Promoting investment in innovations in the field of Sustainable Chemistry
With the Investor Forum, the ISC3 brings international Start-ups, investors, scientists and decision-makers together. The annual event aims to promote investment in innovations in Sustainable Chemistry. "The fact that our Start-ups pitch their innovations at ICCM5 is a special opportunity for them, but also for ISC3," says Dr. Thomas Wanner, Managing Director of ISC3. "In addition to investors, such as venture capital funds, business angels and accelerators & incubators, they can thus directly inspire representatives from politics, industry, non-governmental organisations, science and environmental associations from more than 100 countries about the opportunities Sustainable Chemistry offers."
The pitches will be complemented by a live networking session in the evening, where participants can get to know each other and exchange ideas. Furthermore, the Investor Forum will feature a panel discussion on private and public international funding mechanisms to secure the innovation pipeline and the specific dynamics of the Sustainable Chemistry innovation ecosystem. In addition to the program of the live event on September 28th, further Start-up presentations, as well as matchmaking, will also be offered digitally.
Registration and further information can be found at https://isc3.org/page/investor-forum
Start-ups find solutions to secure needs of the present without endangering ecological, social and economic foundations of future generations
Le Qara from Peru, Natupla from Columbia, Ashaya from India and Ray Cosmetics from Ethiopia are among the international Start-ups that will bring their innovations in the field of Sustainable Chemistry to the World Chemical Conference (ICCM5) in Bonn to present them to international investors and decision-makers. What unites the founders? They have found solutions to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations' environmental, social and economic foundations. Le Qara, for example, produces vegan leather from microorganisms. It has the same breathability as animal leather, is biodegradable, and the residues from the manufacturing process can be used as liquid compost, so there is no waste.
The Colombian Start-up Natupla – Natural Plastic, is another excellent example of Sustainable Chemistry solutions, offering a single-use plastic alternative made from starch. Natupla uses a cost-efficient process to obtain a product with properties comparable to conventional plastics while also being biodegradable. A positive side effect is the support of local starch producers and farmers.
Also at the ISC3 Investor Forum, Ashaya is pitching its innovation: sustainable sunglasses made from recycled chip bags. In this way, the Indian Start-up shows how the value of waste can be increased through technological and scientific innovation in the field of recycling. Moreover, Ashaya distributes this value fairly to those involved in the supply chain, especially the poorest: the waste pickers.The responsible use of resources is also at the heart of RAY Cosmetics' innovation. The Ethiopian Start-up produces skin and hair care products from protein extracted from fish skins and scales. This protein, extracted in unique, sustainable processes, gives shampoos and creams anti-ageing as well as moisturising and detoxifying properties.
ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2023
A highlight of the ISC3 Investor Forum 2023 will be the award ceremony and presentations by the finalists of the fourth ISC3 Innovation Challenge. This year, the Euro 25,000 competition will honour the best ideas on Sustainable Chemistry and Agriculture. "As the transformation of the chemical sector plays a key role in achieving most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we want the ISC3 Innovation Challenge to attract, reward and promote innovators in Sustainable Chemistry and their original solutions," says Dr Alexis Bazzanella, Director of the ISC3 Innovation Hub.
An international jury of experts selected the eight finalists from a total of 113 high-ranking applications from Start-ups on five continents. Check the press release for more information on the finalists.
Read the full press release here
