“We don’t care where you come from – we care where you want to go!”

Under this motto, age, country of origin, or background are not selection criteria – everyone is equally welcome. Track C is for pre-incorporation teams and individuals with early-stage, non-commercial intellectual property (IP) in chemistry or a related field ready for validation. Founded companies are not eligible.

While there is no strict team size requirement, please note that a maximum of three members per team are eligible to participate as active Inno-Talents in the program. If your team is larger, you will need to designate the primary participants before the program begins.

The innovate! call is an intensive business and technology validation program specifically designed for the needs of green chemistry innovations. All selected participants work in parallel on business modeling and lab-based technology validation for up to twelve months on-site in Berlin. To ensure that innovators can focus on the program from day one, the selected individuals receive stipends to cover living expenses and – if needed – our partner Berlinovo provides furnished apartments to secure a soft landing in Berlin and its vibrant ecosystem.

In Track C, we provide a launchpad to participants from which they can validate their technologies and build their spinouts. Through the program, individuals or small teams may seek new team members to fill any skill gaps from the talent pool in Track A. Track C participants may also look for additional IP from Track B patent holders to enhance their own technology. In either case, teams will have one month to finalize collaboration details. Inno-Talents are also required to secure an Inno-Director for their teams and collaborate with them for the entire program.

For more details on the six-month program, check here.

Our lab-embedded validation program is adapted from the Founder Institute's proven curriculum and customized specifically for green chemistry ventures. It combines business modelling, technology validation, and expert mentorship to help you de-risk your science-based business. You'll work through structured modules covering customer discovery, intellectual property strategy, regulatory pathways, and other topics – all supported by leading industry experts.

Learn more about the program schedule and mentors here: https://fi.co/greenCHEM

Yes! The innovate! call awards up to 10 stipends to Inno-Talents in total (up to three per spinout team). The value of the stipend varies according to each Inno-Talent’s qualification and family situation:

• Inno-Talents with master’s degree: € 2,500 per month

• Inno-Talents with PhD degree: € 3,000 per month

• Inno-Talents receive a supplement of € 150 per month for each dependent child

In addition, we grant each team up to € 40,000 for materials and investment expenses related to technology development. In addition, all teams will receive a budget of 30 hours, that can be used for mentors accredited in the program. Upon request, we may approve additional support on a case-by-case basis.

Most importantly, we are here to support innovators on their entrepreneurial journeys. We do not take equity or attach hidden strings – our purpose is to empower the future generation of green chemistry pioneers.

In addition, we support Inno-Talents relocating to Berlin with practical onboarding. Where needed, we facilitate access to furnished single apartments through our housing partner Berlinovo, helping participants avoid the typical stress of flat hunting in Berlin. For international Inno-Talents, we also provide guidance and support throughout the visa application process, ensuring a smooth start to the program.

In general, participation from funded teams is not permitted in order to avoid double funding. Our philanthropic funding is intended to fully support your venture during the program. If you are currently receiving other funding for the same spinout project, you are not eligible to apply at this time. We recommend applying for a future call instead.

Exceptions may be made for teams already based in the Berlin region. If that is your case, please reach out to us as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Please note that such exceptions are handled on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

No, there is no equity component in the innovate! call, nor any other hidden strings attached. You keep full control of what you have already built and created and what you will build and create in the future. Our funding is 100% philanthropic.

Selected teams receive dedicated access to laboratory facilities equipped for a wide range of green chemistry and materials science experiments. Our infrastructure includes standard wet lab setups, fume hoods, analytical equipment, and workspace for technology validation and development. In addition, teams gain access to the full range of analytical devices available at partner institutions of the Berlin University Alliance depending on availability and project needs. In sum, we would be genuinely surprised if your project required equipment or capabilities that we cannot make available through our combined network and infrastructure.

Check this page for more information about our lab infrastructure: https://www.greenchem.berlin/infrastructure.

Our program and infrastructure are tailored for chemistry work first and foremost. That is why we currently do not have dedicated bio-labs of any kind or level available through the program. However, depending on your specific project needs, we might be able to facilitate access to appropriate infrastructure through our network – for example, via your Inno-Director.

If your technology requires biosafety labs, please describe your requirements clearly in your application. We will assess feasibility on a case-by-case basis and explore options with you if selected. Our goal is to ensure you have the infrastructure you need to validate your technology.

Check our Participation Guidelines here.

Submit your application online by March 15th, 2026; our team will review all entries and shortlist candidates. If you’re shortlisted, you will be invited to pitch to the innovate” call’s Selection Committee on March 26th-27th, 2026, who will then choose the most promising, innovative ideas to receive funding.

While there is no strict team size requirement, we recommend a core team of 2-3 members. Please note that a maximum of three members per team are eligible to receive stipends and participate as active Inno-Talents in the program. If your team is larger, you will need to designate the primary participants before the program begins.

No, a granted patent is not required to apply. What is essential is that you have a proprietary technology to validate and that it is based on real lab results – such as a Proof of Principle or Proof of Concept – and for that it doesn’t matter if it is formally patented, in the filing process, as invention disclosure or not yet disclosed at all.

Be mindful not to disclose sensitive details in your application, if your patent hasn’t been filed yet. If you have an unpatented technology or trade secret, during the program we can help you navigate options on how to protect your IP.

