Introducing our Cluster Initiator: Evonik
Leading Beyond Chemistry Together
About Evonik
Evonik is a global specialty chemistry company that creates innovative, sustainable and value enhancing solutions together with its customers. From biotechnology based products for health and nutrition to technologies that support the energy transition and circular economy models, Evonik is focused on improving life today and tomorrow.
Key Facts:
- Our products are part of everyday life, reaching nearly every person around the globe
- 32,000 employees
- 223 patents filed in 2024, with a portfolio totalling around 21,400
- We operate in over 100 countries
- We go beyond to improve life, today and tomorrow
Current Challenges: Transforming value chains for climate neutrality
What are the most pressing challenges in your field right now?
“The chemical industry faces the challenge of transforming towards climate neutrality and resource efficiency while maintaining global competitiveness. Closing material cycles and reducing carbon emissions are essential to meet sustainability targets.”
Which developments do you expect to have the biggest impact on your business in the coming years – whether as a challenge or a driver?
“The shift to renewable energy, electrification of processes, and circular economy models will fundamentally change value chains. At the same time, biotechnology driven solutions for health and nutrition will open new growth opportunities.”
Innovation Focus: Turning growth areas into real world solutions
In which innovation fields are you active today – and which topics do you want to drive forward with startups, research & the BRYCK Startup Alliance?
“Evonik focuses on three Innovation Growth Areas. Advance Precision Biosolutions develops biotechnology based solutions to improve health and quality of life while protecting ecosystems. Accelerate Energy Transition drives innovations that enable the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy and greater climate neutrality. Enable Circular Economy creates technologies to close material cycles and enable sustainable resource use. We aim to collaborate on solutions that make these visions a reality.”
Which technologies or solutions are particularly relevant to you?
“Key technologies include biotechnological processes for healthcare and nutrition, membranes and catalysts for green hydrogen and energy efficiency, and advanced recycling technologies for plastics and specialty chemicals.”
Ecosystem: Scaling sustainable chemistry through collaboration
What’s your main goal in partnering with the BRYCK Startup Alliance?
“Our goal is to connect with innovators who share our vision for sustainable chemistry and accelerate the development of solutions aligned with our three growth areas.”
How can the BRYCK Startup Alliance help to accelerate the transfer of research into business practice?
“By fostering collaboration between startups, corporates, and academia, BRYCK creates an environment where promising technologies can be validated and scaled quickly.”
Why is it important to build an ecosystem – rather than relying on single partnerships or matchings – when it comes to transferring research into the economy?
“Complex challenges like decarbonisation and circularity require systemic solutions that span entire value chains. An ecosystem approach brings together diverse players along these chains, from raw material suppliers to technology developers and end users, ensuring that innovations are not isolated but integrated into scalable, market ready solutions. This collaborative structure accelerates transformation far beyond what bilateral partnerships can achieve.”
Looking ahead ten years from now: how would you describe a successful partnership with BRYCK Startup Alliance?
“A successful partnership will have created a seamless innovation flow across entire value chains, from fundamental research at universities to applied solutions with technology partners and industrial implementation. Together, we will have scaled breakthrough technologies in biosolutions, energy transition, and circular economy, ensuring that innovations are not only developed but integrated into sustainable business models that deliver measurable impact on climate goals and quality of life.”
Startup Collaboration: From co creation to market impact
Have you had successful collaborations with startups in the past? Please share 1–2 highlight cases (startup, topic, solution, outcome).
“We partnered with Strohm to develop Thermoplastic Composite Pipe solutions for various offshore applications. This collaboration enables lightweight, corrosion resistant pipelines for hydrogen and CO₂ transport, supporting the energy transition in demanding environments. Our partnership with Abolis, a biotechnology startup, focuses on co developing bio based solutions in close interaction with our customers. This approach combines cutting edge biotechnology with specific market needs, creating innovative alternatives for specialty chemicals.”
What have you learned from these collaborations that could also inspire other startups or corporates?
“One key insight is the importance of jointly defining clear objectives early on. Successful partnerships require transparency about expectations, timelines, and roles to create a strong foundation for co creation. We have seen that when both sides invest in building trust and maintain open communication, it enables faster decision making and more effective problem solving. This structured approach helps transform innovative ideas into tangible solutions that deliver value for all partners involved.”
Any other Startup offerings you want to mention?
“Evonik offers access to venture capital through our corporate venture capital arm. We also provide mentoring and market insights to support startup growth.”