L’Oréal Group highlighted its commitment to beauty technology at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, taking place from November 5 to November 10, 2025. This year marks the company’s third consecutive participation in the event’s Innovation Incubation Zone through its BIG BANG Beauty Tech Open Innovation Program. Under the theme “Elevate the Innovation for the Future,” L’Oréal showcased advancements from its open innovation ecosystem while connecting with global startups to inspire industry-wide transformation.
A significant achievement from this year’s event was the announcement of the 19 winning startups from the 2025 BIG BANG North Asia program. This year’s initiative attracted over 700 entries, making it the most competitive year in the program’s history. Among the highlights was the launch of a dedicated “Sustainability” track, which saw five startups shortlisted for L’Oréal’s global “Sustainable Innovation Accelerator,” providing them with unique opportunities for growth and support.
Barbara Lavernos, L’Oréal Group’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Research, Innovation and Technology, emphasized the company’s belief in the power of open innovation. “At L’Oréal, our very foundation is rooted in science, and innovation isn’t just a buzzword,” she stated. “We wholeheartedly believe in the extraordinary power of open innovation. For us, BIG BANG serves as the crucial bridge—connecting us with dynamic startups, fostering cross-industry collaboration, and fast-tracking the development of truly disruptive solutions.”
Showcasing Cutting-Edge Technology
L’Oréal presented 24 pioneering startups from regions including Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and France at CIIE. These startups showcased how they are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance consumer experiences, business operations, research and development, and supply chain processes. Their innovations included breakthroughs in biotechnology and digital technology, alongside a new sustainability-themed showcase that highlighted the potential of beauty tech.
Among the notable participants, Black Barrels from Hong Kong SAR introduced GenAI products that have garnered over 20 million global users, showcasing the creative capabilities of Generative AI. Taiwan’s Speed 3D Inc. unveiled the world’s first AI-powered smart beauty vending machine, which redefines the retail experience. South Korea’s REPLA Inc. showcased a recycling process that transforms discarded plastics into high-quality regenerated materials, contributing to sustainable packaging solutions. Meanwhile, Japan’s Matlantis Corporation impressed attendees with atomic-level simulation technology that significantly accelerates product development cycles.
Innovators from Mainland China also gained attention, with ShengShu VIDU presenting a GenAI visual creation platform that enables brands to rapidly generate high-quality video content for digital marketing. Rightway introduced a “carbon-negative” packaging concept aimed at redefining sustainability and promoting eco-friendly practices in everyday life.
Celebrating Emerging Beauty Tech Leaders
The BIG BANG program, which has expanded over five years across North Asia and onto the global stage, serves as a platform for startups to collaborate and innovate. The 2025 edition drew significant interest, culminating in the selection of 19 outstanding startups after a rigorous evaluation process. Key winners included:
– **Phygital Consumers Experience Track:** Noumena, Shengshu VIDU
– **Future Science Track:** Deep Principle, Dieckmann, Hesheng Tech
– **Operation 4.0 Track:** Fuzflo, XENSE ROBOTICS, FANGXINGWEI
– **Sustainability Track:** i2Cool Limited, REPLA Inc., Rightway
– **French Track:** CORE BIOGENESIS
Several of these startups are already engaged in commercial collaborations with L’Oréal, effectively translating their innovations into real-world applications. For instance, Rightway’s carbon-negative materials have been integrated into the “L’Oréal for the Future” initiative, while FANGXINGWEI and XENSE ROBOTICS are exploring enhancements to L’Oréal’s supply chain.
The 2025 BIG BANG Awarding Ceremony and Innovation Summit took place on November 6, bringing together over 100 representatives from the startup ecosystem, government officials, and industry partners. The event featured prominent figures such as Barbara Lavernos and representatives from the French and Japanese consulates, who presented awards to the winning startups.
L’Oréal’s commitment to fostering cross-border dialogue and collaboration was further highlighted during the North Asia BIG BANG Innovation Summit. This roundtable discussion included leaders from winning startups like Deep Principle, Rightway, REPLA Inc., and ZEALS, Inc., who shared insights on advancing beauty technology.
Haojun Jia, CEO of Deep Principle, discussed how AI is reshaping materials research, stating, “We help material R&D move from discovery to design.” Rightway’s CEO, Peter Zhu, provided tangible examples of their collaboration with L’Oréal, illustrating how their material solutions have significantly reduced plastic waste and carbon emissions.
As the event concluded, L’Oréal reiterated its commitment to open collaboration with innovators globally. The BIG BANG program not only catalyzes the transformation of beauty technology but also embodies the spirit of collective creativity in addressing industry challenges. L’Oréal’s partnerships with technology leaders such as IBM and Google continue to integrate AI into the innovation process, driving progress in the beauty sector.
L’Oréal’s participation in CIIE underscores China’s growing role as a hub for beauty innovation and highlights the ongoing potential for collaboration between startups and established industry leaders.
