Application Deadline: 3rd March 2025.
Applications are now open for the 2025 ISC3 Innovation Challenge in Sustainable Chemistry and Climate Change. 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.
Focus Areas:
- 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
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?
Benefits
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.
Application Timeline:
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
For More Information:
