The CHEManager Innovation Pitch, CHEManager's start-up promotion initiative, was launched in 2019. Last year, supported by our sponsors Biocampus Straubing, Ruhr-IP Patent Attorneys, Samson, Endress+ Hauser, and Siemens, we presented a total of 19 start-ups with their ideas - 12 in the German-language editions of CHEManager and 7 in CHEManager International. At the end of January, a jury of experts selected the winners in three categories from all 19 start-ups from 8 countries.

This time, start-ups from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the USA, France, Finland, India and Singapore were represented. The topics ranged from genetic engineering and biotechnology, synthetic chemistry and material development, process technology, recycling and the circular economy to digitalisation and sensor technology.

EnaDyne from Leipzig won the ‘Value to Sustainability’ category ahead of Re.solution from Aachen and the Austrian start-up Vienna Textile Lab. The Leipzig-based technology start-up EnaDyne is developing a revolutionary reactor technology that uses cold plasma to produce sustainable base chemicals and fuels - an innovation that makes CO2 usable with minimal energy input and paves the way for an efficient and profitable carbon cycle economy. EnaDyne's plasma catalysis is not only attractive from an economic point of view, but also plays an important role in the fight against climate change.

The winner in the ‘Value to Society’ category was Green Li-ion from Singapore, ahead of CAMM Solutions from Überlingen on Lake Constance. Green Li-ion is working to create a commercially viable, closed-loop battery recycling system that reduces reliance on virgin materials and landfill waste. In the patented Green Hydro Rejuventation process, which is supported by modular recycling equipment, black mass is passed through specialised solutions to filter out impurities. The process produces a product with a purity level of 99% that can be used in new batteries.

In the ‘Value to Industry’ category, Cynio from Freiberg in Saxony came out on top against EnaDyne and Green Li-ion. Cynio, currently an Exist spin-off project of the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, is developing an innovative solution for isocyanate production by using CO₂ instead of the highly toxic phosgene. This allows various speciality isocyanates to be produced flexibly and economically - even in small quantities. The process not only promotes more sustainable production methods, but also significantly improves occupational health and safety.

Green Li-ion received the most votes across all categories, followed by Cynio and EnaDyne. Thus, the three category winners also took the top three places in the overall ranking. In addition to the three category winners, Cell2Green, Refinq, and Vienna Textile Lab also scored highly in all categories.

The expert jury consisted of: Tanja Bendele (Ruhr-IP Patent Attorneys), Laura Lautenschläger (Biocampus Straubing), Holger Bengs (BCNP Consultants), Markus Ketterer (Endress+Hauser), Andreas Widl (Samson) as well as Jörg Wetterau (Labor für Kommunikation) and Volker Oestreich (Dr Oestreich Consulting). The jury session was moderated by Ralf Kempf and Michael Reubold (both CHEManager).

The experts particularly praised the diversity of the ideas implemented by the 19 start-ups, which have not only industrial but also social relevance. The jury's final decision was again preceded by a lively discussion in which the start-ups' pitches were compared and different criteria weighed against each other.

In addition to a certificate and a trophy, the three winning start-ups will be given the opportunity to present themselves in a pitch session at the 9th ECP to participants including potential investors, project partners and future customers - sponsored by BCNP Consultants.

Even though three start-ups were ultimately honoured as the year's winners, all 19 companies that were able to present themselves to a large audience at the CHEManager Innovation Pitch 2024 can still feel like winners. We will continue to follow the development of these companies and report on their success stories in CHEManager.