Groundbreaking of Chemical Invention Factory in Berlin

The Chemical Invention Factory (CIF) will create Europe's largest laboratory infrastructure for transfer and pre-start-up teams in green chemistry. It is intended to make a significant contribution to further advancing the transfer of innovations from science into green applications in the field of materials chemistry. The CIF is being financed with funds from the TU Berlin (~€13 million) and the State of Berlin (~€7 million) and is to be built on the TU Berlin's Charlottenburg campus on Marchstraße by 2027.

Green chemistry promotes sustainable processes and materials that reduce environmental impact and conserve resources. Berlin plays an important role in this as one of the leading research and innovation locations in Europe. Universities, start-ups, and industry partners work together here on environmentally friendly technologies.

With a joint groundbreaking ceremony by Ina Czyborra, Senator for Science, Health, and Care of the State of Berlin, Geraldine Rauch, President of the Technical University of Berlin, John Warner, namesake of the CIF, honorary professor at the TU Berlin, and founder of the twelve principles of green chemistry, and other participants, the starting signal for the CIF was given on September 24, 2025.

Space for 12 High-Caliber Pre-Startup Teams from around the World

Up to twelve teams from around the world will develop their research results into marketable products at the CIF in order to transform chemistry into a sustainable circular economy based on renewable raw materials. They will be integrated into Berlin's GreenChem innovation ecosystem. With 39 fume hoods for chemical laboratory work, the CIF building will be the largest of its kind in Europe for the transfer of scientific knowledge from green chemistry into application. The approximately 1,000 m² of floor space also houses state-of-the-art analytical equipment, including high-performance liquid chromatographs and gas chromatography-mass spectrometers, which will be accessible to all teams. The laboratory areas for each team, which also include meeting rooms, are secured to ensure the protection of intellectual property. The ground floor will feature a café, space for exchange and encounters, and a demo lab where larger-scale equipment can be tested behind a glass screen.

John Warner, namesake of the CIF, honorary professor at TU Berlin, and founder of the twelve principles of green chemistry, says: "About 70 percent of the technologies needed for the transformation of chemistry have not yet been invented. Catalysts play a central role in this, as they are used in more than 80 percent of chemical reactions in industry. That's why the opportunity for start-ups in the CIF to exchange ideas with catalysis experts at TU Berlin is so ideal."

Martin Rahmel, Director of the Chemical Invention Factory, explains: "The special feature of the CIF is that the teams it supports are automatically integrated into the Berlin innovation ecosystem GreenChem. This is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the ‘T!Raum – TransferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen’ (Transfer Rooms for the Future of Regions) program and brings together chemical companies in Berlin and Brandenburg, universities, non-university scientific institutions, and public authorities with the start-ups. This not only results in a ‘push’ for innovation through new ideas from research, but also a ‘pull’ through concrete material challenges faced by users. This combination will enable innovations from Berlin to support the enormous transformation task facing the chemical industry."