News facts
The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) opened a call for applications: ISC3 Innovation Challenge in Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energie.
By developing new sustainable materials, products, processes and business models, chemistry plays a key role in achieving most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and hence a sustainable future. In order to accelerate the search for solutions, the ISC3 launches the Innovation Challenge to engage, award and promote Sustainable Chemistry innovators from around the world.
Applications are open from December 18th, 2020; 0:00 a.m. CET, until May 31st, 2021; 0:00 a.m. CEST
Eligible Countries | Regions | Cities: Worldwide
The ISC3 Innovation Challenge is organized annually and focusses on a specific topic that follows the respective focus topic of the ISC3. The first ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2019/20 called for innovations in the field of Sustainable Living and Building. The second ISC₃ Innovation Challenge 2020/2021 focuses on Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energies and addresses innovators developing solutions in the following thematic areas:
- Sustainable chemistry solutions for renewable energy supply and Greenhouse Gas reduction
Design, production and use of renewable energy solutions and related chemical solutions decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing energy use, supporting the transition towards an efficient and sustainable energy supply. This includes carbon neutral sources like sunlight, wind, and geothermal heat but also biomass.
- Performance of materials and technologies
Chemistry-based solution to lower the impact of renewable energy supply and energy conversion on the environment and human health. This includes more benign and recyclable materials for e.g. wind power plants and photovoltaics, substitution of hazardous compounds or critical elements with potential supply shortage, e. g. precious metals in photo or electro catalysts energy conversion or water electrolysis etc. Suggested solutions should support a holistic view incl. sourcing of raw materials, production processs, utilization, disassemble, recycling of materials and end of life.
- Chemical production technologies based on carbon neutral energy and CO2 feedstock supply
Use of renewable energy sources for energy supply in chemical transformations, incl. electrochemical conversions, Power-to-X technologies, photocatalytic processes, etc. Furthermore: replacement of fossil feedstock by non-food biomass and conversion of such biomass to chemicals and materials.
- Durability and resilience
Improved material design and composition to ensure a long lasting use of the energy converter or energy source.
- Storage capacity building
Closing the gap between energy supply of renewable energy and demand by chemical energy conversion, air/water heating/cooling, rural (off-grid) energy services as well as minimize the conversion and transport losses of chemically stored energy.
Submission of proposals
The submission of proposals will follow a 2-stage procedure. First stage submissions include an online template which asks for a brief description of the innovation, the business perspectives and the innovators team. Eligible submissions will be invited to the second stage, in which more detailed information has to be provided.
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