Call for ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2025 – Sustainable Chemistry and Climate Change is open now !!!
The annual ISC3 Innovation Challenge is thematically oriented along a once-per-year selected focus topic. Start-ups globally are invited to contend for a total of 25,000 EUR in prize money with their innovative ideas that are revolving around the ongoing year’s focus topic. They are assessed by a jury of international experts who score the Start-ups and choose the finalists. The finalists’ pitches and the award ceremony take place in autumn/winter.
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All the finalists receive a customized support of the ISC3 Global Start-up Service in form of pitch trainings and have the possibility to be featured as Start-up of the Month. Following the final pitch event held during the ISC3 Investor Forum at the Impact Festival on 26 and 27 November, the topic of the new ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2026 has been announced! This time, it will focus on the topic of Sustainable Chemistry and Electronics. The next Innovation Challenge will launch from December 12th 2025, 3:00 p.m. CET and will end on May 4th 2026, 0:00 a.m. CET.
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Eligible are all innovators and entrepreneurs, i.e., persons owning or representing the proposed innovation, employed by organizations including research institutes, start-ups, small-medium sized enterprises, or comparable institutions active in the development and realization of sustainable chemistry solutions. Enterprises participating in the challenge shall have a staff headcount not exceeding 50 (full time equivalent) and an annual turnover of max. 10 million Euro. Enterprises majority-owned by large enterprises are not eligible for the award, except for innovations leading to the creation of independent spin-offs. Proposals submitted by innovators and entrepreneurs from developing countries and tackling challenges in developing countries are considered as particularly important. Female entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to submit a proposal.
Benefits
Finalists will receive:
- Tailored support: access to Global Start-up Service Customized Support
- Visibility: promotion of your innovation via ISC3 communication channels
- Networking: participation in the Investor Forum 2026
- Training: individual and group pitch training for preparation of your Investor Forum 2026 pitch
- Cash prizes: the overall Innovation Challenge Winner will receive a cash prize of 15,000 EUR. The two separate categories “Best Social Impact” and “Best Regional Impact” OR “Special Impact” are endowed with cash prizes amounting to 5,000 EUR each.
Eligibilities
- Eligible are all innovators and entrepreneurs, i.e., persons owning or representing the proposed innovation, employed by organizations including research institutes, start-ups, small-medium sized enterprises, or comparable institutions active in the development and realization of sustainable chemistry solutions.
- Enterprises participating in the challenge shall have a staff headcount not exceeding 50 (full time equivalent) and an annual turnover of max. 10 million Euro.
- Enterprises majority-owned by large enterprises are not eligible for the award, except for innovations leading to the creation of independent spin-offs.
- Proposals submitted by innovators and entrepreneurs from developing countries and tackling challenges in developing countries are considered as particularly important.
- Female entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to submit a proposal.
Application Process
Applicants can register for the program from the apply now link
Application Deadline: May 3, 2026 (39 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
