Innovation
Next-gen materials start-ups are the engines of progress in our material economy. MII’s Innovation department accelerates the development and commercialization of next-gen materials by sharing industry insights and resources, fostering connection amongst industry stakeholders via tools and events, igniting funding interest, and supporting investors to boost investments into the next-gen materials industry.

Developing Research and Insights
MII’s Innovation department creates industry resources that help stakeholders understand the state of the next-gen materials industry, analyze trends and bottlenecks, and identify white space opportunities to draw funding and talents towards the most impactful areas ripe for disruption. MII’s reports fill critical knowledge gaps and create more transparency across the next-gen materials ecosystem, providing a strong foundation for the industry to grow.
We also provide data and insights for investors to boost funding into this space.
MII’s in-depth resources save start-ups a tremendous amount of time and resources that they are able to redirect to developing their products. With our support, start-ups no longer need to measure the market size, make sense of trends, find partners, or track down funding all on their own, saving the industry significant time and resources.
Our publicly available reports and web content highlight next-gen materials industry trends, market insights, challenges, and opportunities for creating a new material bioeconomy.
Download our latest State of the Industry Report.
Fostering Connections Among Innovators, Start-ups, Venture Capitalists, and Brands
Our Innovation department develops tools and resources to help industry stakeholders find each other and make connections.
Explore the Innovators Database and Disruptive Textile Innovation Resources on our Next-Gen Innovation Landscape.
Our flagship event, the Material Innovation Conference (MIC), is held annually. Innovators, start-ups, retailers, brands, scientists, investors, academia, business incubators, raw material suppliers, mills, and philanthropies come together at this one-of-a-kind global event.
MII’s Innovation team also speaks at events and is regularly interviewed as a thought leader in this space. We address industry and investment trends and provide unique perspectives on the industry’s innovation journey from concept to commercialization.

Boost Investments into the Next-Gen Materials Industry
We support mission-aligned investors by sharing our strategic insights and perspectives, connecting them with innovators and start-ups, and helping them navigate the next-gen materials landscape.
MII’s Fundraising Database
Companies that are actively fundraising can apply to add their fundraising details to MII’s Fundraising Database to gain exposure to investors interested in next-gen materials.
Speaking Engagements & Webinars
We provide investors with access to MII’s Investor Database and notify them about the latest details of next-gen materials companies’ fundraising.