More than a hundred professionals from the cosmetic, perfumery and personal care sector of the Mediterranean arc met at the III Mediterranean Cosmetic Innovation Meeting Innocosmética 2025, organized by AINIA and the UMH Science Park. The conference was opened by Cristina Del Campo, general director of AINIA, and Javier Sancho, director of the entrepreneurship area of the Science Park of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche.
During the event, the main advances in artificial intelligence (AI), healthy aging (well-aging) and microbiome were analyzed, as well as the sustainability challenges facing the industry.
AI applied to personalized cosmetics
Among the main conclusions, the growing role of artificial intelligence as an engine of change in the design of new cosmetic formulations stood out. Thus, Lorenzo Cervera, R&D engineer at AINIA, stressed how AI allows automating processes, improving accuracy in efficacy tests and moving towards more personalized products.
Well-aging: comprehensive and natural approach
In the field of healthy aging, the speakers pointed out a clear trend towards a holistic approach that considers the skin as a reflection of general well-being. The focus is on formulas with natural ingredients, such as prebiotics and postbiotics, which respect the balance of the skin microbiome, and on targeted release technologies that improve the effectiveness of the active ingredients.
Microbiome: the new invisible organ
More and more research supports the importance of the microbiome, which researcher Álex Mira defined as the "last organ of the human body", highlighting its importance in skin health. The conference highlighted the potential of ingredients that modulate the cutaneous microbial balance, as well as the growing role of nutricosmetics, including the use of specific bacterial strains in products to combat, for example, alopecia.
Challenges of the sector: sustainability and preclinical models
During the round table on innovation, the participating companies agreed on the need for advanced in vitro models to evaluate the efficacy of cosmetic ingredients. The urgency of integrating sustainability criteria from the earliest stages of product development was also emphasized.
Start-up Pitch Competition: Emerging innovation with impact
The conference hosted the second edition of the Start-up Pitch Competition, an initiative that seeks to make emerging projects in the sector visible and support their technological development.
In the 'Seed' category, Devera AI was awarded for its digital tool to calculate the carbon footprint of cosmetic products throughout their life cycle. This technology, based on advanced algorithms, provides key data for both consumers and companies seeking to minimize their environmental impact.
In the 'Growth' category, the start-up Skincaps was recognized for its biodegradable cosmetic capsule. The product, in an advanced stage of development, integrates active ingredients in a soluble membrane that dissolves on contact with the skin, eliminating the need for conventional packaging. This innovation combines cosmetic efficacy and sustainability, aligning with the principles of circular economy.