“Above all, this award recognises the importance of our work and the impact that our research and innovation can have at the European level”, says Joana Almeida, co-founder of SurfACT, a spin-off created at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, after receiving the award in the “Industrial Innovation” category at the Cosmetic Victories (TCV) international competition held in Paris on 13 April 2026.
The technology, which has now gained recognition, originated at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), a research unit affiliated with Técnico, where the project continues to be developed by Nuno Faria and Frederico Ferreira, researchers and professors at Técnico, Miguel Nascimento, a Técnico alumnus (Master’s Programme in Biotechnology), and Joana Almeida, a current PhD student in Bioengineering and Biosciences at Técnico.
At the heart of the proposal are ‘surfactants’, molecules capable of interacting simultaneously with water and oils, widely used as detergents, emulsifiers, or dispersants. Currently produced mainly from fossil raw materials, these compounds are, according to the team, one of the critical points in the transition to a more sustainable cosmetics industry.
“Our project proposes the development of new surfactants through biological means, using microorganisms that naturally produce these molecules”, explains Joana Almeida. The approach incorporates the use of agro-industrial waste, such as by-products from the olive oil, canning, or biodiesel industries, as a source of nutrients, promoting a circular economy approach.
The solution developed aims to meet the cosmetics industry’s growing demand for non-fossil-based ingredients that ensure high levels of efficacy, new functionalities and competitive costs. “We aim to align sustainability with performance while ensuring industrial viability”, adds the co-founder.
The participation in the competition in Paris allowed not only “to establish contacts with the industry”, with a view to “accelerate the transfer of technology to the market”, but also to identify challenges associated with its application. “Significant concern regarding regulatory issues became evident, an aspect we will need to explore in greater depth in the next phases of the project”, she notes.
Organised under the theme “Scientific progress at the service of a sustainable cosmetics industry”, The Cosmetic Victories annually recognises academic and industrial innovation projects with the potential to impact the sector. The 2026 edition reinforced the trend towards valuing solutions based on renewable resources and reducing the carbon footprint, in line with the work carried out at Técnico in the field of bioengineering and sustainable innovation.
