D.Terre: From the plate to soil decontamination thanks to enzymes

The greatest successes sometimes have unexpected beginnings. In 2019, Simon Morin was an ambitious student, determined to study medicine. Unfortunately, he was rejected. However, this stroke of bad luck proved to be decisive for him, as this closed door opened another one for him: biology. A simple video sent by his grandfather, a documentary on synthetic biology, opened up new horizons for him. This scientific discipline, which promotes a new way of thinking about life, approaches biology from an engineering perspective. "I found this concept incredible. I don't think I had even finished watching the documentary before I said to myself, 'OK, this is what I want to do!'" says Simon Morin.
He then embarked on a Master's degree in Systems and Synthetic Biology (MSSB) at the Université d’Évry, before going on to do a PhD at the Institute of Food Microbiology for Health (Micalis – Univ. Paris-Saclay/INRAE/AgroParisTech). His subject: Setting up an orthogonal invasive transcription system for the production of proteins of interest. In short, this involves setting up a genetic system to redirect a bacterium's internal resources towards the production of proteins of industrial interest, in order to optimise protein production.

During a laboratory team meeting, one element particularly caught his attention. "It gave me an idea. So I talked about it with my two friends, Aïda and Nadia Tajine." The three young people, who met a few years earlier during a training course at Sorbonne University and quickly became friends, are driven by the same ambition: to bring impactful projects to life. And so the D.Terre adventure began.
 

The instability of enzymes

Their project focuses on small proteins produced by cells that are capable of accelerating chemical reactions: enzymes. They are found everywhere in everyday life: in laundry detergents, cosmetics, food processing, pharmaceuticals, etc. However, they have one weakness: their instability. Outside their protected environment, they lose their functionality within a few hours. "We thought this was a shame, because enzymes have enormous potential for pollution control. They are natural, biodegradable and harmless products that can replace polluting processes," explains Simon.
The co-founder and two co-founders of D.Terre then set to work on producing a biological structure to anchor the enzymes, stabilise them over time and enable them to withstand various stresses (temperature, etc.). This increases their lifespan and therefore their range of applications.
By tackling enzyme production, D.Terre is opening up several markets, such as cosmetics and agri-food, which are already familiar with the use of enzymes in their products. In antioxidant creams, enzymes have a dual effect: they improve the appearance of the skin and act as natural preservatives, i.e. they help to keep the product stable and prevent the growth of bacteria or mould, extending its shelf life without the need for chemical additives.  The same logic applies in the agri-food sector. "We are developing enzymatic antioxidants that can work in synergy with well-known antioxidants such as vitamins E and C. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of these molecules while broadening their spectrum of action," explains the co-founder.
But the ambition of the D. Terre project goes far beyond creams and food. It aims to have a broader environmental impact and is moving towards soil decontamination, hence its name. How? By targeting organic pollutants, such as hydrocarbon derivatives, which are typical of industrial sites. Today, the methods used to decontaminate these sites remain lengthy and costly, while economic constraints demand short turnaround times. Enzymes come to the rescue. They accelerate natural processes by catalysing the degradation of pollutants and preparing the ground for bacteria. The bacteria then transform the pollutants into substances that are completely harmless to the environment. D.Terre wants to broaden the spectrum of pollutants treated, accelerate treatments and thus preserve the environment.

Key support for the Paris-Saclay ecosystem

Launching a project while still a student or doctoral candidate with limited resources is never easy. However, the Innovation Alliance Université Paris-Saclay* ecosystem, the university innovation cluster (PUI) coordinated by Université Paris-Saclay, offers a wealth of resources to support young project leaders.
The D.Terre team relied in particular on the support of a PUI’s partner, Genopole. Through its Shaker programme, the biocluster offers young entrepreneurs access to a laboratory, funding and training for one year. "It was this programme that really launched the project," says Simon.
In 2024, Simon took part in the Starthèse start-up pitch-ID adventure, a pitch competition organised by the Maison du Doctorat at Université Paris-Saclay as part of the PUI, and ended up as the winner. This spotlight allowed the project to become known within the ecosystem. Thanks to this initiative, he won support from IncubAlliance, the Paris-Saclay public research incubator. "They support and advise us. They provide crucial support for the development of a young company like ours," explains the young entrepreneur. AgroParisTech, a founding member of the PUI, is also a major player in the development of the project thanks to a competition won in 2025, which resulted in funding.
But it is the entire Innovation Alliance Université Paris-Saclay ecosystem that supports projects such as D.Terre through financial, technical, commercial and marketing support. "In my opinion, it meets all the needs of young companies, particularly in the field of deep tech," adds Simon.

Peer recognition and the pursuit of the entrepreneurial adventure

Beyond this ecosystem, D.Terre has enjoyed other successes. In the first half of 2025, Simon and his two partners were included in Le Point magazine's 2025 Inventors' Hall of Fame, which recognises those who push the boundaries of innovation. "These distinctions bring credibility. There is always this idea that a project takes on a concrete existence when it is recognised by its peers. It has allowed us to meet some great people, and that's what makes our start-up evolve," explains the entrepreneur.
Now that the start-up has been officially created in October 2025, the idea for its co-founders is to return to the heart of the project, scientific manipulations and test. To go the distance, the three entrepreneurs are now looking for the right support, those who will help the adventure to last over time. If everything goes according to plan, 2026 will mark a key milestone: the launch of the first prototype and, with it, the beginning of a real commercial story. "As a small organisation, we are always looking for expertise and advice from seasoned researchers and people in the scientific world," concludes Simon Morin.
The trio still has a long way to go, but they have plenty of energy and ambition.

_{* Innovation Alliance Université Paris-Saclay is a university innovation cluster (PUI) bringing together Université Paris-Saclay, Université d’Évry, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, AgroParisTech, CentraleSupélec, ENS Paris-Saclay, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS, INRAE, Inria, Inserm, IncubAlliance, SATT Paris-Saclay, and fifteen partners: CEA Paris-Saclay, ONERA (the French National Centre for Aerospace Studies), Gustave Roussy, Genopole; SystemX Institute for Technological Research; Vedecom Institute for Energy Transition; Paris-Saclay Urban Community; Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Urban Community; Grand Paris Sud Urban Community; Vallée Scientifique de la Bièvre Association; Grand Orly Seine Bièvre Public Territorial Establishment (EPT); Systematic; Medicen; French Tech Paris-Saclay; EPAPS - Paris-Saclay Public Development Establishment, funded by the State as part of France 2030.}