New success story at the Barcelona Science Park, a leading ecosystem in research and technology transfer that brings together more than 3,000 scientists and entrepreneurs. One of the companies it has incubated, the biotechnology company Infinitec Activos, has just been acquired by the German multinational Evonik. The Barcelona-based company focuses on the research, development, production and commercialization of active ingredients and state-of-the-art delivery systems for the cosmetic industry.
With the purchase, Infinitec's founders, Josep Maria Borràs and Alfonso Hidalgo, will maintain their executive positions in the company as CEO and Innovation Director, respectively. Scientists by training, Hidalgo and Borràs launched this startup in 2006. "What I've always liked is selling, interacting with people. After working in the commercial area of different companies, including Lipotec, in 2003, during a stay in London, I conceived the Infinitec project and contacted my friend Josep Maria Borràs, then commercial director of Provital. We became partners immediately," Hidalgo recalls.
Since its creation, the startup has raised more than two million euros in public and private capital. In 2020, turnover stood at 6.67 million euros, 18% more than in the previous year. Among its clients are brands such as Clarins, Unilever and RNB Cosméticos, manufacturer for the Mercadona group. To get here, it all started with a loan they secured by guaranteeing Hidalgo's apartment mortgage and Borràs's salary. "We started from scratch, thanks to a loan of 120,000 euros. The beginnings were very difficult... But we put a lot of effort and determination into it," adds the executive.
With the operation, Infinitec will expand its facilities in the Science Park, with an additional 200 square meters, reaching a total of 300 square meters of surface area, distributed between the laboratory and the offices. This expansion will involve an investment of 500,000 euros and a 50% increase in staff, which currently stands at 47 professionals. In addition to this headquarters, the Catalan biotechnology company has a 1,500 square meter production plant in Montornès del Vallès.
The amount of the transaction, which also includes the purchase of Naturethic, Infinitec Activos' sustainable raw material producer, has not been disclosed. The German company Evonik, with a presence in more than 100 countries and sales of 12.2 billion euros, wants to strengthen its business of natural-based active ingredients and innovative delivery systems with this operation, with the aim of increasing its volume from the current 25% to 50% by 2030.