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:
