ÄIO receives €1 million for sustainable oils

The Estonian company – a spin-off of Tallinn University – has secured a €1 million grant from the Applied Research Programme (RUP), supported by the Estonian government and managed by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS). The grant is aimed at developing eco-friendly alternatives to conventional cosmetic oils, often derived from palm, coconut, or petroleum. Founded in 2022, ÄIO produces vegan oils through microbial fermentation, using 97% less land and 90% less water than palm oil production. This funding will support a three-year project to improve production and scale up these lipids, which are suitable for use in formulations.