innovate! call

From research to reality.
Funded.

A unique opportunity to receive equity-free funding for up to 12 months while joining a lab-embedded program to fast-track the validation of green chemistry business models and technologies. The innovate! call is tailored for innovators worldwide: early-stage scientific spinouts, researchers with promising yet unused patents, and entrepreneurs seeking new technologies as a foundation for their next business. With guaranteed, furnished housing, and access to a vibrant innovation ecosystem, the future of green chemistry innovators starts in Berlin.

Why apply?

Equity-free
Funding

Receive philanthropic funding with no equity stake or any other string attached. More than € 700,000 is awarded to green chemistry innovators

Excellent
Infrastructure

Get access to dedicated laboratory facilities to accelerate your green chemistry technology development – free of charge

Tailored
Program

Leverage a proven validation program, now adapted for the specificities of green chemistry, and supported by leading researchers as well as a comprehensive mentor network

Housing &
Visa Support

Move into a guaranteed, fully furnished apartment and receive direct support for your German visa application, removing two of the biggest hurdles to starting your life in Berlin so you can focus on your venture from day one

Berlin
Ecosystem

Be part of the vibrant innovation landscape at the heart of Europe – a global hub for deep tech entrepreneurs and sustainability startups offering unparalleled opportunities for collaboration

The Program

The innovate! call offers an unique opportunity to transfer innovative research results to real-world applications in order to ensure a better tomorrow with sustainable materials.

Find more about the validation program, schedules and mentors:

Full program

Who should apply?

Innovation requires both people and technology. No matter where you start – with a vision, intellectual property, or both – the innovate! call has an entry point designed for your pathway to impact. That’s why the program offers three Tracks, each tailored to a specific innovator profile, yet all united by one goal: turning chemistry-based innovation into real-world applications that drive sustainability impact. Together, the three Tracks are embedded in an ecosystem where ideas find the right people and collaboration drives progress.

Track A
Entrepreneurs
without Patent

This Track is for entrepreneurs and aspiring founders driven by a strong vision, even without their own chemistry patent. Track A empowers you to access promising, pre-vetted technologies, explore opportunities, develop business ideas, and connect with talented individuals who can turn your ambition into action. If you are passionate about green chemistry, sustainability, and building an impactful business, this is where you begin.

Track B
Inventors & Patent
Holders

This Track is designed for inventors who hold valuable, yet unexploited, green chemistry IP but do not wish to become entrepreneurs themselves. Track B bridges IP holders with ambitious entrepreneurs who are ready to build, take risks, and bring innovations to market. Your IP continues its journey toward real-world impact – propelled by teams dedicated to turning it into sustainable solutions. If you are the inventor of an unexploited patent, believe in its potential for sustainability impact, and are looking for entrepreneurs to bring it to life, this Track is for you.

Track C
Entrepreneurs
with Patent

This Track is for inventors (teams or individuals) who hold a green chemistry technology and want to become entrepreneurs themselves. Track C supports your transition from researcher to founder, focusing on technology validation, business development, and building a sustainable spinout based on your innovation. If you have an impactful, early-stage technology and are ready to invest your time refining both the technology and the business model to build a green chemistry spinout, this Track is for you.