Core Viewpoint - Spiber, a Japanese unicorn company specializing in spider silk protein fibers, is advancing its business through strategic partnerships and innovative material development, aiming for significant growth in the sustainable fashion and personal care sectors [1][4][5]. Group 1: Business Developments - Spiber has signed a business support agreement with Maya Kawana, who will begin her work in the first half of 2026, aiming to leverage synergies for further development and value creation [2]. - The company raised 10 billion yen (approximately 65 million USD) in its ninth funding round, marking a significant milestone in its financial growth [4]. Group 2: Product Innovation - Spiber has developed Brewed Protein™, a synthetic spider silk material that boasts four times the toughness of steel at the same size, comparable elasticity to nylon, and excellent heat resistance up to 300°C [6]. - The Brewed Protein™ material is biodegradable in natural soil and seawater, potentially enabling a closed-loop supply chain for sustainable production [6]. Group 3: Production Capacity - As of 2024, Spiber's annual production capacity is between 200-300 tons, making it the only industrial-scale protein fiber that meets ISO standards, with plans to expand production to 1,000 tons in the coming years [7]. Group 4: Market Presence - Spiber has established a growing sales network, collaborating with 20 brands and launching 86 products, including partnerships with renowned companies like North Face Japan and Goldwin [9]. - The collaboration with Goldwin has reached its tenth year, focusing on high-performance tech apparel made entirely from Brewed Protein™ [10][11]. Group 5: Future Directions - The company is focusing on reducing dyeing process pollution and utilizing renewable agricultural by-products as raw materials for future product lines [14].

Core Viewpoint - The collaboration between Evonik and AMSilk aims to scale up the production of sustainable silk proteins, targeting high-end fashion and automotive interior markets, with a focus on biodegradable materials [3][4]. Group 1: Collaboration and Production - Evonik and AMSilk have signed a long-term agreement to enhance the sustainable silk protein production, following an initial production agreement in 2023 [3]. - A customized production line has been established at Evonik's Slovakian facility, capable of producing several tons of high-performance silk protein monthly [3]. - AMSilk will convert the silk protein powder produced by Evonik into high-performance yarn products, ensuring quality and compliance with a fully transparent European supply chain [3]. Group 2: Market Potential - The protein fiber market, which includes silk, cashmere, and merino wool, has an overall size of approximately €26 billion, with a serviceable segment of about €16 billion [4]. - The market outlook for protein fibers is positive, with increasing interest from major automotive brands like Mercedes-Benz, which has begun using silk proteins in their interior components [5]. Group 3: Financing and Expansion - AMSilk completed a €52 million financing round (approximately ¥430 million) to expand its commercial influence and support industrial scale-up to meet the growing global demand for silk protein-based biomaterials [7]. - Other companies in the protein fiber sector, such as Spiber and Solena Materials, are also making significant advancements and securing funding to enhance their production capabilities [8][12][13]. Group 4: Industry Innovations - Spiber is set to achieve an annual production capacity of 1,000 tons of its Brewed Protein™ fiber within the next few years, establishing itself as a leader in the fashion and biomaterials sectors [9][12]. - Solena Materials has announced a $6.7 million seed funding round to accelerate the large-scale production of sustainable high-performance textiles [13]. - Lingzhu Technology has successfully achieved mass production of spider silk proteins and secured significant angel funding to further its development in the bio-based materials field [14][16].