Connect with us

Technology

The BioCircular Materials Alliance initiated by Spiber welcomes new partners including Stella McCartney and publishes its first Progress Report

Published

on

Stella McCartney, Marzotto Wool Manufacturing Srl, Fashion for Good, and 13 new companies and organizations have joined the BioCircular Materials Alliance (the “Alliance”), led by biomaterials pioneer Spiber.The Alliance published its first Progress Report, highlighting ongoing research and development efforts to build circular infrastructure utilizing nature-driven materials and agricultural waste.The Alliance published the first version of its Materials BioCircularity Database and has made significant progress toward developing its Product Design Guidelines for fashion industry players to integrate biocircularity principles into their design processes.The official BioCircular Materials Alliance website has been launched.

TSURUOKA, Japan, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The BioCircular Materials Alliance (the “Alliance”, previously known as the “Biosphere Circulation Project”), conceived by Spiber Inc. and powered by a growing coalition of industry leaders, is excited to welcome new members, including Stella McCartney, Marzotto Wool Manufacturing Srl, and Fashion for Good, while continuing its collaboration with founding members such as Kering and Goldwin (see Appendix for full list). 

The Alliance was founded to harness the transformative power of biology to accelerate the global transition toward a circular future. By bringing together leading brands, manufacturers, and innovators, the Alliance seeks to enable regeneration of bio-based waste—from textiles, agriculture, and forestry—into valuable products such as protein materials through Metabolic Recycling* and other advanced processes.

“Seeing such a diverse group of organizations align and collaborate toward a shared goal is truly inspiring. What began as a vision has grown into a dynamic, collaborative effort with strong momentum for real, societal-level change to create a circular future.” – Kenji Higashi, Spiber Inc. Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Director of the Alliance Steward Team

“Stella McCartney is proud to partner with the BioCircular Materials Alliance, driving the industry towards a circular future. The accomplishments highlighted in the Alliance’s first Progress Report demonstrate significant progress in creating a regenerative bioeconomy, showcasing the power of collaboration and innovation in achieving societal-level change. We look forward to working with this groundbreaking initiative.” – Stella McCartney brand

The Alliance is proud to announce the release of its first ever Progress Report, which highlights key milestones achieved in 2024. This includes the collaborative development of an Action Plan, which sets the stage to drive the industry toward a circular bioeconomy—where bio-based waste is transformed into new, regenerative materials—through shared knowledge, actionable data, and industry-wide collaboration.

The Progress Report also highlights the creation of the first version of the Materials BioCircularity Database and the progress made in developing the Alliance’s Product Design Guidelines. These tools will serve as comprehensive resources explaining how various combinations of materials and chemical treatments impact the compatibility of resulting products with the biocircular recycling systems. 

The Materials BioCircularity Database is an emerging tool designed to help industry players make informed choices about the selection of fibers, dyes, and chemicals used in their products to optimize them for biocircularity. While still in its early stages, initial datasets have been compiled and the Database is set to evolve into a critical resource for guiding more sustainable product design. The Product Design Guidelines will serve to help industry players understand how material and chemical combinations affect compatibility with biocircular recycling systems. Insights from the growing Database will inform these guidelines, and the Alliance is planning to have an initial draft completed in 2026. 

“Fashion for Good is pleased to be collaborating with Spiber and the other BioCircular Materials Alliance Members such as Kering; a founding Alliance Member and a Fashion for Good partner. Finding solutions for different waste feedstocks that currently have no pathways i.e: recycling is vital to help solve the textile waste crisis. We look forward to contributing our expertise on topics such as the Materials Circularity Database that could help steer the industry towards making better design choices to enable bio-circularity.” – Maria Arroyo I Bacete, Fashion for Good Innovation Manager

In tandem with the Progress Report, the Alliance is proud to launch its official website, https://biocircularmaterials.org. The website will serve as a central hub for updates on the Alliance’s activities, providing access to resources like the Progress Report, the Materials BioCircularity Database, and the Product Design Guidelines, as well as information on membership opportunities.

The BioCircular Materials Alliance continues to champion innovation, foster collaboration, and pave the way for a regenerative future in textiles. We urge brands, manufacturers, industry organizations, and policymakers to join us in building a biocircular future.

*Metabolic Recycling

Metabolic Recycling Is the Conversion of Biobased Waste into Nutrients, Such As Sugars and Amino Acids, Which Are Then Used in Microbial Fermentation to Create New Materials. This Process Unlocks the Potential of Biobased Waste, Offering a Scalable and Practical Solution for a Circular Bioeconomy. by Enabling the Use of Low-quality Waste Across Multiple Rounds of Recycling Without Compromising the Performance of the Resulting Materials, It Provides a Groundbreaking Approach to Fiber-to-fiber Recycling.

