greenCHEM kickSTART
Unleashing innovative green chemistry ideas
with Wiley
Now open for applications!
>>
Now open for applications! >>
kickSTART
Your chance to start! Start using your knowledge. Start developing your career. Start making a positive impact upon society or the environment.
If it sounds interesting, the entrepreneurship pathway could be right for you!
This is a chance to test that out and maybe kickstart your career into an exciting new direction!
What it is
We're calling out for the people & projects that will drive the chemical technologies, processes and products of tomorrow.
If you are involved in chemistry-related research that could become a new technology that benefits industry, society and the environment, please apply!
We'll select 5 finalist project teams, who'll get a bootcamp in forming a great pitch, and enter the pitching final.
Why do it
We want you to enjoy, learn transferable skills, meet people, build your confidence and see that the innovation & entrepreneurship path might match with your core motivations.
Whether that is being your own boss, up-skilling to boost your employability, problem solving, running a successful company or working towards a direct postive impact on society or the environment.
Benefits
Prizes: Pitch final winners can get the jury’s choice or the audience choice prizes. Both include a cash prize (TBA).
Jury’s prize also includes: A profile article in CHEManager International magazine (here, is the article from last years winners), AND further opportunities to develop the technology…
Pitch Training: ALL Finalists receive a free crash-course in pitching skills hosted by Wiley.
Dialog/Network: ALL Finalists make contact with the diverse expert Jury, the greenCHEM team, the Wiley team and a special audience, the Berlin green chemistry startup community.
Contacts: ALL Finalists will expand their network, connect with like-minded students and researchers.
Who can apply?
kickSTART is open to bachelor, master and PhD students, and Post-docs from any institute.
Complete newcomers to innovation & entrepreneurship are very welcome.
It is ideally suited to master and PhD students working in chemistry or related subjects. However, teams with diverse backgrounds are welcome.
Not eligible are: Existing startups or recipients of VIP+, EFT or similar funding programs.
Important Dates & Venues
Application Deadline: 13th October 2025 at 17:00
Pitch Training Session: 4th November 2025, Wiley Berlin, Rotherstr. 21, 10245 Berlin
Pitch Final: 20th November 2025, Wiley Berlin, Rotherstr. 21, 10245 Berlin
Impressions from last year:
“This event bridged the gap between academia and industry, teaching us how to translate research insights into compelling business narratives. If you’re a researcher with a promising business concept, this compact yet powerful workshop could be your first step toward real-world success. ”
“The event offered a dynamic platform for scientific exchange, and I was pleased to be part of the jury panel. Many of the teams were newcomers to innovation and entrepreneurship, yet they took on the challenge of presenting complex scientific ideas—ranging from sustainable plastics to battery technology and clean water access—with clarity, creativity, and rigor. The mix of fresh ideas and lively discussion made it a genuinely enjoyable and stimulating experience.”
FAQ
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This event presents several opportunities:
Collaboration: Meet and collaborate with like-minded people from other institutes and disciplines on cutting-edge projects.
Training: Take part in a pitch-training and communication workshop coordinated by Wiley.
Pitching/Science communication: Learn new skills and immediately put them into action.
Prizes: Win a 'public choice award' or the 'experts choice award', and find opportunities for extended support in the greenCHEM innovation ecosystem. More details on prizes will follow.
Dialog/Network: Build lasting connections to those working sustainable chemistry innovation & entrepreneurship in Berlin.
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In kickSTART, we ask for you to apply with ‘an idea’ or ‘a project’, or ‘an innovation‘. The ideas/projects/innovations are based on chemical research, and could (if developed) enter into the market, or into the chemical industry and have a transformative effect, in the direction of improved sustainability.
They can be related to almost any theme/topic or application area, as long as ‘chemistry’ is a core component. However, applications related to drug development are not what we are looking for.
This is meant to be the first step so we do not expect very advanced business models or existing customers! Most important, is you, your idea, and your motivation!
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This opportunity is targetted at newcomers to the innovation and entrepreneurship pathway. It is ideally suited to students working in chemistry or related subjects. You could be at bachelor, master, PhD, or Post-doc level. No knowledge or experience in entrepreneurship is required.
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You can apply as an individual or as a team. We recommend the latter because projects/ideas supported by a team benefit from the more diverse skill set. Team members do not all need to be chemists!
You can apply individually and, if selected, bring in team members later, as long is it is before the pitch-training workshop takes place. -
If projects meet the conditions of eligibility, finalists are selected by the greenCHEM team on these criteria:
The project is clearly connected to chemical topics.
The project idea addresses a relevant current problem.
The project idea is novel and innovative.
The project idea has good sustainability credentials. E.g. It applies principles of green chemistry. And/or it contributes to the UN sustainable development goals 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11-15.
The project has positive impact potential if it were to become realized and scaled up.
Finalists who complete the pitching workshop then take part in the pitch final and two prizes are awarded. The expert jury selects a winner on a similar basis as above. The audience selects a winner, simply based on their preference.
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Whether IP is issued, pending, or still in the process. We do not want any specific details about the underlying details, data, lab work, or material/molecule compositions. During your application and the format you will not be asked to share any such information. Of course, if you are uncertain, you can reach out to us, or the patent officers of your institute.
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There will be 5 finalist projects.
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It is defined pretty well by the 12 principles, found here
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English.
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Yes, the same format ran last year under the name ‘PitchCourse & Discourse‘.
Partnered with
Want to get involved but you are missing and idea or project…
That’s OK, there are other formats just for you. If kickstarting with innovation & entrepreneurship in chemistry sounds interesting but you don’t really have a project idea - Check out these opportunities…