ROKA FURADADA

Over 3M new cases of skin cancer occur annually, with 85% related to sun exposure, hence widely preventable. Sunscreens are key players for skin cancer prevention protecting us from the UVR due to their active ingredients: UV filters. Regrettably, existing filters have limitations: Fast degradation; Toxic to humans/sea environment; Limited exposure time; Require combination of multiple filters for full UV spectrum protection. Roka Furadada has developed and patented SMART UV overcoming all those limitations: non-toxic, long-lasting, UVR-dose dependent and eco sustainable (lignin as raw material) promoting circular economy. Our goal is to make SMART UV the first choice for sunscreen manufacturers and users that wish to protect their skin without harming the environment. The EIC Acc will help bring SMART UV to market, optimizing scalability, sustainable synthesis, completing lab tests, and obtaining cosmetic ingredient certifications. Roka expects to breakeven by 2024 with sales of €4M.