team Updates

The team at Alkion includes experts like Julien, who leads the R&D team with a focus on plant physiology and bioengineering, and Hsin-Ya, who heads molecular biology projects. Franck, a co-inventor of Alkion's AlkaBurst technology, is known for his work in synthetic biology and has contributed significantly to the company's strategic developments.

Sources

• Alkion BioInnovations News
• Our Team - Alkion BioInnovations
• Zayed Sustainability Prize Announces 33 Finalists Advancing Global Sustainability Initiatives
• Alkion BioInnovations
• Research & Development - Alkion BioInnovations

4 The Technology Advancements

Alkion BioInnovations: Current Capabilities and Advancements

Alkion BioInnovations, a French company, is a pioneer in plant tissue propagation technologies, focusing on the production of high-value natural ingredients for various markets, including pharmaceutical, medicinal, agrifood, and nutraceutical sectors. Since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, the company has continued to enhance its innovative technologies and market presence.

Current Capabilities

• Innovative Bioproduction Platform: Alkion BioInnovations has developed a patented R&D and production platform that utilizes advanced hydroponic methods and bioreactors to enhance plant gene expression. This technology allows for significantly increased yields and purity of active compounds compared to traditional greenhouse cultivation.
• Sustainable Production: The company's approach reduces environmental impact, including a 95% decrease in carbon footprint, 98% reduction in water usage, and 95% decrease in space requirement. Additionally, it eliminates pesticide use entirely.
• Diverse Applications: Alkion's technologies are applied across multiple sectors, including the development of pharmaceutical active ingredients, natural vaccine adjuvants, and intense sweeteners.

Advancements Since Funding

While specific details on new advancements since the EIC Accelerator funding are not explicitly mentioned, Alkion BioInnovations has been actively engaged in enhancing its sustainable biorefinery capabilities, focusing on large-scale, cost-effective production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Technology Demonstration and Market Presence

Alkion BioInnovations has been integrating its technology into real-world applications through its biorefinery model, which is designed to be sustainable and cost-effective. However, there is limited publicly available information on specific customer demonstrations, pilots, or clinical trials conducted post-funding.

New Patents, Studies, or Clinical Trials

As of the latest available information, Alkion BioInnovations holds significant patent rights to its technologies but does not have publicly disclosed new patents, scientific studies, or clinical trials specifically attributed to advancements following the EIC Accelerator funding.

Sources

• Alkion BioInnovations - Activities
• Alkion BioInnovations
• Alkion Develops Biorefinery for Sustainable Production
• Evonik Press Release on the Acquisition of Alkion BioPharma
• European Commission Grants
• Health & Biotech Success Stories

5 The Partnerships and Customers

Alkion BioInnovations, a French company specializing in plant tissue propagation and bioengineering technologies for pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors, has established several partnerships and customer relationships that position it strongly in the market and support its technology advancement and scaling.

Partnerships and Customers

• Alkion collaborates with multiple public partners including BPI France, Scientipole Initiatives, Valorial (a FoodTech competitiveness cluster), Pole IAR, and EIT Food. These partnerships provide financial support, innovation networks, business development opportunities, and facilitate international collaborative projects.
• The company works closely with worldwide NGOs and universities to develop its bioproduction platform. This includes developing AI-driven robotic systems for an industrial in-vitro bioproduction platform aimed at large-scale production of vaccine adjuvants especially targeting global health needs such as Malaria, TB, HIV.
• Alkion has been selected as a laureate by various programs such as I-Lab, I-Nov, Plan de Relance from the French Government’s Ministry of Industry which highlights strong governmental R&D backing that supports scaling efforts.
• Alkion's technology is also associated with Evonik Advanced Botanicals following Evonik’s acquisition of a related startup (Alkion Biopharma SAS). This partnership integrates Alkion’s plant-based cosmetic active ingredient technologies into one of the world’s leading personal care companies; this collaboration enhances scientific development capabilities alongside academic institutions like University of Tours.

New Relationships & Their Nature

• Recently awarded €5 million by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program to set up its pilot biorefinery facility. This funding acts both as validation from EU innovation bodies and financial leverage for scaling production capacity under secure controlled conditions suitable for medical compounds.
• Being a finalist of the Zayed Sustainability Prize at COP28 further elevates Alkion's profile among global sustainability leaders in health innovation which may open new doors for strategic partnerships focused on sustainable health solutions across emerging markets like those in Global South.

Market Positioning & Technology Advancement Impact

These relationships:

• Provide access to cutting-edge research collaborations through university partners enhancing technological refinement.
• Facilitate industrial scale-up via pilot biorefinery funding that transitions lab success into commercial manufacturing.
• Connect Alkion to prominent industry networks such as EIT Food which helps secure finance/business partners crucial for international expansion.
• Enable integration into larger supply chains through entities like Evonik advancing product commercialization particularly within cosmetics but potentially adaptable across pharma sectors.

Overall these alliances strengthen Alkion BioInnovations' market positioning as a pioneer offering cost-effective sustainable plant-based active ingredients specifically tailored toward vaccines enhancement (e.g., super immunity boosters QS), cannabinoids production under regulated licenses for therapeutic use (neurological diseases), plus agri-food innovations like natural sugar alternatives. They enable accelerated technological advancements via shared expertise & resources while supporting scalable production—critical factors underpinning their goal to revolutionize vaccine accessibility globally while preserving biodiversity sustainably.