 

The BioCircular Materials Alliance

Formalized in 2024, the BioCircular Materials Alliance (the “Alliance”) was created to harness the power of biology to drive our society towards a more circular reality. Its vision is a future where biobased components of waste—from, for example, the textile, agriculture, and forestry industries—are transformed into biological nutrients and regenerated into new chemicals and materials through microbial fermentation.

For more information, visit https://biocircularmaterials.org

Spiber Inc.

Established in 2007, Spiber is a biotech venture company based in Yamagata, Japan. Dedicated to creating innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable wellbeing, Spiber has developed a new material solution inspired by nature’s diversity and circularity: the “Brewed Protein™” material platform. By harnessing the power of precision fermentation, Spiber engineers proteins at the molecular level, resulting in versatile materials that can be tailored to specific needs. This innovative solution opens up new possibilities for sustainable and high-performance materials in various industries, including apparel, food, automotives, and more. Alongside our partners, Spiber is constantly exploring diverse new applications for Brewed Protein™ materials in order to help pave the way for a brighter future. Our passion lies in fostering a circular economy, minimizing our environmental impact, and working together to build a world that is inclusive, fair, and regenerative.

For more information, visit https://spiber.inc/en/

Appendix: Alliance Members

22 Alliance Members as of January 21st, 2025.

This list does not include anonymous companies that are silent contributors to the Alliance.

1.    Albini Group

2.    Archroma

3.    Armedangels

4.    DyStar

5.    EILEEN FISHER

6.    Fashion for Good

7.    Goldwin Inc.

8.    Gruppo Florence

9.    Kering

10.  Marzotto Wool Manufacturing Srl

11.  Marimekko

12.  Pangaia

13.  RDD Textiles

14.  Stella McCartney

15.  Spiber Inc.

16.  UNITED ARROWS LTD.

17.  Vollebak

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/the-biocircular-materials-alliance-initiated-by-spiber-welcomes-new-partners-including-stella-mccartney-and-publishes-its-first-progress-report-302355709.html

SOURCE Spiber Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Revolune and Concept Life Sciences Partner to Help Customers Transition Multiplex IF Assays to Flexible New Workflows

Published

on

By

OBERKOCHEN, Germany, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Revolune today announced a partnership with Concept Life Sciences to help biopharma and life sciences customers reassess, transfer, and scale multiplex immunofluorescence assays using Revolune’s flexible staining technology, which now supports 4- to 7-plex assays. 

The collaboration addresses a growing market need as customers evaluate alternatives to existing workflows and reconsider how best to support tissue biomarker research. With Revolune now offering 4- to 7-plex assay capabilities, Concept Life Sciences can help customers transfer established assays onto the Revolune platform, preserve valuable panel know-how, and move more easily from existing workflows to flexible, ready-to-use multiplex formats. 

“Many customers are not starting from a blank page — they already have assays, panels, and tissue biomarker strategies they need to preserve while moving toward more flexible workflows,” said Adrian Arechiga, CCO of Revolune. “Concept Life Sciences brings the translational biology, biomarker, and assay development expertise needed to help customers make that transition practically and confidently.” 

Concept Life Sciences is a leading contract research organization serving the global life sciences industry, with capabilities across discovery, development, analytical services, translational biology, biomarker discovery, spatial biology, and end-to-end chemistry. By combining these capabilities with Revolune’s adaptable multiplex immunofluorescence technology, the companies aim to help customers generate decision-ready tissue biomarker insights while reducing the operational burden of assay transfer and implementation. 

The partnership is designed for research teams that want to retain the scientific value of existing workflows while gaining access to a more flexible platform for multiplex staining. Customers can work with Concept Life Sciences to evaluate assay transfer feasibility, optimize panel design, run tissue staining workflows, and connect resulting biomarker data to broader discovery and development programs. 

“We are excited to work with Revolune to support customers who are rethinking how they approach multiplex tissue analysis,” said Adam Davenport, CSO at Concept Life Sciences. “Together, we can help teams transfer existing assays, explore new panels, and apply multiplex immunofluorescence in ways that support meaningful translational decisions.” 

The Concept Life Sciences partnership forms part of Revolune’s broader strategy to build an ecosystem of partners that support adoption across different customer needs — from specialist service execution to assay migration, translational biology, and integrated R&D support.

Meet Revolune and Concept Life Sciences at SITC 2026

Revolune and Concept Life Sciences will both be attending the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting, November 4–8, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Meet both teams at SITC at Sundown, a relaxed evening of complimentary drinks, dinner and conversation hosted by Concept Life Sciences on November 6, 6.30-8.30 pm. More information: https://www.conceptlifesciences.com/campaigns/sitc-2026.

