Qorium

Qorium is a Maastricht, Netherlands-based biotechnology company pioneering cell-cultured leather production, co-founded by sixth-generation tanner Rutger Ploem, Stef Kranendijk, and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Dr. Mark Post — the scientist behind the world's first cultured hamburger and a globally recognized leader in cellular agriculture. Qorium's process begins with a single, painless biopsy from a carefully selected donor cow, providing a cellular foundation for years of ongoing leather production without further animal involvement. Selected cells are replicated and then used to produce precise, uniform collagen sheets in proprietary bioreactor equipment and growth media, with no additional animal products required. These collagen sheets are partnered with expert tanneries to produce finished leather that integrates seamlessly into existing leather production workflows. Unlike conventional leather — which is inherently variable, wasteful (discarding up to 50% of a hide), and environmentally intensive — Qorium's cultivated leather is grown in biologically optimized, controlled conditions to produce defect-free, uniform sheets with 87% lower CO₂ emissions and 63% less water use than traditional methods. The company targets the premium luxury goods market, offering leather that is fully traceable from cell to finished material and customizable to precise customer specifications. In November 2025, Qorium raised a €22 million Series A from Invest-NL, LIOF, Brightlands Venture Partners, and Sofinnova Partners to accelerate commercialization.