On May 14, 2026 Cariplo Factory in Milan, hosted theFinal Arena of the third edition of BioInvestIT, the first Italian investment forum entirely dedicated to the circular bioeconomy.
The initiative, promoted by the SPRING Cluster in collaboration with theEuropean Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), support from Bio4Dreams, Terra Next, LCA – Lega Colucci Associati, BioInvest Europe, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and a network of national academic partners, brought together innovative startups, international investors, venture capitalists and bio-based industry players with the aim of fostering the growth of new sustainable and high-impact solutions.
A national pathway to enhance bio-based innovation
BioInvestIT was created with the aim of creating a concrete bridge between circular bioeconomy startups, investors and the industrial world, both at the Italian and international level.
The journey began in January with a national call and roadshow that, in March, involved several Italian cities-Turin, Bari, Rome and Naples-collecting applications and innovative projects from across the country.
Investor Arena Meeting: starring 11 innovative startups
The closing event was the Investor Arena Meeting, the centerpiece of BioInvestIT 2026, during which eight selected startups presented their solutions to investors, European venture capital funds and industry stakeholders.
These were joined by three more startups from Terra Next’s acceleration pathway, bringing the total number of entities featured in the 2026 edition to eleven.
I-Foria also won the SPRING award in partnership with LCA to support the startup as it grows and comes to market.
The 8 finalist startups of BioInvestIT 2026:
- Nasier
Nasier is a patented bio-cleaning solution designed to remove biofilms from building surfaces using enzyme-based technology. It replaces traditional chemicals and biocides with a biodegradable, safe, high-performance alternative. In addition to environmental and safety benefits, Nasier enables faster application, reduced operating costs, and more sustainable construction and restoration processes.
- EVEBiofactory
The world’s first and only company to produce industrial-scale nanoalgosomes, natural extracellular vesicles derived from microalgae. Their mission is to revolutionize the delivery of active ingredients in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals by providing a sustainable, cost-effective and highly biocompatible nano-delivery platform derived from the circular bioeconomy.
- Farmech
Innovative startup active in the development of sustainable solutions for the agribusiness sector. Following the filing of two patents dedicated to the recovery of olive pomace and the enhancement of research and development activities carried out in recent years, the company has launched an initial pipeline of products in the functional food and beverage sectors. In parallel, Farmech has developed an analytical method capable of certifying the natural origin of ingredients, a technology for wine dealcolation, and a biocide obtained from orange peels.
- NOIET
Biotech startup developing clean-label food ingredients through microbial fermentation of agro-food by-products, particularly insoluble oat and rice residues from vegetable beverage production. The company uses a fermentation process by microbial co-culture to transform waste matrices into high-value functional ingredients with antioxidant, preservative, and nutritional properties. The goal is to replace chemically synthesized additives and improve the sustainability and efficiency of food supply chains.
- 2Pack
2Pack is a biodegradable and water-repellent coating film derived by processing fish waste (chitin/chitosan from crustaceans) combined with the waxy extract of tomato cuticle. Applied to cpaper substrates, it replaces polyethylene coatings while maintaining the water and grease barrier properties required by food and cosmetic packaging. The dual raw material approach ensures year-round supply chain resilience, leveraging both the Adriatic fishing industry and the Apulian processing tomato supply chain.
- i-Foria
Innovative company specializing in the sustainable recycling of personal absorbent products (PAP) and the development of circular economy technologies. Its proprietary, patented technology offers an efficient process for shredding, sterilizing and removing pharmaceutical residues, reducing the use of energy and chemicals. i-Foria licenses its technology to companies to build recycling plants in exchange for royalties. With a second patent, it aims to further valorize secondary raw materials through a Hub & Spoke system for upcycling.
- Immunoveg
High-tech biotech startup born out of the excellence of the University of Naples Federico II and the National Research Council (CNR). The company addresses a critical node in the global supply chain: the unsustainable and unpredictable production of plant-derived bioactive compounds. Through the use of plant cell culture (PCC)-particularly callus cultures and cell suspension cultures-they move production from the field to the laboratory.
- Myconic
Innovative startup developing a new class of mycelium-based biopolymers (MBPs) designed to replace durable thermoplastic plastics in specific advanced applications. Their ambition goes beyond creating an alternative to plastics: they aim to help build a future in which society’s well-being no longer depends on fossil-based raw materials. Through the upcycling of selected agro-food waste into new materials via mycelium – the root part of fungi – Myconic connects two seemingly distant global challenges: the over-reliance on fossil-derived plastic polymers and the lack of high-value applications for by-products of the agro-food supply chain.
