The European Innovation Council and the Unilever Foundry, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies with a portfolio of leading purposeful brands, invite EIC-backed SMEs/startups/scaleup to apply for a new EIC Corporate Day, to be held in Liverpool, on 29 and 30 April 2025. This initiative is organised under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, one of the flagships EIC Business Acceleration Services, and it is part of a series of matchmaking activities.
Selected EIC-backed companies will have access to dedicated training, mentoring, pitch dry runs and further support to present their solutions on a pitching and matching session on the 29 and 30 April 2025, with the corporations’ decision makers. Finally, EIC companies will also benefit from post-event support to maximise the impact of their business proposals.
Make sure to APPLY by 2 February 2025
Opportunities for selected EIC companies:
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Personalised preparatory support including a group session with Unilever, 1-to-1 session with business experts, high quality feedback to adjust the pitch deck, pitch dry-run and business proposal review.
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Privileged access to high-level decision makers within Unilever members.
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Knowledge sharing and network building for future business.
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Possibility to initiate collaborations, strategic partnerships or enter new markets with Unilever members.
Who can apply?
Unilever is looking for disruptive technologies with applications based on Microbiome, Biotechnology (chemicals and ingredients), NextGen Materials and In Silico discovery development process. Unilever is particularly interested in innovations that align with at least one of the following focus areas:
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Next-Generation microbiome solutions for personal and home care: Innovative prebiotic, probiotic, or postbiotic formulations that offer noticeably superior benefits for hair care, skincare, personal wellbeing, and home environments.
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Biotechnological alternatives for key ingredients and chemicals: Superior, sustainable and affordable alternatives for key ingredients and chemicals across hair, skin, wellbeing and home.
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NextGen materials: Plastic alternatives and solutions that move Unilever towards a 100% recyclable or compostable packaging.
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In Silico: Platforms, tools, AI which reduce or enhance the discovery & development process.
Please specify which specific topic you are interested in in your application.
EIC-backed SMEs/Startups/Scaleups can apply by clicking on the following link.
Please acknowledge that the information you provide on the application form will be shared with Unilever team members, which will select the participants based on their business interests and strategic goals.
The EIC team will contact all selected applicants once the process is finished. However, this contact does not include feedback or recommendations for those not selected.
Commitment required:
Participants must be available for the entire duration of the programme, which includes the preparation phase (online training sessions, pitch checks, and business proposal reviews), the two event days on April 29 and 30, 2025, and follow-up activities. Selected companies must be represented by C-level executives. Additionally, selected participants will be responsible for arranging and covering their travel and accommodation costs.
About Unilever & the Unilever Foundry:
Unilever is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, home to brands such as Dove, Lifebuoy, Domestos, Knorr, Hellmann’s and more.
Unilever Foundry supports scientists within Unilever’s Research & Development function in solving Unilever’s biggest science & technology challenges by building and nurturing early stage innovation partnerships, such as those with startups.
The EIC Corporate Day is a supporting mechanism to match the best early stage innovation solutions with Unilever’s biggest science & technology challenges. Solutions will be vetted by Unilever Foundry prior to the day itself, and solutions selected by Unilever scientists to pursue following the Corporate Day will be supported thereafter by Unilever Foundry to validate & scale solutions.
About the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme
The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme supports EIC-backed companies looking to scale by securing new customers and business partners. To date, more than 1 200 EIC-backed start-ups and scale-ups, together with over 2 500 high-level representatives from more than 100 large companies, took part in the programme, resulting in significant impacts on organisations, tracking progress, and closing deals, often within 6 months.
About the EIC Business Acceleration Services
This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. To explore other opportunities to connect with the largest corporates in Europe, keep an eye on our events page.
All participants are expected to fill out a brief satisfaction survey shortly after the matchmaking opportunity and a business impact survey after six months. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from future Business Acceleration Services.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations will only be considered in duly documented cases of “force majeure”. Unjustified cancellation can lead to exclusion in future Business Acceleration Services business opportunities. For additional information, please refer to our Helpdesk (please choose “EIC Corporate Days with Unilever” as the subject).
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.