AkzoNobel announces finalists for Imagine Chemistry start-up challenge
"We've received so many great ideas from all across the globe for novel chemistries and business concepts, ranging from new sources of bio-based products to potential breakthrough ideas for the circular economy," said Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Global R&D Director for AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals.
"It has been a challenge making a selection but we believe these final 20 all hold great potential to address customer needs and contribute to a safer, more sustainable world. This shows that there is tremendous innovation potential, even in seemingly mature chemistries. We look forward to working with the eventual winners to turn their ideas into a commercial reality with real global impact."
The finalists for the five Imagine Chemistry and two "open challenge" categories are:
Revolutionizing plastics recycling |
|
Adriana Pineda, Cadel Deinking |
Spain |
Emile Clement, FiliGrade B.V |
The Netherlands |
Jack Buffington, University of Denver |
USA |
Waste water-free chemical sites |
|
Steve Furlong, Drystill |
Canada |
Steven De Laet, InOpSys |
Belgium |
Guido Mul, University of Twente - Enschede |
The Netherlands |
Cellulose-based alternatives to synthetics |
|
Lindy Hensen, PeelPioneers |
The Netherlands |
Gertjan de Jong, MISCQ |
The Netherlands |
Andrew Mwangi , Aquabax Enterprises |
Kenya |
Charles Sanderson, Renmatix |
USA |
Bio-based and biodegradable surfactants and thickeners |
|
Dan Derr , Logos Technologies |
USA |
Jeremy Minty, Ecovia Renewables Inc. |
USA |
Ben Dolman, The University of Manchester |
UK |
Bio-based sources of ethylene and ethylene oxides |
|
Derek Greenfield, Industrial Microbes |
USA |
William Mackintosh, RISE |
Sweden |
Highly Reactive Chemistry and Technology |
|
Mark Mascal, University of California Davis |
USA |
Sustainable alternatives to our current technologies |
|
Sasa Marinic, ANTECY |
The Netherlands |
Brian Miller, uFraction8 |
UK |
Mark Randall, T2 Energy |
USA |
Christoph Winkle, University of Graz |
Austria |
The finalists will now participate in a three-day event starting June 1 at AkzoNobel's research facility in Deventer, the Netherlands, where they will be supported by RD&I and business development experts to further develop their business ideas and concepts.
The challenge, organized in partnership with KPMG, is the latest in a series of efforts by AkzoNobel to focus on open innovation and startup firms. The company recently announced cooperation with start-up organizations Lux Research and Start-up Delta focused on developing new business opportunities stemming from the challenge.
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