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Sources:

• Alkion BioInnovations Official Website
• Partners - Alkion BioInnovations
• CB Insights - Alkion BioInnovations Profile
• Evonik Advanced Botanicals Acquisition News
• LeadIQ Employee Directory & Collaboration Details
• Alkinnov News Page
• FoodNavigator Interview on Biostimulation Technology
• Zayed Sustainability Prize Finalists Announcement 2023

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

Alkion BioInnovations: Team Growth and Hiring Insights

Alkion BioInnovations, a French company specializing in plant tissue propagation technologies, won the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022. Since then, the company has been expanding its presence in the bioproduction industry, particularly focusing on sustainable and cost-effective solutions for pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Current Headcount and Team Size

No specific information on the current headcount or team size of Alkion BioInnovations is available. However, their growth and recognition through prestigious awards suggest an expanding workforce.

Hiring Activity

While there is no direct information on whether Alkion BioInnovations is currently hiring, their involvement in various conferences and their selection for several innovation programs indicate a dynamic environment that might involve ongoing recruitment for skilled professionals.

Growth and Scaling

Since winning the EIC Accelerator, Alkion BioInnovations has shown significant growth by being selected for various innovation programs and being recognized as a finalist in the Zayed Sustainability Prize. This growth indicates a potential increase in their team size as they scale up their operations.

Key Positions and Impact on Future Growth

The company's focus on innovative bioproduction technologies suggests that recent hires might be in areas such as biotechnology research, plant genetics, and bioreactor engineering. New team members would be crucial for enhancing Alkion's ability to produce high-value active compounds sustainably, thereby helping the company scale its operations and meet global demands for pharmaceutical ingredients.

Management and Founding Team Changes

There is no specific information available regarding major changes in the management or founding team of Alkion BioInnovations. However, their commitment to sustainability and innovation suggests a stable and forward-thinking leadership.

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Sources:

• Alkion BioInnovations
• News - Alkion BioInnovations
• Alkion BioInnovations Research & Development
• Zayed Sustainability Prize Announces Finalists

7 The Media Features and Publications

Alkion BioInnovations, a French biotech company and winner of the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, has garnered significant media attention, participated in industry conferences, and engaged in various events since their award. Below is a detailed overview of their media features, publications referencing them, podcast or interview appearances by their team, conference participations, and event involvements.

Media Features and Publications

• FoodNavigator featured Alkion BioInnovations prominently in articles highlighting its innovative biostimulation technology used to scale up production of sweet proteins and high-value flavors. The CEO Sarah-Meryll Buet explained how the company uses patented hydroponic bioreactor processes to cultivate specific plant organs with enhanced gene stimulation for superior yields. The company's portfolio includes natural sweeteners like mabinlin and thaumatin as well as flavors such as vanillin and saffron.
• Alkion was also noted for its commitment to non-GMO production methods aligned with biodiversity principles including compliance with the Nagoya Protocol.
• The company’s platform has been described as pioneering plant tissue propagation technologies that enable efficient production of pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), nutraceuticals, medicinal compounds including cannabinoid APIs for revolutionary treatments.

Podcasts or Interviews

Franck Pradier from Alkion BioInnovations delivered a presentation titled "When Biotech Disrupts Cannabis Issues" at the CBE21 conference (Cannabis Business Europe 2021). This detailed issues with traditional cannabis cultivation methods versus alternative biotech production techniques including those applied by Alkion. The presentation is available on World Class Business Leaders’ YouTube channel.

Conferences and Fairs Participation

• Alkion's presence at major industry events includes:
• Cannabis Europa London Conference (November 2021) where Sarah-Meryll Buet represented the company discussing innovative plant-based ingredient technologies.
• International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) Berlin (August 2021): invited participant sharing insights on sustainable biotech solutions for cannabis-related products.
• Participation in other global sustainability-focused forums such as being a finalist for the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize during COP28 UAE indicates active engagement at prominent international events focused on health innovation & sustainability.

Company Involvement in Events

• Beyond presentations and conferences:
• Alkion was awarded €5 million through the ultra competitive EIC Accelerator program aimed at setting up its pilot biorefinery showcasing confidence from EU institutions regarding its scalable industrial biotechnology solutions.
• Selected under France’s "Plan de Relance" R&D program by the Ministry of Industry emphasizing national recognition for priority innovation projects around their proprietary “Alkaburst” bioreactor technology platform supporting green pharma manufacturing efforts.
• Through collaborations within European networks like EIT Food's RisingFoodStars initiative—the start-up benefits from business development opportunities fostering partnerships across agrifood ecosystems leading to international collaborative projects focused on sustainable food system challenges alongside financial support mechanisms provided by these networks.

In summary, since winning EIC Accelerator funding in early 2022, Alkion BioInnovations has been actively featured across reputable media outlets specializing in food tech & biotech innovations; contributed expert voices via interviews/presentations; participated extensively at key European cannabis & sustainability conferences; engaged deeply with EU-backed innovation programs; all underscoring its growing footprint within sustainable pharmaceutical ingredient bioproduction markets.

Sources

• Alkion BioInnovations Official Website
• FoodNavigator: CEO Interview on Biostimulation
• Research & Development – Alkion BioInnovations
• YouTube: Franck Pradier Presentation CBE21
• Cannabis Business Europe Conference Details