About Revolune

Revolune is a life science company dedicated to making multiplex immunofluorescence as accessible and practical as routine tissue analysis. Its reagent technologies help laboratories move rapidly from existing primary antibodies to ready-to-use multiplex kits, simplifying spatial biology workflows and enabling researchers to focus on biological questions rather than assay management. 

About Concept Life Sciences

Concept Life Sciences is a leading contract research organisation (CRO) serving the global life sciences industry. For over 25 years, the company, and its heritage companies, have provided consultative and collaborative drug discovery and development services. Our approach, supported by passionate scientists and world-leading capabilities, enables clients to overcome complex scientific challenges and improves program success rates. The company has successfully helped 29 candidates advance to the clinic.

The company offers sophisticated translational biology services coupled with exceptional end-to-end chemistry capabilities to support drug discovery and development across a range of established and emerging modalities, with the ability to seamlessly integrate capabilities and provide bespoke solutions to address client needs.

Collectively, the company’s high-quality services and commitment to customer service across the drug development pathway enhances efficiency in drug discovery, helping clients advance their drugs to clinic in as little as 32 months, well ahead of the industry average of 60 months.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/revolune-and-concept-life-sciences-partner-to-help-customers-transition-multiplex-if-assays-to-flexible-new-workflows-302919466.html

SOURCE Revolune

Continue Reading

Technology

From Global Orders to Global Growth: Financial Infrastructure for Mid-Market Exporters

Published

on

By

At the 140th Canton Fair, PhotonPay demonstrates how its stablecoin-centric financial operating system helps growing exporters manage cross-border collections, currency conversion and global payments.

HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For a growing homewares exporter, a major overseas order brings opportunity, but also an immediate question: how will the business finance production, cover shipping costs and manage cash until the buyer pays?

A furniture manufacturer may need to pay suppliers weeks or months before receiving the final payment. A home décor or festive-goods exporter may be managing several seasonal orders at once, each with different delivery schedules, payment terms and currencies. As the business expands into more markets, tracking incoming payments, converting currencies and paying suppliers becomes increasingly complex.

These are everyday challenges behind international trade. At the second phase of the 140th Canton Fair, themed “Quality Home Life” and featuring furniture, kitchenware, household items, home decorations, gifts and festive products, PhotonPay is highlighting how financial infrastructure can help growing exporters manage these demands as they expand internationally.

Financial Tools for the Next Stage of Growth

Large multinational companies can draw on dedicated treasury teams, established banking relationships and sophisticated systems to manage funds across markets. Smaller businesses may have simpler payment needs. Mid-market exporters occupy a different position: their operations span multiple countries and currencies, while their finance teams often remain lean.

At the same time, production and freight costs must be covered before all customer payments arrive. Receivables may be spread across currencies and accounts, while suppliers expect payment according to their own schedules. Finance teams must track receipts, reconcile invoices and maintain a clear view of available funds.

Across multiple markets and overlapping orders, these tasks can consume significant time and complicate decisions about when and where to deploy cash. Growing exporters need practical tools to coordinate collections, manage funds across currencies and pay counterparties worldwide, without having to build a large treasury function from scratch.

Connecting Fiat and Stablecoin Rails to Global Business

Bank accounts and fiat payment networks remain central to international trade, connecting businesses to local collection methods and established banking relationships. Stablecoins offer an additional way to transfer value across borders, with transactions possible outside conventional banking hours depending on the network and transaction arrangements.

Connecting fiat and stablecoin rails can give businesses more flexibility in managing cross-border funds. For exporters, the practical value lies in connecting the stages of a cross-border financial workflow: receiving customer payments, converting currencies and making funds available for supplier payments and other business expenses.

PhotonPay is built around this connection. As a stablecoin-centric financial operating system, PhotonPay brings together a cross-border financial infrastructure across both fiat and stablecoin rails.

Its multi-asset wallet supports fiat currencies and stablecoins within a unified environment. Local collection capabilities cover 21 currencies, enabling businesses to receive payments in the currencies their customers use. Through integrated on- and off-ramp services, businesses can convert between fiat and stablecoins, while 24/7 foreign exchange allow funds to move across markets at any time. Cross-border payouts in fiat and stablecoins are available across 200+ countries and territories. Card issuing capabilities also allow companies to manage overseas business spending directly from one platform.

These capabilities connect the key stages of cross-border financial operations, and for growing exporters, this provides a more integrated way to manage international payments as their business expands.

PhotonPay also extends its infrastructure to platforms through Embedded Finance. Its APIs enable B2B platforms, marketplaces and other digital businesses to integrate financial capabilities, including accounts, fiat and stablecoin wallets, global payouts and card issuing, into their own products. This allows platforms to build collection, payment and fund management services into existing workflows and extend financial capabilities to their customers.

Financial Infrastructure That Grows With the Business

For mid-market exporters, international growth brings new customers, more markets and greater demands on financial operations. The ability to manage funds across borders needs to keep pace, supporting everything from the next production run to the next supplier payment and the next market entry.

