The OXIPRO project, formally titled Transition towards environment‑friendly consumer products by co‑creation of an oxidoreductase foundry, was funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. It ran from June 2021 to May 2025, with a total budget of EUR 5.999 million, fully supported by EU contribution. Coordinated by NORCE RESEARCH AS (Norway), the consortium brought together research institutes, universities, biotechnology companies, and industrial partners from across Europe. The project aimed to advance the adoption of environmentally friendly oxidoreductase‑based solutions in detergents, textiles, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. Oxidoreductases are a family of enzymes capable of replacing harmful chemical oxidisers, transforming waste into valuable products, and improving the quality, durability, and performance of consumer goods. By combining high‑performance computing, cutting‑edge biotechnology, and co‑creation with stakeholders, OXIPRO sought to develop an efficient “oxidoreductase foundry” that accelerates the transition to greener products. 

A key part of OXIPRO was the development of integrated computational, experimental and application platforms to accelerate the discovery, optimisation and industrial uptake of oxidoreductase‑based solutions.

Key achievements of the project include:

• Launch of a publicly accessible computational platform (Horus) combining in silico enzyme mining, prediction, and engineering modules to support the exploration of more than 250 enzyme candidates.
• Validation of two high‑throughput screening platforms based on microfluidics and cell‑free expression, enabling the processing of more than 500 oxidoreductases per week and facilitating the discovery of novel enzyme functionalities.
• Successful expression and medium‑scale (15–70 L) fermentation of all targeted enzymes for detergents, textiles, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals, supported by kinetic modelling to enable industrial scale‑up.
• Proof‑of‑application studies carried out under real‑life conditions in all four sectors, resulting in validated concepts, early‑stage product prototypes, and new insights into environmental and process performance.
• Wide dissemination of results through 13 open‑access scientific publications, videos, outreach materials, newsletters, and podcasts, as well as joint communication actions within the FNR‑16 Enzyme Cluster.

OXIPRO strengthened the competitiveness and sustainability of European industries by providing advanced tools, data, and processes for enzyme‑based innovation. By integrating high‑performance computing, high‑throughput screening, scalable enzyme production, and real‑life application testing, the project reduced development timelines and facilitated the replacement of energy‑intensive and chemical‑intensive industrial practices. The solutions developed within OXIPRO have the potential to support cleaner production methods and resource efficiency, contributing to future progress in line with the European Green Deal and circular economy priorities. The project’s scientific outputs, technical platforms, and industry‑ready enzymes form a strong foundation for future innovation in sustainable bioprocessing for consumer products. 

OXIPRO was coordinated by NORCE RESEARCH AS (Norway) and involved partners from a wide range of European countries, including Norway, Spain, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Türkiye, Greece, Denmark, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany, including research organisations, universities, SMEs, biotechnology companies and industrial partners. This broad European collaboration enabled extensive knowledge exchange across computational enzyme design, biotechnology, application testing, and sustainability. The project further strengthened cooperation through the FNR‑16 Enzyme Cluster, contributing to joint policy briefs, workshops and dissemination actions. A dedicated IPR task force also supported the identification of more than fifteen Key Exploitable Results (KERs), coordinated two patent filings, and guided partners in defining early exploitation pathways together with industry. Open‑access publications, a dedicated Zenodo community, and communication materials supported knowledge transfer to researchers, industry, and the wider public, helping reinforce Europe’s capacity to innovate in sustainable enzyme-based solutions.