dsm-firmenich and Nous partner to bring novel functional ingredient to market for energy, focus, and mood support
dsm-firmenich innovators in nutrition, health and beauty, announced a strategic partnership with Nous, an Italy-based start-up focused on next-generation functional food ingredients, to accelerate the global commercialisation of Koncentra. The novel botanical functional ingredient is …
dsm-firmenich innovators in nutrition, health and beauty, announced a strategic partnership with Nous, an Italy-based start-up focused on next-generation functional food ingredients, to accelerate the global commercialisation of Koncentra. The novel botanical functional ingredient is designed for energy, focus and mood enhancement applications.
Developed following an extensive screening process of carefully selected botanicals, Koncentra is manufactured through a proprietary extraction technology that preserves the integrity and efficacy of its natural components. The result is a new approach to energy formulation, delivering sustained performance without the unwanted side effects often associated by consumers with traditional stimulants like caffeine, such as jitters, anxiety and energy crashes.
Building on dsm-firmenich’s recent investment in Nous through its ventures activities, the companies are now expanding their partnership. Through this collaboration, dsm-firmenich will support the further development, claims substantiation, and market validation of Koncentra, accelerating its path from clinical development to commercialisation as a science-backed, regulatory-compliant solution for the energy category.
Redefining energy for modern consumers
Energy remains a key concern for consumers globally, with around 68 % of them worldwide reporting that they worry about their energy levels in daily life.1 Due to this, energy has become one of the most prominent positioning platforms in functional beverages, with 44 % of claims globally linked to energy and 14 % to brain and nerve support.2 While caffeine still dominates the category, increasing awareness of its drawbacks is shifting consumer preferences toward more balanced, natural alternatives.
Koncentra responds to this need with a multi-functional, caffeine-free solution that supports energy, focus and mood, enabling brands to move beyond traditional stimulant-based approaches toward more holistic performance solutions.
A new standard for energy and mood solutions
Koncentra is produced via a sustainable and natural extraction process that preserves key bioactive compounds while ensuring consistency and scalability.
In addition to its functional benefits, Koncentra has been developed with formulation in mind. Its excellent solubility and low effective dose enable seamless integration into a wide range of food and beverage applications, with minimal impact on taste, colour or turbidity. This makes it a highly versatile solution for manufacturers in F&B looking to develop next-generation functional food and drinks.
Accelerating validation and commercialisation with dsm-firmenich
As part of the partnership, dsm-firmenich will support the design of clinical trials to substantiate claims related to energy and overall cognitive and physical performance. The collaboration will also strengthen regulatory positioning and claims development by leveraging dsm-firmenich’s deep consumer insights, application expertise, and regulatory knowledge to refine product concepts, validate compliant botanical solutions, and enhance market readiness for demanding customer applications.
1dsm-firmenich Global Consumer Health study, 2025
2Mintel GNPD