Evonik establishes a new institute dedicated to skin sciences: The Evonik Skin Institute

• New institute brings together Evonik’s most advanced biotech platform and a global network of evaluation labs
• Offers stronger customer support and science-driven, co-creation projects
• Builds on a 30-year legacy in actives and 90+ years’ experience in cosmetic ingredients to expand portfolio of biosolutions

Evonik has established a new institute to meet the demand for smartly designed, well-substantiated active ingredients and cosmetic solutions. The Evonik Skin Institute is made up of a global network of life science experts and laboratories that provide customers with stronger support for claim-substantiated cosmetics with biological mechanisms, biomarkers, and preclinical or clinical capabilities. The new institute will also enable more science-driven, co-creation projects.   

The Evonik Skin Institute leverages the company’s biotechnology platform within its life sciences division, Nutrition & Care. It will play an important role in expanding the company’s portfolio of biosolutions, building on a 30-year legacy in active ingredients, over 90 years’ experience in cosmetic ingredients, and a series of recent partnerships and acquisitions.  

“We believe that life sciences are completely redefining innovation in cosmetics,” said Yann d’Hervé, head of the Care Solutions business line. “Inspired by innovation, the Evonik Skin Institute builds on synergies between biotechnology and skin intelligence competencies to take our customers’ claim substantiation needs to the next level.”

The Evonik Skin Institute is a global network of skin science experts skilled in cell biology, 3D tissue engineering, epigenetics, microbiome sciences, and clinical evaluation. The new institute supports Evonik’s Active Ingredients and Cosmetic Solutions businesses with its teams based in Singapore, India, Spain and Germany.

 “We look forward to working with an integrated network of start-ups, academic institution and key opinion leaders to provide more opportunities and support for highly customer-centric, business-for-business collaboration,” said Jennifer Bourland, head of the Evonik Skin Institute.

Ingredients and products must interact positively and intelligently with the skin and cutting-edge science is revealing the role of the microbiome and living world in this interaction. Claims for cosmetic and personal care ingredients are used to precisely describe their scientifically proven benefits and provide a performance commitment that helps to promote each product. Examples of claims include: “soothes the skin” or “reduces wrinkles”.

The Evonik Skin Institute brings together the knowledge and experience that Evonik has built up over 30 years of designing and marketing ceramides. This expertise has been further enhanced through a series of acquisitions, including the Argentinian biotechnology company Novachem, which specializes in natural and sustainable active ingredients for skin and hair care applications, and ALKION Biopharma, which specializes in plant biotechnology for the development of cosmetic active ingredients.