By connecting fiat and stablecoin rails within one financial operating system, PhotonPay helps growing businesses manage cross-border funds with greater flexibility as they scale internationally.

Visit PhotonPay at Area D, Booths DT1714–DT1718, during the 140th Canton Fair.

About PhotonPay

PhotonPay is a stablecoin-powered payment operating system built for global infrastructure. Designed for modern enterprises, PhotonPay enables businesses to send, receive, convert, and settle funds across both fiat and stablecoin rails through a single, compliance-first integration, spanning 200+ countries and territories.

For more information, visit [www.photonpay.com].

Disclaimer

This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation for any product or service. The availability, features, and regulatory treatment of PhotonPay’s products and services may vary depending on the user’s location, business model, and the laws and regulations that apply. Any descriptions of functionality, performance, efficiency, cost savings, or compliance support (including, without limitation, references to “real‑time”, “24/7”, “high‑efficiency”, or “compliant” solutions) are aspirational or forward‑looking in nature. Actual outcomes may differ due to market conditions, technological constraints, and regulatory developments, and PhotonPay makes no express or implied representation, warranty, or guarantee as to the achievement of any particular result.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/from-global-orders-to-global-growth-financial-infrastructure-for-mid-market-exporters-302920151.html

SOURCE PhotonPay

Continue Reading

Technology

Rockwell Automation Unveils Record-Breaking Innovation Lineup at Automation Fair 2026

Published

on

By

From AI-powered manufacturing and next-generation control to cybersecurity and digital engineering, Rockwell showcases technologies designed to help manufacturers build the future of industrial operations

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced an expanded product showcase for Automation Fair® 2026. Across the plant floor and enterprise, Rockwell’s latest innovations help manufacturers unlock greater productivity, simplify operations and strengthen resilience in an increasingly complex industrial environment. Together, these technologies demonstrate how AI, automation and digital transformation are reshaping the future of industrial operations.

At Automation Fair 2026, attendees will get an exclusive look at new technologies designed to help manufacturers modernize production, accelerate decision-making and scale innovation with greater confidence. The innovations span Rockwell’s automation and software portfolio showcasing practical applications that address some of the industry’s most pressing operational challenges.

“Production systems today are balancing growth, workforce challenges, cybersecurity threats and the need to adapt faster than ever before,” said Matheus Bulho, senior vice president, software & control, Rockwell Automation. “At Automation Fair 2026, we’re bringing together hardware, software and industrial intelligence in new ways, giving customers the tools to move faster, adapt with confidence and create more resilient and autonomous operations.”

Among the list of record-breaking innovative new technologies being showcased are:

LogixEdge™ Controller, enhancing the power of Logix with new form factors and seamless integration of IT and OT workloads that further amplify Logix’s powerful multidiscipline control and information capabilities, including AI workloads that enable autonomous controlCompactLogix® 5390 Controller, delivering enhanced performance and security with greater scalability for modern production system environments.PointMax™ I/O, a next-generation I/O platform designed to simplify deployment and support high-performance machine applications.Armor™ PowerFlex® 330 Integrated Drive Motor, combining motor and drive functionality in a compact solution to reduce complexity and accelerate installation.EtherNet/IP™ In-cabinet Solution, helping manufacturers simplify what it takes to construct, wire, deploy and manage industrial control systems more efficiently.FactoryTalk® Optix™ Version 1.9 and new OptixPanel™ Pro and PanelView™ Pro graphic terminals, providing expanded visualization capabilities across larger distributed systems, enhanced security and a modern operator experience.FactoryTalk® Conductor™, enabling organizations to orchestrate industrial intelligence and agentic engineering across design, operations and maintenance for their entire operations.FactoryTalk® AssetIQ™, FactoryTalk® Design Workbench™ and FactoryTalk® ResilientEdge™ software, helping customers simplify enterprise OT asset management, streamline engineering and improve resilience of edge deployments.New AI innovations for the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ and AI-powered Quality Management capabilities, bringing practical artificial intelligence to everyday manufacturing workflows.Expanded cybersecurity offerings, including SecureOT™ Platform Managed Services, OT Cybersecurity Assessment Suite, and capabilities designed to support OEMs in building more secure machines from the start

In addition to product announcements, attendees will have the opportunity to experience live demonstrations, engage with Rockwell Automation experts and partners and explore the innovations driving greater productivity, flexibility and resilience across manufacturing.

Registration is now open. Join thousands of industrial professionals at Automation Fair 2026 and be among the first to experience Rockwell’s latest innovations in action. Register today at automationfair.com.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise® to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rockwell-automation-unveils-record-breaking-innovation-lineup-at-automation-fair-2026-302907266.html

SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending