At NUCAPS we have been developing and producing a new type of functional ingredients for more than 5 years. Throughout all this time, and thanks to our firm commitment to innovation, we have managed to be present in more than 21 countries around the world, with 7 families of international patents and nearly 47 active R&D projects.
We are committed to new R+D+i projects, research and development projects and technology transfer to the market.
Together with the most prestigious technology centers in Europe and the food and pharmaceutical industry, Nucaps continues researching to improve our technological platform and our solutions for the effective and safe supply of bioactives and probiotics orally.
This innovation has the support of the Government of Navarre and the European Union.
Development of thermally stable microencapsulated systems adapted to UHT (Ultra High Temperature) processes
Nucaps presents UHTCAPS, an innovative R&D project that is set to revolutionize the food and nutraceutical market. Thanks to its exclusive bi-structured microencapsulation technology, it enables the incorporation of probiotics and bioactive compounds into liquid foods subjected to UHT processes (over 130 °C), ensuring their stability, functionality, and efficacy after consumption.
UHTCAPS paves the way for a new generation of long shelf-life functional foods, such as plant-based beverages, UHT dairy products, or liquid supplements, which until now have been limited by the lack of viable technological solutions. The project includes validation, industrial scale-up, and transfer to the agri-food sector, with a high potential for international impact.
Title: UHTCAPS
Identification number: 0011-1365-2025-000309
Implementation period: September 2025 – April 2027
Project executing entity/entities: NUCAPS
This company has received financial support co-financed at 40% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Navarra ERDF Operational Programme 2021–2027.
Alliance for the monitoring of the centenarian population and nanobiotechnological development associated with healthy ageing in Navarra
Navarrabiomed coordinates BIOANCIENT, a strategic R&D project that brings together eight Navarre-based entities around a shared goal: improving quality of life in old age through advanced technological solutions.
The project is based on the clinical and molecular study of centenarians to identify key biomarkers of longevity and to design personalized interventions through the combined use of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology. These innovations will enable the early detection of pathological ageing and the application of more effective and personalized treatments.
Title: BIOANCIENT
Identification number: 0011-1411-2025-000169
Implementation period: July 2025 – December 2027
Project executing entity/entities: FMS-NB-HUN, CIMA, UNAV, UPNA, IdiSNA, ADITECH, TDNClínica, Insight Center, TAIREL Data, NUCAPS
This company has received financial support co-financed at 40% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Navarra ERDF Operational Programme 2021–2027.
Research on nanoencapsulated bioactive compounds for healthy nutrition
This strategic project proposes an innovative solution to the challenges of Metabolic Syndrome and wound healing, based on natural bioactive compounds such as omega-6 fatty acids and quercetin, which are recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties, their ability to reduce insulin resistance, and their skin-repairing effects.
The project combines health and sustainability through the co-encapsulation of natural bioactives in food-grade nanoparticles, enhancing their efficacy and bioavailability. At the same time, it promotes the valorization of Navarre agri-food by-products and new natural sources such as blackcurrant, in line with the principles of the circular economy.
NUTRACAPS includes advanced in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as the evaluation of its applicability to different food and nutra/dermaceutical matrices, assessing their stability, safety, and economic viability.
Title: NUTRACAPS
Identification number: 0011-1411-2025-000158
Implementation period: April 2025 – December 2027
Project executing entity/entities: NUCAPS, Iberfruta, Isanatur, Ingredalia, Ojer Pharma, Espiga I+D, UNAV, CNTA, NAGRIFOOD
This company has received financial support co-financed at 40% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Navarra ERDF Operational Programme 2021–2027.
Structural RNA in colon cancer for personalized medicine
A project focused on the evolution of structural RNAs (stRNA) in colon cancer for personalized medicine.
Led by the Foundation for Applied Medical Research (FIMA/CIMA), the project will work with structural RNA both as a cancer treatment and as a tool for the development of precision and personalized medicine. This project represents an exciting challenge in a rapidly expanding field such as RNA-based therapies. NUCAPS will develop nanocapsules for oral administration, enabling targeted delivery to the appropriate release site to achieve therapeutic efficacy.
Title: Evolution of structural RNAs in colon cancer for personalized medicine
Identification number: 0011-1411-2024-000032
Implementation period: July 2024 – December 2026
Partners: FIMA / CUN / CSIC / NASERTIC / TAIREL DATA / 3P
This project is funded by the Government of Navarra and ERDF funds, under the Call for Strategic R&D Projects 2024–2027.
New oral cancer treatments
A project focused on the identification of microproteins (MPs) for the development of cancer vaccines.
Led by the Foundation for Applied Medical Research (FIMA/CIMA), the project aims to increase the number of patients who can benefit from immunotherapy treatments by developing oral vaccines for different types of cancer. In this context, NUCAPS will apply its nanoencapsulation technology to protect replicative RNA and to direct it to the appropriate site of release, achieving high efficacy and ease of administration for the population.
Title: Identification of microproteins (MPs) for the development of cancer vaccines
Identification number: 0011-1411-2024-000024
Implementation period: July 2024 – December 2026
Project executing entity/entities:
FIMA / NB / NNBI / NASERTIC / ADITECH / HUN / CUN
Project funded by the Government of Navarra and ERDF funds
Call for Grants to Carry Out Strategic R&D Projects 2024–2027
Development of healthy and sustainable foods with intake-regulating capacity
This project, led by Tutti Pasta, aims to develop healthy diets for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition and obesity, targeting vulnerable population groups.
In this context, Nucaps will develop bioactive and satiety-inducing food ingredients through its microencapsulation technologies.
Title: PLENTYFOOD – Development of healthy and sustainable foods with intake-regulating capacity
Identification number: 0011-1411-2024-000030
Implementation period: June 2024 – December 2026
Partners: TUTTI PASTA / IAN / IBERFRUTA / INGREDALIA / AN / DOMUSVI / VLVN / CNTA / UNAV / ADITECH / NUCAPSLOGY S.L. and University of Navarra
This project has been approved by the Government of Navarra under the 2019 Call for R&D Project Grants and is co-financed at 50% by ERDF funds through the Navarra Operational Programme 2014–2020.
Project funded by the Government of Navarra and ERDF funds.
Call for Grants for Strategic R&D Projects 2024–2027.
Most nutraceutical products are intended for their oral administration. However, it remains a challenge as these substances usually present low stability within the gut and poor penetration properties related to their physico-chemical characteristics (e.g., molecular weight, MW, hydrophilicity, ionized groups, etc.). Moreover, in some cases they also show disgusting organoleptic characteristics.
To overcome these drawbacks and then, promote the oral absorption and increase the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds, different strategies have been proposed. Among others, the nanoencapsulation of these compounds in nanocarriers is a very promising strategy as it allows efficient loading of the nutraceuticals inside the carrier thereby protecting the cargo against degradation and promoting a control release, masking the odor and flavor of the active product.
In this context, food proteins such as casein, soya and zein fulfil the criteria for an ideal carrier (non-toxic, biocompatible, GRAS status…) among others such as resistance against digestive enzymes, bioadhesive capacities and hydrophobicity, which makes the preparation of colloidal structures easy.
In this context, the main objective of NanoCaps, a project in collaboration with CNTA and University of Navarra, is the design and development of new types of nanoparticles based on natural source materials.
Two strategies are being apply: on the one hand, the project works on the co-encapsulation, and surface decoration of Nucaps patented particles and, on the other hand, new materials for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds are being investigated.
This project has been approved by the Government of Navarre in the R&D projects 2018 call and it is co-financed (50%) by the FEDER funds through the Programa Operativo 2014-2020 de Navarra.
This project has received a 50% co-financed grant by the European Regional Development Fund through the Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020 de Navarra.
Development of innovative microencapsulated products as effective and safe oral administration system of new enzybiotics (enzymes as an alternative to antibiotics to combat pathogenic bacterial infections) and that confer advanced functional and technological characteristics with a high impact in the fight against multidrug-resistant intestinal bacteria E. coli.
The bacterium “Escherichia coli” (E. coli) normally resides in the intestines of humans and animals, some E. coli are pathogenic, that is, they produce diseases, and are responsible for intestinal infections that cause diarrhea or urinary infections, being in some cases even fatal.
E. coli has become the first cause of nosocomial infection and the inadequate use of antibiotics in urinary infections has caused that E. coli has developed antimicrobial resistance.
Gastrointestinal infections are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among infants and children. In Asia, Africa and Latin America, the probability that a child dies before age 5 for these causes can reach 50%.
Thus, the development of new alternative antimicrobial agents and new treatment approaches to eliminate resistant microorganisms and to minimize the appearance of new antibacterial resistance has become an urgent issue.
This project has been approved by the Government of Navarre in the R&D projects 2019 call and it is co-financed (50%) by the FEDER funds through the Programa Operativo 2014-2020 de Navarra.
This project has received a 50% co-financed grant by the European Regional Development Fund through the Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020 de Navarra.
The project proposes a research on microbial bioprocesses based on the role and behavior of the intestinal microbiota. Its objective is to obtain fermented foods and microencapsulated, probiotic, postbiotic and symbiotic ingredients (probiotics + prebiotics), with beneficial effects on the regulation of intestinal microbiota, obesity and the prevention of inflammatory processes. Some of the innovations of international scope proposed by the project are the microencapsulation of probiotics capable of overcoming the intestinal tract and being released in the areas with the greatest effect, the production of postbiotics, which would avoid the need to work with live microorganisms or the evaluation of the symbiotic effect of the combination of postbiotics with a prebiotic such as olive polyphenol.
The main function of the intestinal microbiota is metabolic, degrading the undigested carbon and protein residues in the small intestine, giving rise to short chain fatty acids and others that modify the intestinal pH, favoring the absorption of trace elements. In addition, it contributes to regulate the metabolism of cholesterol and constitutes a contribution of extra energy to the body, while synthesizing vitamins and metabolizing toxic substances. In addition, the microbiota forms part of the intestinal barrier, preventing the nesting and penetration of pathogens, and modulates the immune system. It has, therefore, a great impact on our health. In fact, it has been observed that deviations from the normal state of the microbiota could be a cause, or at least a factor, of metabolic, immune or degenerative diseases.
Fermented foods and probiotics are gaining interest in recent years for their potential health benefit, most of them related to their influence on the gut microbiota. However, there are still important challenges to solve in order to develop and expand this type of products and favor their consumption.
On the other hand, microorganisms generate, fruit of their metabolism, elements that are of great functional interest: nutrients, postbiotics, bioactive compounds, etc,
The project aims to study and research microbiological bioprocesses both within the human body (those originated by the gut microbiota), and outside, in the fermentation of food or in bioreactors, in order to generate ingredients (probiotic and postbiotic) and foods that are beneficial to health and have a proven health effect.
This project has received a 50% co-financed grant by the European Regional Development Fund through the Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020 de Navarra.
A high glucose level poses very serious health risks, in addition to causing symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath or stomach pain, it can damage the blood vessels that carry blood to vital organs, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision problems and neurological problems.
On the other hand, an uncontrolled sugar level can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, which requires pharmacological treatment, mainly with insulin injections, and affects both quality of life and longevity.
To date there is no effective treatment, and the only tools available are: regular physical activity and strict control of the diet to avoid being overweight to try to control glucose levels.
The product tested for 15 weeks, with 60 volunteers, is a vegetable protein from corn, a nutritional supplement of natural origin commonly used in food, which will be taken orally in capsules. It is an effective treatment with no side effects to prevent and combat metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, and we hope to safely increase both life expectancy and quality of life.
This project has been approved by the Government of Navarre in the Strategic R&D projects 2019-2021 call and it is co-financed (50%) by the FEDER funds through the Programa Operativo 2014-2020 de Navarra.
This project has received a 50% co-financed grant by the European Regional Development Fund through the Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020 de Navarra.
The main objective of SOWCAPS is to develop a novel feed supplement based on nanotechnology with hepatopancreatic and galactogenic protective properties to reduce the mortality of sows and piglets before weaning.
This innovative strategy, based on soy protein encapsulation nanotechnology, will improve the health of pigs by strengthening the immune system and optimising nutritional levels in sows and piglets using natural products and thus ensuring greater food safety. Ultimately, SOWCAPS will reduce pig production costs, improve product quality, and take care of pig welfare.
The project for the application of open innovation methodologies for the search for new protein derivatives with high added value.
The project will take advantage of crops and technologies present in the region to obtain foods that contain proteins with high added value in terms of health, due to their functionality, nutrient bioavailability and digestibility, such as concentrated, hydrolyzed and fermented proteins.
In addition to NAGRIFOOD, the project integrates two knowledge centres, the University of Navarra (UNAV) and the National Centre for Food Technology and Safety (CNTA) as research benchmarks, together with 5 entities from the agri-food sector that cover the entire value chain, from primary production to food processing and distribution. The participating entities are SANYGRAN, MONBAKE, NUCAPS, EL CASERIO and GRUPO AN, the latter being the coordinator of the project.
HIDROPEP will be developed over 3 years, having managed to be the only project approved within the call for strategic R+D 2023 in the ALPES CHALLENGE (personalized and sustainable food) and as such, it is being financed by the Government of Navarra.
The main objective is the research of new foods that include vegetable protein derivatives with high added value based on new approaches and technological solutions with application in the agri-food industry. The applicability of these derivatives in the industry and their acceptability by the consumer from the organoleptic point of view, that they are tasty, healthy, with high nutritional value and sustainable will be studied. In addition, the project will be accompanied by studies of gender perspective and market research, as well as the environmental impact of the products derived from the project.
• Title: HIDROPEP
• Period: Septiembre 2023 – Septiembre 2026
• Partners: NUCAPS NANOTECHNOLOGY S.L.; SANYGRAN; MONBAKE; EL CASERÍO; GRUPO AN.
The aim of this project is to validate the potential of probiotics microencapsulated with food-grade proteins to improve health through the gut microbiota, through a nutritional intervention study in humans to be carried out at the University of Navarra clinic.
The aim is to validate a natural product that allows an effective treatment without side effects to prevent and combat nutritional and metabolic diseases related to the intestinal microbiota, thus safely increasing both life expectancy and quality of life, representing a great innovation in food-grade products that can act in a real way and at an affordable cost to improve people’s health
Project approved by the Government of Navarre in the 2023 call for grants to carry out R+D projects and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the ERDF Operational Programme 2014-2020 of Navarra.
Co-encapsulation of probiotics and vaccines to create a new product for human and animal health. This product derives from the synergy between probiotics and vaccines.
Sometimes vaccines do not have a good effect, due to problems with gut bacteria, being especially critical in the first years of life. An imbalance in the gut flora can predispose the immune system to not respond efficiently to vaccines.
NUCAPS NANOTECHNOLOGY will investigate a solution in the design of microcapsules containing the vaccine along with probiotics to help them have the right effect.
NUCAPS NANOTECHNOLOGY is going to develop innovative microencapsulates of probiotic bacteria based on the use of allergen-free vegetable proteins that give them advanced technological characteristics for food, nutricosmetic, and nutraceutical sectors.
This project has as a starting point the previous developments based on dietary proteins in the NANOCAPS, BIOFOOD, and INMUNOCAPS projects.
The project falls within the “Health” sector of the S3 smart specialization strategy, in the “Biotechnology” strategic technology, and responds to the challenge “Commitment to healthy eating”. This project will allow Nucaps, the first company in the world to encapsulate probiotics using natural proteins, to have new methods to encapsulate microorganisms, becoming an international benchmark.
Biomics (microBiomics) proposes the design, development and implementation of a multi-meta-omics strategy that allows characterizing, at a level of detail never done before and in a completely new way, the role of the microbiota in different pathological processes (digestive, autoimmune, oncological), as well as its contribution to the response, in terms of efficacy and safety, of patients to different clinical/therapeutic interventions. From an experimental point of view, microbiota samples of different origins, from patients, will be analysed using a combination of meta-omics technologies. These techniques will generate an enormous amount of data that will be integrated, not only at the omics level but also with other clinical data, using bioinformatics tools.
The final objective of the project is to identify bacterial communities, and enzymatic activities associated with them, that may be useful for the design of biotechnology-based therapeutic strategies.
NUCAPS joins the main public and private hospitals and scientific research centres and teams in Navarre, using the most advanced technologies (nanotechnology, Big Data, Machine Learning and five omics technologies: 16S, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metametabolomics) to generate and analyse close to a Petabyte of data to provide an effective response and create therapies based on the knowledge generated for diseases related to The microbiota with the aim of improving the health and quality of life of patients with these digestive, autoimmune and oncological pathologies, which currently do not have clinical solutions and adequate treatments for their diseases.
It will make a significant contribution to Navarre’s smart specialisation in the area of Biotechnology applied to health challenges.
The project has been approved and financed by the Government of Navarre, it is an R+D project considered strategic and is part of the SIBERIA III Challenge. Innovative Solutions in Biotechnology for Energy, Health Challenges, Industry and Agri-food, having obtained the best technical score of all those presented.
The CIRCFOOD project aims to research and develop the recovery of waste and by-products of plant origin generated in Navarra, for reuse in the food chain. The aim is to create products with high added value -antioxidants, fibers, or proteins- that can become sustainable raw materials, in addition to providing nutritional and functional properties to food products.
Valorization is a collaborative process that promotes the transition of Navarra’s agri-food sector toward a circular economy. The project consortium is made up of agri-food companies that generate vegetable by-products (URZANTE, IAN, HARIVENASA), technology SMEs specializing in the development of natural and functional ingredients (INGREDALIA, ISANATUR, and NUCAPS) and technology centers with experience in the production of ingredients and food (CNTA and AIN). With the project results, we will be able to manufacture oils enriched with olive antioxidants, functional flours with alternative proteins, or prepared foods with better nutritional profiles, all with natural, vegetable, and sustainable ingredients.
The Government of Navarra finances the CIRCFOOD project in its call for Strategic R&D Projects 2022 within the ALPES challenge.
VALSANA: Transforming Waste into Resources.
VALSANA is dedicated to transforming different agri-food by-products into valuable resources, using a unique combination of biotechnology, green chemistry, artificial intelligence and omics technologies. This multidisciplinary approach not only promises to optimize the use of resources, but also to minimize waste, thus opening up new economic and environmental opportunities.
The main objectives of VALSANA include the recovery of strategic elements such as phosphorus, the production of biomolecules with high added value and vegetable protein, and the valorization of by-products for the production of sustainable biofuels and biofertilizers. These advances promise not only economic benefits, but also environmental ones, as it diversifies the applications of natural resources and reduces dependence on finite natural resources.
In addition, VALSANA integrates cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and omics technologies to address challenges in the field of health. Likewise, with the development of insecticulture, it seeks to promote more balanced and environmentally friendly agricultural systems.
In short, the VALSANA project is much more than a research project. It is a manifestation of human potential to create a better, more sustainable and equitable future for all. With its innovative approach and commitment to excellence, VALSANA is paving the way to a world where the agri-food sector is synonymous with prosperity, health and sustainability.
This company has received aid co-financed at 40% by the European Regional Development Fund through the 2021-2027 FEDER Operational Programme of Navarra.
The SYNTHBIOMICS project seeks to make visible the potential of Synthetic Biology in key areas for the economic development of Navarra. Synthetic biology combines principles of biology, chemistry, engineering and computing to create tools and techniques that allow living organisms to be manipulated and reprogrammed to perform specific tasks.
SYNTHBIOMICS proposes the development and implementation of a biotechnological strategy with three fundamental axes of action: the design and synthesis of a synthetic library of nanobodies, the generation of biosensors for the detection of contaminants in food, and the fixation of C1 compounds for the production of chemical intermediates that can be converted into advanced fuels and other bioproducts.