2. The AkzoNobel Chemicals Startup Challenge
Imagine Chemistry…
Our world is made of chemicals,
and we believe that chemistry is
essential to making the world a better
place. Imagine… with all of our knowledge
of chemistry, we can work together to
solve some of life’s biggest problems.
We are looking for ways to create a more sustainable and liveable world
through chemistry, and we invite you to join us in tackling some of our most
urgent chemistry-related problems through this global challenge.
Submit your ideas via
imaginechemistry.akzonobel.com
Live from January 9
How will the challenge work?
On January 9, 2017, we will open our online
challenge platform for you to submit your ideas
and solutions. For two months our seven challenge
teams, comprised of 35 experts, will work with
you through our platform to improve and sharpen
all ideas.
At the end of the two-month period, a jury of
AkzoNobel business, R&D leaders and prominent
international experts will select the 20 most
promising ideas and startups to participate in
a three day event from June 1-3 at our Open
Innovation Center in Deventer, The Netherlands.
During this event you will work with subject matter
experts from AkzoNobel and partners in R&D,
finance, startups, open innovation and marketing,
as well as senior management and potential
investors to further develop your ideas and
your pitch.
Challenge areas
We will focus on finding solutions within the
following areas:
• Revolutionizing plastics recycling
• Wastewater-free chemical sites
• Cellulose-based alternatives to synthetics
• Bio-based and biodegradable surfactants
and thickeners
• Bio-based sources of ethylene
• Sustainable alternatives to our
current technologies
• Highly reactive chemistry and technology
Who can participate?
We are focused on startups with a proof of concept
who can actively work on making their idea or
solution a success. That said, if you are not a
startup, but for example a researcher with a concept
you have already developed and/or tested, you
can apply as well. The challenge is also open for
AkzoNobel employees.
What’s in it for startups?
The winning team will be awarded with support and
cooperation in order to bring their ideas to life and
to the market. We will provide you with access to
customers; investors; subject matter and industry
experts; mentorship; an accelerator program; and
other support.
Our ultimate goal is to innovate together. This
collaboration could take on many forms: a joint
development agreement; having AkzoNobel as a
launching customer; organizing partnerships across
the value chain; or investment in your startup.
This reward is hard to monetize up front, but the
value will be substantial. Just imagine the value of
having your ideas accelerated and spread across
the world…
IP and the Chemicals Startup Challenge
We respect ownership of intellectual property rights
(IP): your IP remains yours; ours remains ours.
What we create together during the event will be
our joint IP (yours and ours) and we will provide
clear guidance in advance in terms of what we
expect from you and what you can expect from
us. As the organizer of this challenge, we will in
principle have a first right to use, further develop
or exploit this IP together with you. If we decide
we are not, or are no longer interested in such IP,
you will have the right to use it with others.
About AkzoNobel
At AkzoNobel we create everyday essentials to
make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring.
As a leading global paints and coatings company
and a major producer of specialty chemicals,
we supply essential ingredients, essential
protection and essential color to industries and
consumers worldwide.
Chemistry at AkzoNobel
We create ingredients for the manufacture of life’s
essentials. You’ll find our products in the food you
eat, the buildings you live and work in, the vehicles
and roads you use to get around, and everyday
items like paper products and your children’s toys.
AkzoNobel and innovation
At AkzoNobel, innovation starts with understanding
what our customers need. That means
understanding societal, market and business
needs and coming up with timely solutions to meet
those needs. Many of our innovations are focused
on sustainability and we are committed to creating
more value from fewer resources. To devise
sustainable, innovative solutions for the world’s
problems, we want to work with the very best
people and partners – like you.
AkzoNobel and collaboration
We have a history of partnering with startups to
develop innovative and commercially interesting
ideas and help bring them to market. In fact, these
successful partnerships are what inspired us to
start this challenge. To find out more about what
collaborating with AkzoNobel might look like for
your startup, you can find testimonials and contact
information via the challenge website.
Organization and contact
The challenge is organized by AkzoNobel
Specialty Chemicals and powered by KPMG.
For more information, e-mail us at
imaginechemistry@akzonobel.com
