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Innovation Challenge

Innovation Challenge

Calls for Sustainable Chemistry Innovations

The annual ISC3 Innovation Challenge is thematically oriented along a once-per-year selected focus topic. Start-ups globally are invited to contend for a total of 25,000 EUR in prize money with their innovative ideas that are revolving around the ongoing year’s focus topic.
They are assessed by a jury of international experts who score the Start-ups and choose the finalists. The finalists’ pitches and the award ceremony take place in autumn/winter.

The winners are awarded money prizes in two categories:

  • Two Special Impact Awards for Start-ups that have a noteworthy impact on the environment and society.
  • The overall Winner of our Innovation Challenge.

All the finalists receive a customized support of the ISC3 Global Start-up Service in form of pitch trainings and have the possibility to be featured as Start-up of the Month.

ISC3

Innovation Challenge 2025

We're excited to announce our upcoming Innovation Challenge focused on Sustainable Chemistry and Climate Change! We're seeking groundbreaking chemistry or chemical technology innovations that tackle climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Application open from 19th November 2024 until 3rd March 2025. Please register and apply using the form below.

Key Focus Areas:

    Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in chemical production:

  • Use of renewable energy sources for energy supply in chemical transformations, incl. electrochemical conversions, Power-to-X technologies, photocatalytic processes, green hydrogen
  • Substitution of fossil feedstock by non-food biomass/waste organic material and conversion to chemicals and materials
  • Chemical conversions using CO2 as feedstock (CCU) and carbon capture technologies providing CO2 as feedstock, incl. also Direct Air Capture
  • Chemical production technologies decreasing CO2 emissions by minimizing energy use
  • Easy to implement selective catalytic/non-catalytic reduction technologies for nitrous oxide in chemical production plants
  • Mitigation technologies for other GHGs in chemical production processes


GHG mitigation through chemistry and biotechnology solutions:

  • Chemistry-based materials with superior energy-efficiency, effectively reducing (scope 4) CO2 emissions in other sectors (construction, transport etc.)
  • Mitigation of nitrous oxide from fertilized cropping systems
  • Mitigation technologies for methane emissions in agriculture (ruminants) or municipal solid waste landfills
  • High-performance alternatives to fluorinated gases with high global warming potential (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride


    • Chemistry-based climate change adaptation technologies:

  • Innovation in desalination techniques and recycling of wastewater to ensure sustainable freshwater supplies
  • Chemical solutions for retaining water for agriculture in arid areas
  • Soil Carbon Sequestration: Enhancing soil's capacity to capture and store carbon, improving soil health and reducing the impacts of climate change on food production.
  • Heat-Resilient Building Materials, e.g. chemistry-based materials for indoor climate regulation in buildings, e.g. building insulation materials, phase change materials, reflective surfaces, etc.

    • Submission of proposals:

    The submission of proposals will follow a 2-stage procedure. First stage submissions include an online template that asks for a brief description of the innovation, its business perspectives, and the innovator team. Eligible submissions will be invited to the second stage, in which more detailed information must be provided.

    Eligible participants:

    Eligible are all innovators and entrepreneurs, i.e., persons owning or representing the proposed innovation, employed by organisations including research institutes, start-ups, small-medium sized enterprises, or comparable institutions active in the development and realisation of sustainable chemistry solutions. Enterprises participating in the challenge shall have a staff headcount not exceeding 50 (full time equivalent) and an annual turnover of max. 10 million Euro. Enterprises majority-owned by large enterprises are not eligible for the award, except for innovations leading to the creation of independent spin-offs.Proposals submitted by innovators and entrepreneurs from developing countries and tackling challenges in developing countries are considered as particularly important. Female entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to submit a proposal.

    Criteria:

    The proposals will be assessed against the three main criteria:

    • Innovation level. Is the innovation unique, distinct, and truly original?
    • Business viability. What is the market potential of the innovation? Is the idea commercially feasible?
    • Sustainability. What is the sustainability impact of the innovation?

    What to expect? Five finalists will receive:

    • Tailored support: access to Global Start-up Service Customised Support
    • Visibility: promotion of your innovation via ISC3 communication channels
    • Networking: participation in the Investor Forum 2025
    • Training: individual and group pitch training for preparation of your Investor Forum 2025 pitch
    • Cash prizes: the overall Innovation Challenge Winner will receive a cash prize of 15,000 EUR. The two separate categories “Best Social Impact” and “Best Regional Impact" OR “Special Impact” are endowed with cash prizes amounting to 5,000 EUR each.

    Schedule:

    Launch of the 2025 Innovation Challenge: November 19th, 2024, 3:00 p.m. CET
    Deadline for first stage submission: March 3rd, 2025, 0:00 a.m. CET
    Deadline for second stage submission: April 30th, 2025, 0:00 a.m. CEST
    Jury Evaluation: May 6th, 0:00 a.m. CEST – June 16th, 2025, 0:00 a.m. CEST
    Finalist announcements: after June 25th, 2025
    Finalist pitch training: July-September 2025

    Launch of the 2025 Innovation Challenge: This years Innovation Challenge Award Ceremony is scheduled to take place at the 2025 ISC3 Investor Forum in winter. Further information will be disclosed in due time.

    Register here:

    ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2024 - Sustainable Chemistry and Textiles


    Here are the Innovation Challenge Award winners!

    Innovation Challenge 2024 has now officially ended. The winners were announced on Thursday, October 31st, as part of the Investor Forum at Messe Frankfurt on the Impact Festival.

    The Innovation Challenge Award (15.000 €) was given to Dimpora AG from Switzerland, the two Special Impact Awards (5.000€ each) went to POLYBION from Mexico and Renasens AB from Sweden.

    We congratulate the winners, applaud all the great innovative start-ups, heartfelt thanks to our international jury of experts and thank everyone for witnessing this event!

    View our newest press release here

    The happy winners of the Innovation Challenge 2024 with other participating start-ups and ISC3 team members.

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