Vivici secures €12.5 million EIC Accelerator award to scale precision-fermented dairy proteins

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Dutch precision fermentation company Vivici has secured €12.5 million (US$14.4 million) through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Program, providing fresh support for the company's efforts to expand the market reach and supply of its dairy protein ingredients.

Vivici secured €12.5 million (US$14.4 million) through the European Innovation Council Accelerator Program following a competitive selection process.
The funding supported plans to expand market access and supply of the company's Vivitein protein ingredient portfolio and accelerate product innovation.
The award followed the US launch of Vivitein LF lactoferrin and the commercialization of Vivitein BLG beta-lactoglobulin.

The funding award represented a significant endorsement for the Netherlands-based company, which was selected through one of Europe's most competitive innovation funding programs.

The EIC Accelerator serves as the European Union's flagship initiative for high-impact innovation, supporting a limited number of companies from a large pool of applicants. Vivici reported that its selection followed a rigorous evaluation process that culminated in an interview before a jury comprising investors and entrepreneurs.

The company described the award as validation of both its technology platform and commercial progress, while highlighting growing confidence within Europe in the role precision fermentation could play in developing more sustainable food production systems.

Vivici CEO Stephan van Sint Fiet said the funding would help accelerate the company's commercial ambitions. "Securing the support of the EIC is a powerful endorsement of what we are building at Vivici," said van Sint Fiet.

"It tells us that Europe sees the same opportunity we do, to turn the promise of precision fermentation into a commercial reality, at scale, for the benefit of customers and consumers. This funding allows us to move faster on exactly that."

Founded in 2023, Vivici was established to commercialize dairy proteins produced through precision fermentation. The company combines biotechnology capabilities with expertise from the ingredients sector to develop proteins designed for food and nutrition applications.

Its Vivitein portfolio focuses on functional dairy proteins produced without traditional dairy farming. According to the company, the approach enables food and nutrition brands to access high-purity dairy proteins while avoiding some of the supply and cost constraints associated with conventional production methods.

The EIC funding will form part of Vivici's broader growth strategy. The company reported that the capital will be used to expand market access for its ingredients, strengthen supply capabilities and support further product innovation.

The award came during a period of commercial expansion for the business.

Earlier this year, Vivici launched Vivitein LF, a precision-fermented lactoferrin ingredient, in the US market after obtaining self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. The launch followed the commercialization of Vivitein BLG, the company's flagship beta-lactoglobulin ingredient.

Both ingredients are produced using precision fermentation, a technology that uses microorganisms to produce specific proteins traditionally found in animal-derived products.

Vivici Chief Commercial Officer Simon Penfold said the additional funding would help the company respond to growing demand.

"Customer demand for our ingredients is already strong, and this backing lets us meet it with the supply and pace the market expects," said Penfold.

The EIC Accelerator program has become one of Europe's most prominent funding mechanisms for deep-tech companies seeking to move from validated technologies toward larger-scale commercialization.

The program provides blended finance that combines grant funding with equity investment, helping companies bridge the gap between technological development and market deployment. The initiative is designed to support startups and small and medium-sized enterprises developing innovations with the potential for significant economic and societal impact.

For Vivici, the award adds to a growing list of milestones as precision fermentation companies seek to scale production and establish commercial markets for animal-free proteins.

The company said the latest funding would help unlock the full potential of its technology platform while supporting broader adoption of its ingredients among food and nutrition manufacturers.

Based in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands, Vivici has focused its strategy on supplying functional protein ingredients to food companies developing next-generation nutrition products. With fresh support from the EIC Accelerator, the company is now looking to accelerate both supply expansion and innovation across its Vivitein portfolio.