Our mission is to unlock the sustainability potential of green chemistry innovations. That is why the innovate! call exists: to help innovators build successful, impactful businesses. In line with this mission, we act as neutral helpers – we do not impose conditions on intellectual property (IP) and will never become IP owners. Inventors retain full control of their creations. This applies to both existing IP (Background IP) and newly developed IP (Foreground IP). Thus, in general, IP remains the sole property of its creators and does not change hands through the program, unless agreed otherwise by the participants.‍‍

We expect that clear collaboration frameworks are established, if teams or individuals from Track C decide to incorporate IP from Track B or include a new team member from Track A. As a neutral partner, we help everyone articulate their expectations transparently, forming the basis for fair agreements that catalyse green chemistry innovations. We will never become a party to such agreements – they remain solely between the participants involved.‍

Please note that applicable national regulations, such as the German Employee Inventions Act (ArbnErfG), remain in full effect. We will support the direct engagement with any institutional rights holders (such as universities or employers) to secure arrangements that unlock the impact potential of green chemistry innovations.

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No, you do not need to have finalized IP negotiations before applying. We accept applications where IP rights are still being clarified with your institution or are currently under negotiation.

If selected, we will support you in securingarrangements that unleash the potential of green chemistry innovations. We will help you navigate these conversations as a neutral partner so that your IP can generate sustainability impact.

This is a full-time program. Participants must be able to dedicate themselves fully and should not have other major professional obligations for the duration of the program (6 + 6 months). However, we do offer flexibility:

• Scientific / technical leads must be physically present in Berlin, as lab work takes place in our facilities.

• Business-focused team members may work in a hybrid model, but must be in Berlin for key milestones, workshops, and pitch events.

If you wish to remain employed elsewhere during the program, you must ensure:

• No overlap in funding (no double funding of the same project)

• Your employer agrees to your participation (or you take a leave/sabbatical)

As a rule, postponing your start in the program is not possible. All selected participants are expected to join their cohort beginning April 21st, 2026. In exceptional cases, however, we might be able to accommodate a later start. Otherwise, please consider applying for future editions of the innovate! call.

We encourage all Inno-Talents to participate in every program activity – the more you engage, the more you benefit. At a minimum, we require at least one consistent team member to be present at all times to ensure continuity and deep engagement. As long as this core requirement is met, additional teammates are always welcome to join. Think of it as: one constant anchor + flexible support from the rest of your team.

That being said, this is the absolute minimum – we strongly advise that everyone attends everything whenever possible.

Inno-Talents are the individuals selected to participate in our validation program – the innovators driving each spinout project. Regardless of the track (A or C), Inno-Talents are the stars of the show.

To guide these teams of Talents, each is paired with an Inno-Director, a senior scientific advisor from any of the Berlin University Alliance’s institutions. Inno-Directors act as strategic mentors, providing technical expertise and helping teams navigate research and development challenges throughout the program.

Inno-Talents are required to secure an Inno-Director for their teams and collaborate with them for the entire program.

Moving to Berlin can be a hassle and, having that in mind, we got in touch with Berlinovo to provide furnished single flats to all Inno-Talents who require it. We promise that you won’t have any stress flat-hunting in Berlin so that you can focus on your spinout from day one.

Besides that, if you require a visa to live in Germany for the duration of the program, we will provide comprehensive support so that you may apply for it.‍

The innovate! call is designed as a springboard, not a final destination. Every team moves at its own pace: Some are sprinters and found their company right after the program’s end; others are marathonists and need more time to develop. We support everyone.‍‍

After the program, one possibility is that teams apply for German public validation and startup support grants such as VIP+ and EXIST. Alternatively, faster teams may also receive introductions to our investor network and corporate partners, opening doors to private partnerships that can take their business to the next level.

Note that beyond the 12 months, you remain part of our community and ecosystem – with continued access to support, network, and opportunities. You won’t become a stranger!

The innovate! call runs under the greenCHEM brand with the brand holder’s approval and is issued and organized by the innovate! lab gGmbH, a non-profit organization owned by Berlin University Alliance K.ö.R (BUA). As a philanthropic, non-profit legal vehicle, we are able to move fast, stay founder-first, and think entrepreneurially. “Founders helping founders”‍ ‍is at the core of everything we do –  innovate! lab gGmbH provides the legal structure to execute with startup agility while staying fully mission-driven.

We are deeply grateful for the philanthropic support of the Joachim Herz Foundation, as well as the Berlin University Alliance’s commitment and courage to establish this legal structure, enabling an agile, founder-first operating model.

Our only goal is to help you build impactful green chemistry ventures. No equity. No hidden obligations. No strings attached.

The innovate! call by greenCHEM is supported by a long-term philanthropic commitment from the Joachim Herz Foundation and executed through innovate! lab gGmbH – a non-profit legal entity fully owned by the Berlin University Alliance (BUA).

This setup ensures a stable, mission-driven foundation: philanthropic funding enables impact-focused action, while the BUA provides the institutional backbone and long-term public-interest alignment.

We do not take equity, do not claim intellectual property, and do not benefit financially from your success. Our incentive is purely mission-driven: accelerate green chemistry innovations, empower the next generation of founders, and unfold impact.

In short: your success is our impact. Period.