Summary sheet
The project will support the promoter's investment plan 2026–2028. More specifically, it concerns: i) capital expenditure (capex, 65% of project costs) for an innovative industrial-scale line for spider silk protein-based fibre production, including spinning and yarning, chemical recycling, and industrial infrastructure, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). This investment will be located at a contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) facility in Lovosice, Czech Republic. ii) research, development, and innovation (RDI, 35% of project costs), to be carried out at the AMSilk pilot plant in Neuried, Germany.
The project includes deployment of technologies as well as RDI activities for the production and downstream processing of innovative spider silk protein. The promoter is an innovative company developing lower environmental footprint alternatives to traditional materials and fossil-based ingredients in their respective markets, aiming to achieve industrial volumes of high-quality products with a low environmental impact.
The Project is in line with the InvestEU objective of financial support to innovative companies in the wider bioeconomy sector (Annex II of InvestEU Regulation). It includes deployment of technologies as well as research and development activities for the production and downstream processing of innovative spider silk protein. The project contributes to the EU's industrial capabilities and to environmental sustainability in various end-user industries such as fashion and non-durable consumer goods. It is in line with the Bank's Climate Bank Roadmap. The Project supports an innovative company developing lower environmental footprint alternatives to traditional materials and fossil-based ingredients in their respective markets, aiming to achieve industrial volumes of high-quality products with a low environmental impact. As such, the Project generates positive environmental and knowledge externalities while addressing market failures linked to the nature of early-stage bioeconomy ventures.
InvestEU enhances the Bank's risk-bearing capacity, enabling it to address a sub-optimal investment situation caused by the challenging fundraising environment for bio-tech companies. The EIB's venture debt financing is crucial and additional for AMSilk, accelerating its development and deployment. With EIB participation, the company will be able to diversify its funding sources, improve financing conditions, and send a strong signal to the market. The Project would not have been carried out (to the same extent) by the EIB without the InvestEU support.
Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.
The promoter is a private company not operating in the utilities sector and does not have the status of a contracting authority. It is thus not subject to EU rules on public procurement.