Nouryon announces Imagine Chemistry winners

EIGHT groups received awards in Nouryon’s 2019 Imagine Chemistry competition.

This is the third year of Nouryon’s Imagine Chemistry challenge, which aims to encourage collaborative innovation. There were more than 160 entries from 30 countries and the winners were chosen from 14 finalists. The two overall winners were Sironix Renewables for its technology to make surfactants from plants, and Ionomr for its eco-friendly membrane technology. The groups were awarded joint development agreements (JDAs) with Nouryon.

Christoph Krumm, CEO and co-founder of Sironix Renewables, said: “The plant-based molecule we developed serves as both a surfactant and chelating agent, eliminating the need for co-formulated chemicals in detergents. Imagine Chemistry was an invaluable opportunity for us to learn from Nouryon and Unilever experts and business leaders, and to come up with a plan to further develop our technology.”

Bill Haberlin, CEO of Ionomr, said: “We aim to replace toxic chemicals in electrochemical applications and have the most stable alternative to enable significant cost reductions. This award really validates the work we are doing, and will accelerate the adoption and scaleup of our technology.”

Six other groups received supply agreement and research support awards from Nouryon: Ingu Solutions for its miniaturised pipeline sensors; RISE for its technology to modify the surface of nanoparticles; Intelligent Fluids for its physics-based cleaning fluids; Cambridge Carbon Capture for its technology to capture and convert CO₂ into a saleable mineral; Arenal Process Control Solutions for its ultrasonic and thermal sensors for monitoring production processes; and The University of Sheffield and Entomics for their insect-derived surfactants.