Apply for the innovate! call with greenCHEM
Get 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.
Program Dates
Deadline
Apr 21, 2026
Why Apply?
With guaranteed, furnished housing, and access to a vibrant innovation ecosystem, the future of green chemistry innovators starts in Berlin.
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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
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Excellent Infrastructure
- Get access to dedicated laboratory facilities to accelerate your green chemistry technology development – free of charge
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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
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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
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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
Who Should Apply?
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.
- 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 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 C (Entrepreneurs with Patent): This Track is for inventors (teams or individuals) who hold a green chemistry technology and want to become entrepreneurs themselves.
Apply for the innovate! call
Submit an application for the upcoming program
Meet Your Mentors
Session Calendar
Below are the dates for the upcoming program
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Within the greenCHEM environment, I met my future co-founders and discovered my future career path. With access to its lab infrastructure, we were able not only to further develop an idea but also to grow it step by step into a company. What began as a project has since become an independent startup, made possible by the support, resource and trust of greenCHEM.
Nikol MichailidoCo-Founder, Porelio -
The patent from my doctoral thesis was so promising that I knew immediately that I wanted to see it on the market. greenCHEM helped me find laboratories where I could put the theory into practice, as well as the structure and ecosystem I needed to grow as an entrepreneur. With the help of greenCHEM, an idea became a start-up that brings sustainability to the world.
Dr. Felix MarskeFounder, Nanolope -
greenCHEM supported us during one of the most challenging phases of our entrepreneurial journey, guiding us with clarity, experience, and genuine commitment. We graduated from the Founder Institute program and worked at INKULAB. We can highly recommend both! With greenCHEM’s support, we were able to overcome our challenges and lay the foundation for our success. We are sincerely grateful for that.
Dr.-Ing. Christina Linke,CEO, Clean Ocean Coatings
greenCHEM Partners
Quickly increase connections to other ecosystem organizations, investors, and industry experts.
In Partnership with Founder Institute
The innovate! call is developed in cooperation with Founder Institute and runs on their FounderGen platform, a dedicated infrastructure for specialized, industry-focused startup programs. Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, FI has helped thousands of founders turn early-stage ideas into fundable, scalable companies, connecting them with expert mentors, a structured curriculum, and a global community built to last beyond the program.
8,900+
Portfolio Companies
2BN+
Portfolio Company Funding
200+
Chapter Cities
100+
Chapter Countries
6
Continents
40,000+
Global Mentors & Advisors
Powered by greenCHEM
Advancing the chemical revolution. For a better tomorrow.
- greenCHEM's mission is to create an ecosystem of innovation, which unfolds sustainability impact that is rooted in green chemistry. Characterized by an open culture and equipped with necessary technical infrastructure, we foster technology transfer as well as the realization of creative, forward-thinking ideas.
- greenCHEM's vision is to create a future where chemistry practices with renewable and non-toxic resources are the norm, and chemical products fit into the circular economy and are biodegradable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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“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 – international teams (Track C), individuals (Track A and C), and inventors with unexploited patents (Track B) are equally welcome. Founded companies and institutional applications are not eligible. For eligibility criteria of each track, please see their respective pages: Track A, Track B, and Track C
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Submit your application online at greenchem.berlin/innovate-call - our team will review all entries and shortlist candidates. Following that, each track follows a distinct selection path. For detailed information about each Track, click here.
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Learn more at greenchem.berlin/innovate-call
