Roka Furadada, a Catalan deeptech company specialized in the research and development of solutions for sun protection, with the aim of reducing skin cancer, has reached an agreement to export its innovative smart sunscreen to France. This product, which adjusts its protection according to the intensity of UV rays, has captured the attention of the French market, marking an important step in the company's international expansion.
The company, founded by Judit Camargo in 2019, has developed a smart molecule that is activated when it comes into contact with natural light, adapting to environmental conditions to optimize protection against UVA rays. This technology offers protection for up to eight hours, with an efficiency that increases over time, according to the in vitro results of the research. This advance has allowed Roka Furadada to sign a collaboration agreement with the French brand SeventyOne Percent, specialized in sun protection products for athletes and nature lovers, as ACCIÓ advances in a recent news.
Within the framework of this agreement, the Catalan start-up supplies the active ingredients with which SeventyOne Percent has formulated a new range of sunscreens, including specific products for children. To start its international expansion, the company has received the support of the Government, through ACCIÓ, and its Foreign Trade and Investment Office in Paris, which has been key to Roka Furadada's international expansion.
In addition, Roka Furadada actively participates in the Industrial Doctorates Plan of the Generalitat de Catalunya with four industrial doctorate projects. Most of its 21 members of the company have doctoral degrees, which reinforces the company's innovative and scientific approach. This involvement in research and innovation is essential for the development of advanced technological solutions. In a recent interview for the Industrial Doctorates Plan, the company's CEO Judit Camargo stressed that, although each doctoral student works on a specific aspect of the product with their specialty, they all have a common goal: the launch of a molecule on the market. This diversity of perspectives has been crucial to achieving a high-quality final product.
On the other hand, the company has also donated its first batch of protective creams to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, reinforcing its commitment to society and applied research. In addition, the company presented the first cosmetic ingredient with lignin, a step forward in the prevention of skin cancer, thanks to its research within the framework of the Industrial Doctorates.
Roka Furadada has been recognized as one of the Catalonia Exponential Leaders during 2023, a recognition by ACCIÓ that identifies the most disruptive companies in Catalonia, reaffirming its leadership in technological innovation and its contribution to improving sun protection, as well as the fight against skin cancer.
The product is available at different physical points of sale throughout France and also through digital channels. In addition, the Catalan startup is entering other markets, including the United Kingdom, thanks to its partnership with SeventyOne Percent.
For more details, see the full ACCIÓ news and the interview with the CEO, Judit Camargo.
