Dutch-based Qorium secures €22M to scale cultivated leather as sustainable alternative to animal hides

Dutch biotech firm Qorium raises €22M from Invest-NL, LIOF, and others to scale cultivated leather production, aiming to revolutionise the luxury and sustainable materials markets.

Limburg-based Qorium, the Dutch biotechnology company pioneering cultivated leather, has secured a €22M investment from Invest-NL and LIOF alongside existing investors Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners.

According to the company, an influential group of high-net-worth individuals has also participated in the round.

The Invest-NL investment is made under the InvestEU guarantee scheme of the European Commission.

The investment will enable the Dutch company to further scale up its production and transition from the laboratory to commercial reality.

At present, the Dutch company is targeting the luxury segment, where brands like Kering and Hermès are actively seeking high-quality, sustainable alternatives to calf leather. 

“This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to transform the leather industry,” says Qorium CEO Michael Newton. “By combining cutting-edge science with deep leather expertise and sustainable practices, we are creating real leather that offers better performance than traditional animal-derived leather, without the environmental and ethical costs.”

Qorium: Creating authentic leather without compromise

The cultivated leather market is projected to grow rapidly as demand increases for consistent and high-quality real leather.

Qorium was founded by Rutger Ploem, Stef Kranendijk, Mark Post, and Maastricht University.

The company develops, manufactures, markets, sells and distributes high-quality cultivated leather. 

The Dutch firm does it by taking a few animal cells, eliminating the need for livestock farming while improving final leather products, reducing production waste and significantly reducing the environmental impact vs. animal-derived leather.

The company is making sustainable real leather and is setting up new bioreactor systems at its Maastricht facilities. It has also formed several commercial partnerships.

Qorium reduces pollution by growing leather in a controlled environment.

This process creates real leather that is strong, flexible, and high-quality without the environmental and ethical problems linked to animal farming and tanning.

“At Invest-NL, we invest in technologies that drive systemic change. Qorium’s leather is a breakthrough innovation that can transform one of the world’s most polluting industries,” says Lisette Kersting-van der Boog from Invest-NL. “By producing real leather without livestock, Qorium shows how biotechnology can build a more sustainable materials system. We are proud to support this Dutch frontrunner in scaling their impact.”