From nanotechnology to pharmaceutical development to novel surface technology, chemistry makes the world a better place. Now, AkzoNobel wants to make it even better. The company just announced the 20 finalists for its Imagine Chemistry initiative, which was launched earlier this year to help solve real-life chemistry-related challenges and to uncover sustainable opportunities for the company’s Specialty Chemicals business.
 

“We’ve received so many great ideas from all across the globe for novel chemistries and business concepts, ranging from new sources of bio-based products to potential breakthrough ideas for the circular economy,” said Peter Nieuwenhuizen, global R&D director for AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals.


The finalists will now participate in a three-day event starting June 1 at AkzoNobel’s research facility in Deventer, the Netherlands, where they will be supported by RD&I and business development experts to further develop their business ideas and concepts. The challenge, organized in partnership with KPMG, is the latest in a series of efforts by AkzoNobel to focus on open innovation and startup firms. The company recently announced cooperation with start-up organizations Lux Research and Start-up Delta focused on developing new business opportunities stemming from the challenge.
 

“It has been a challenge making a selection but we believe these final 20 all hold great potential to address customer needs and contribute to a safer, more sustainable world.  This shows that there is tremendous innovation potential, even in seemingly mature chemistries. We look forward to working with the eventual winners to turn their ideas into a commercial reality with real global impact.”
 

The finalists for the five Imagine Chemistry and two “open challenge” categories are:



Revolutionizing Plastics Recycling
Adriana Pineda, Cadel Deinking, Spain
Emile Clement, FiliGrade B.V, The Netherlands
Jack Buffington, University of Denver, USA


Waste Water-free Chemical Sites
Steve Furlong, Drystill, Canada
Steven De Laet, InOpSys, Belgium
Guido Mul, University of Twente – Enschede, The Netherlands


Cellulose-based Alternatives to Synthetics
Lindy Hensen, PeelPioneers, The Netherlands
Gertjan de Jong, MISCQ, The Netherlands
Andrew Mwangi, Aquabax Enterprises, Kenya
Charles Sanderson, Renmatix, USA


Bio-based and Biodegradable Surfactants and Thickeners
Dan Derr, Logos Technologies, USA
Jeremy Minty, Ecovia Renewables Inc., USA
Ben Dolman, The University of Manchester, UK


Bio-based Sources of Ethylene and Ethylene Oxides
Derek Greenfield, Industrial Microbes, USA
William Mackintosh, RISE, Sweden


Highly Reactive Chemistry and Technology
Mark Mascal, University of California Davis, USA


Sustainable Alternatives to Our Current Technologies
Sasa Marinic, ANTECY, The Netherlands
Brian Miller, uFraction8, UK
Mark Randall, T2 Energy, USA
Christoph Winkle, University of Graz, Austria
 

The finalists will now participate in a three-day event starting June 1 at AkzoNobel’s research facility in Deventer, the Netherlands, where they will be supported by RD&I and business development experts to further develop their business ideas and concepts.
The challenge, organized in partnership with KPMG, is the latest in a series of efforts by AkzoNobel to focus on open innovation and startup firms. The company recently announced cooperation with start-up organizations Lux Research and Start-up Delta focused on developing new business opportunities stemming from the challenge.