Catalyxx Secures20-Million euros EU Grant to Build Its First-of-Its-Kind Commercial-Scale Biobased Chemicals Plant in Europe

9 July 2026 – Spain‑headquartered biobased‑chemical developer Catalyxx has secured a €20‑million grant from the European Union. Awarded under the RenewChem initiative selected as a flagship project by Circular Bio‑based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), the funding will back Catalyxx’s construction of its first commercial‑scale biobased‑chemicals plant across Europe, marking the firm’s transition from technology demonstration to full‑scale commercial production.

Led jointly by Catalyxx alongside chemical heavyweights Arkema and Evonik, the RenewChem consortium brings together industrial players, technical specialists and research‑focused partners throughout Europe. The project targets Europe’s first industrial‑scale facility that manufactures biobased alcohols from ethanol. The resulting chemicals are compatible with existing industrial infrastructure and supply chains while lowering reliance on fossil‑based feedstocks.

Founded to develop renewable alternatives for the chemical sector, Catalyxx has patented a proprietary process to convert ethanol into butanol, hexanol and other higher‑order alcohols. These outputs find wide‑ranging applications in coatings, adhesives, lubricants, surfactants, household and personal‑care goods, fragrances and flavours, and sustainable fuels.

The company states its products are engineered to match the performance of conventional petrochemical counterparts while cutting carbon footprints during chemical manufacturing.

According to Joaquín Alarcón, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyxx, this grant recognises the company’s technology and industrial strategy and strongly underpins its shift to commercial‑scale production. He further commented that the project will bolster Europe’s supply‑chain security and strategic autonomy within value chains of critical chemicals.

Europe’s chemical industry currently faces mounting pressure to deliver production‑side decarbonisation without compromising industrial competitiveness. Catalyxx aims to deliver renewable‑chemical alternatives for manufacturers so that businesses can adopt sustainable products with zero adjustments to their existing production workflows.