Delox and the EIC Accelerator: Disinfecting Air With People Present

Delox, a spin-off from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, makes bio-decontamination equipment based on a patented solid formulation of hydrogen peroxide, which it says kills 99.9999% of microorganisms and breaks down into water and oxygen. Its existing DeloxHP units sterilise small enclosures and laboratory equipment such as biosafety cabinets, according to Delox. The EIC Accelerator granted €1,893,340 towards a total cost of €2,767,273 for DeloxAir, "continuous air bio-decontamination compatible with human presence", which runs from July 2024 to December 2026, according to CORDIS.

The project report says Delox is building and testing DeloxAir prototypes that keep a high, even concentration of peroxide vapour inside ventilation ducts, achieving "an additional 95% reduction in airborne microorganisms", and then remove more than 99% of the residual peroxide before releasing air into occupied rooms, according to CORDIS. The company says no product on the market combines high-concentration disinfection with continuous use around people. DeloxAir is not yet listed among its products.

Where Delox Stands Now

The Portuguese register shows capital increases, new board members and a change of company form in November 2025, according to Racius. The Venture Codex lists a Series A in February 2026 led by Beta Capital with Caixa Capital and the European Investment Bank, according to The Venture Codex; Delox has not published the amount, and third-party figures for it differ. The company now describes itself as an international firm with a presence in Europe and North America, and publishes guides on portable decontamination for mobile and emergency laboratories.

The Technology: Peroxide Vapour, Then Clean Air

The project's premise is compatibility with human presence: the peroxide must be reduced to safe levels before treated air reaches people. Delox's idea is to confine the high concentration to the ventilation duct, kill microbes in the air passing through, and strip the peroxide out before the air reaches people. In 2022, when it raised €750,000 to certify and launch its first product, its chief executive said pilot studies in the US and Europe had validated the efficacy and product-market fit, according to Tec Labs.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The project runs until December 2026, so it is too early to judge it. It has produced working prototypes with measured results. Whether DeloxAir can be certified for use in occupied buildings and sold before the project ends has not been shown.

1. Working prototypeDeliveredIn HVAC ducts.
2. Safe for occupied spacesTested99% peroxide removed.
3. CertificationUnverifiedNot announced.
4. Market launchUnverifiedNot on sale.

The Money

Delox had raised more than €1.3 million by 2022, according to Bionova Capital. The EU covers 68% of the DeloxAir project. How much EIC equity, if any, was invested and the size of the 2026 round have not been disclosed, and Delox's accounts were not accessible in free sources.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Delox points to antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections as growing pressures on hospitals and laboratories. A system that keeps the air in occupied buildings clean continuously, rather than only when rooms are empty, would add a new layer of protection. It still needs to prove itself outside the test duct.

The Verdict

Delox and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.