Sustainable Industry Challenge
The Chemport Europe Sustainable Industry Challenge is back!
Once again, we bring companies from Northern Netherlands together with startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs from the Netherlands and abroad. Are you facing a sustainability challenge? Become a challenge owner!
What you need to know about the Sustainable Industry Challenge
Curious about previous challenges?
Read more
“Working with our match — New Born Rubber — showed that recovering twaron from conveyor belts is feasible. This is a huge step towards our ambition to be the best aramid producer in the world. We would absolutely participate in another challenge. The best innovations arise together.”
Gerwin Elderman Teijin Aramid (SIC 2023)
Becoming a Challenge Owner — these are the steps
What to expect?
Step 1
Quick Scan (until end of March)
A short exploration to determine whether your issue is suitable for SIC 2026. Together we map out:
- where you’re stuck and where you want to go;
- what you’ve already tried and why it didn’t work;
- whether there’s sufficient urgency, capacity and conditions for development, testing and implementation.
After the quick scan you decide: do you join or not? If “YES,” we reserve your spot in SIC 2026.
Step 2
Official Intakes (April)
In April the official intakes take place. We formulate your challenge so innovators clearly understand:
- what the problem is,
- what falls within scope (and what doesn’t),
- what constraints apply,
- how proposals are evaluated.
Before the intake, you internally form a challenge team with subject matter experts, someone who can determine constraints, and a communications advisor.
Step 3
Publication & Open Call (2 months)
The challenge is open for responses for two months. During this period:
- we actively scout for suitable solvers (regionally, nationally and internationally),
- parties can submit proposals.
Step 4
Shortlisting (September)
We narrow down submissions to a shortlist of top candidates, and you decide which parties you want to meet.
Step 5
Multi-day Event (October)
In October, we organise a multi-day event where challenge owners and top candidates meet.
General setup:
- Day 1: introduction and site visits where candidates present plans and questions can be asked,
- Day 2: candidates refine proposals based on feedback gathered,
- Day 3: pitches + match, where you select the winning party as challenge owner.
Step 6
Match to Pilot/Implementation
After the match, we guide the start of your collaboration with the winning party. We make clear agreements about IP, finances, roles and responsibilities and a realistic plan towards the first results.
Want to participate as a challenge owner? Request the Quick Scan!
Want to know if your challenge is suitable for SIC 2026? Request the quick scan now. Quick scans take place until the end of March. Contact the Chemport and ChallengeBase team. We’re happy to co-create with you.
Contact
Sil Faber
Acquisitie
Binnen Chemport Europe werk ik aan (inter)nationale bedrijfsacquisitie. Ik verbind nieuwe bedrijven en kansen aan het Chemport-ecosysteem en zorg dat initiatieven snel worden gekoppeld aan de juiste programmamanagers. Zo maken we gericht impact in de koolstoftransitie.
Henri Kats
Programmadirecteur
Als programmadirecteur van Chemport Europe geef ik richting aan de gezamenlijke ambitie: Noord-Nederland als eerste circulaire en groene chemie-regio ter wereld. Ik bewaak de strategische koers, verbind de pijlers biomassa, CO₂ en circulaire plastics en zorg dat samenwerking in het ecosysteem leidt tot concrete impact. Chemport moet niet alleen zichtbaar zijn, maar vooral verschil maken in de versnelling van de koolstoftransitie.
Amarenske Klatter
Communicatieadviseur
Mijn doel is dat ondernemers snel zien wat Chemport Europe voor hén kan betekenen. Zo vertaal ik complexe informatie naar heldere, relevante verhalen en praktische inhoud. Via het organiseren van evenementen help ik ondernemers en partners verbinden.
About ChallengeBase
ChallengeBase (part of NV NOM) is an independent director of innovation challenges in Northern Netherlands. We organise a compact, intensive and goal-oriented trajectory, handle communication and publicity, and always drive towards implementation. Even the toughest issues begin moving in just a few months.
See more
Our FAQ
About Sustainable Industry Challenge
We've collected the most frequently asked questions here. Not all questions answered? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Contact
The Sustainable Industry Challenge is intensive but tightly organised. Expect a few half-days spread over the year: for the quick scan, intake, selection and the multi-day event in October. Between these moments, Chemport Europe and ChallengeBase cover elaboration, scouting and coordination. You don’t have to do it “on the side,” but you do need internal capacity to make decisions and act.
IP and confidentiality are arranged carefully and professionally. Only what’s necessary to make proposals is shared during the challenge. After the match, we guide clear agreements on intellectual property, confidentiality, roles and responsibilities. Chemport Europe and ChallengeBase remain independent to ensure a fair process for both parties.
In principle yes, but quality over quantity. We consider what is realistic and desirable per organisation given available capacity and realistic chances of implementation. Sometimes it’s more effective to bring one well-defined challenge than several parallel questions.
Participation requires a financial contribution for the implementation of the solution. There is no charge for guidance, international scouting, organisation of the multi-day event or communication.