European leader in research and development, and the largest German chemical company, BASF, is initiating the project BASF Innovation Hub which will gather start-ups and innovators in 11 countries of Central and South Europe, among which is Austria. This year the contest is focused on the solutions which directly or indirectly contribute to the pillars of Green agenda - clean energy, sustainable agriculture and circular economy.
“Harmful impacts on the environment and climate change throughout past decades have become a daunting challenge for the whole world. This has triggered European countries to set up a goal and become the very first climate-neutral block of countries ever. Among the rest, the European Commission has enacted the Green deal as a collection of measures for reaching sustainable economy, and it is our duty to support the solutions which will enable it. Innovation Hub contest is just one of the ways of supporting the Green deal”, said Harald Pflanzl, Managing Director of BASF Österreich, Vienna.
Applications for BASF Innovation Hub start today and last until 15th September at midnight. In the first round of the contest the panel of judges will choose the best idea in Austria. In November the winning idea will be presented at the big BASF Innovation Hub finals along with the most successful solutions from other countries.
Winner of the local contest is awarded EUR 2,500 gross, and the best idea of the regional round is awarded EUR 5,000 gross.
The possibility of obtaining financial support will be given to the innovators and start-up teams of up to five members, and the basic requirement for participation is that the idea applied directly or indirectly contributes to creating solutions for clean, reliable, and affordable energy, solutions for sustainable agriculture and solutions which enable transfer to circular economy.
Harald Pflanzl reminds that the lack of financial means is often the main reason why individual ideas never get materialized and points out that BASF wants to give even a slight chance to start-ups and innovators: “Postulates of the Green deal are rather broad so we believe that numerous innovators will recognize that precisely their idea matches the contest aims. Be it insulators for increase of energy efficiency, applications which will optimize the use of water during crops irrigation or electricity in houses or flats, modern solutions for reduction of plastic waste or a completely revolutionary solution, BASF will give financial aid to support development of the best idea”, pointed out. Further information on the contest, requirements and the manner of applying are available on the web page http://www.join-innovationhub.com/.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Almost 110,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and the United States of America (BASFY). Further information available at our webpages: www.basf.com and www.basf.at.
Further information on personal data processing at company BASF at https://www.basf.com/rs/sr/tools/legal/data-protection.html.
Contact
BASF Österreich GmbH
Handelskai 94-96
AT-1200 Vienna
Dana Ziegler
Tel.: +43 664 241 59 81
E-Mail: dana.ziegler(at)basf.com