The European Innovation Council and Cefic (European Chemistry Industry Council) invite you to participate in the new Chemistry-4EU initiative. All EIC funded beneficiaries that are Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) – including previous “SME Instrument” phase 1 and 2, FTI, Pathfinder and EIC pilot – can apply to this call. Thus, matching the needs and challenges shared by some of the largest firms related to the European Green Deal in the field of chemistry: BASF, Borealis, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, DSM, Evonik, Neste, P&G, Repsol, and Solvay. Taking place online on 22 and 23 June 2022, Chemistry4EU will allow selected EIC beneficiaries to promote and enhance business cooperation for sustainability through chemistry in Europe.

Interested in this opportunity?

Make sure to apply here until 30 March 2022!

What is Chemistry-4EU?

To enable sustainable transformation and become climate-neutral by 2050, the Green Deal is the leading European programme to answer to the current climate change-related issues the world is facing. These matters also require digital transformation with active participation and leading innovation by all actors of the ecosystem – industrial corporates, startups, knowledge centres, and governmental initiatives. Given the major transition challenges of the Green Deal and its associated goals, the EIC and Cefic are happy to open applications for the Chemistry-4EU initiative that is part of the EIC’s Corporate Partnership Programme.

Through this Chemistry-4EU initiative, and building on previous successes of last years’ Energy4Planet and Planet.tech initiatives, the EIC Business Acceleration Services and Cefic (see “about Cefic” section) offer the opportunity to enhance your cooperation with large corporates and co-create innovative solutions to several pre-determined challenges in the field of chemistry transition. We’re calling EIC- funded SMEs to action and come through with innovative solutions to the challenges posed by the following companies: BASF, Borealis, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, DSM, Evonik, Neste, P&G, Repsol, and Solvay (more on the challenges below). Over the coming months, more chemical companies and value chain partners will join.

The initiative will also be supported by chemical companies from regional chemical association such as German Chemical Industry Association – VCI, AP Quimica (Portugal) and Feique (Spain) and Essenscia (Belgium).

Selection Process & Proposed Programme – Things to consider

The objective is to maximise the opportunities for innovative collaborations between start-ups and corporates across the value chain. This is the proposed programme:

EIC’s objective is to bring together a pitching and matchmaking event with 10-20 corporates and associations from Cefic with over 100 startups. The final matchmaking will be based on shared specific needs/challenges/pain points of the large firms and the application of EIC beneficiaries matching them. Because of COVID constraints, pitching and matchmaking will take place online. To keep in mind: these 3 days of engaging presentations, pitching, and matching in a virtual environment are planned for 10 to 12 May 2022.

After the event, the corporates will collaborate with EIC companies towards a proof-of-concept (POC) and minimum viable products (MV) or other value-creating efforts. Also, individual projects can elect to progress a 1 to 5 months Makeathon to translate some of the propositions in an MVP. It can include hands-on work, training webinars and support during the same period and could lead to an MVP with a physical or virtual prototype.

In addition, the programme will include a Demo Day – with the date and location to be determined – where both Corporates and EIC beneficiaries will be invited to demonstrate the work done under the collaboration of both entities.

Chemistry-4EU Challenges

Each participating corporate has its own unique set of challenges. All the companies are looking for solutions in the following space:

• Health, Safety and Environment: innovative approaches and technology to address functionality of and safer and low hazard substances for a clean healthy ecosystem and environment
• Circular Economy: Promote the transition from linear economy towards a circular economy with better use of materials, chemical recycling and alternative resources
• Reduce and reuse CO2: New technologies that enable the transition towards carbon neutrality with, e.g., CO2 Valorisation or Power-to-X 
• Digital Transformation in the Chemical Industry: Adopt digital solutions for reducing waste, optimise production or remote operations to unlock new growth opportunities. This includes blockchain and AI solutions (e.g., digital passports) and chemicals-as-services.
• Enable green manufacturing sites: Develop innovative solutions to decrease manufacturing sites water, energy and waste footprint

The respective chemical or consumer product categories of these companies are outlined on their website. In addition, these are some specific challenges from a select number of companies. Further specifics can be found when clicking on the name of the corporate. A separate PDF with all challenges will appear:

• BASF: Recycling methods, and Biodegradability of sustainable materials.
• Borealis: Circular Economy, and Energy & Climate.
• Clariant: Bio-based chemistry, Digital technologies, Circular economy/Secondary feedstocks, and Electrification/Alternative energy sources.
• Covestro: Green heat access & management, Solutions for flexible production approaches, and CO2 & CO electrolysis.
• Dow: Leading the blueprint, Advancing a circular economy, Safe materials for a sustainable planet, World-leading operations performance, Delivering breakthrough chemistry innovations, and Valuing nature with projects that increase business value and are better for ecosystems.
• DSM: Digitally enabled business models (Precision), Preventing health issues, boost immunity, healthy solutions by nature (Prevention), Driving adoption of sustainable proteins to feed the population (Proteins), and Sustainable (bioscience based) ingredients (Pathways).
• Evonik: Circularity, Feedstock Switch & Substitution, Hydrogen Economy, and Renewable Carbon.
• Neste: Green and/or circular solutions for transportation (road transportation, aviation, and marine), and Green and/or circular solutions for polymers and/or chemicals.
• P&G: New safe and sustainable materials and ingredients, Circular economy solutions, Elevate Manufacturing Sites towards net-zero impact based on water, waste, and energy footprint.
• Repsol: Low-carbon energy technologies and circular economy, Biotechnology for sustainable energy solutions, and Digital technologies for optimising assets in the energy industry.
• Solvay: Recycling technologies for complex advanced materials, Services for the supply chain management & Collection of advanced materials waste, Circular economy concepts for advanced materials, (Bio)degradable advanced materials, Biobased advanced materials, and Natural flavour & Fragrances.

Please note that:

You can apply to multiple challenges via a single application form.

About Cefic

Being one of the leading industries in Europe the chemical industry plays a vital role in the value chain of most products and services we all use. Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe. With over 1.2 million workers, €499 billion turnover and €9.4 billion R&I investments, the European chemical industry is a wealth-generating sector of the economy and a major contributor to building a sustainable future for Europe. The 670 members and affiliates members support the Paris Climate Agreement and strong action on climate change in line with the scientific advice provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cefic also supports the European Green Deal and Europe’s ambition to become climate neutral by 2050. Reaching this goal will only be possible with the help of climate-neutral and circular economy solutions developed by the industry. The joint goal is to see Europe become a global innovation hub and a hotspot for investments into breakthrough climate-neutral and circular technologies.
 

EIC Business Acceleration Services

This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. To explore other opportunities to connect with the largest corporates in Europe, keep an eye on our events page. Should you have any questions regarding the event, please refer to our helpdesk (please choose “Chemistry-4EU" as the subject).