Novel protein fibre awarded €1.4 million to scale
Solena Materials and The Protein Express have received €1.4 million in funding to scale their novel protein-based material as part of Exprest project.
The fibre is being developed for textile markets, with an initial focus on performance and premium apparel, and combines Solena’s AI-driven protein design with The Protein Express’s advanced fermentation technology.
The aim of the project is to reach commercial scale, while generating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) data, supporting future regulatory alignment and commercial readiness.
The funding for the 32-month project has been delivered by the Eureka network’s Eurostars programme (via Innovate UK), supporting collaborative R&D across Europe.
A spinout from Imperial College London, Solena was founded in 2022 by CEO Dr James MacDonald alongside Prof Paul Freemont and Prof Milo Shaffer. The company raised $6.7 million in April 2025 from investors including Sir David Harding, SynBioVen and Insempra.
The Protein Express is a Netherlands-based biotechnology company specialising in the production of functional proteins. Founded in 2026 as the successor to BioscienZ, it builds on award-winning innovations to make large-scale protein production more accessible.
