On May 15, 2025, six leading players from science, innovation and transfer signed a joint declaration of intent to establish the "Netzwerk Grüne Chemie Ost" (Green Chemistry East network). The aim is to build a powerful innovation ecosystem that combines the transformation of the chemical industry with the challenges of structural change in eastern Germany.
Institutions from five German federal states are involved:
- the Cluster of Excellence Unifying Systems in Catalysis (UniSysCat) in the Berlin area,
- the new large-scale research institution Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) in Central Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt),
- the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and
- the University of Greifswald, both in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,
- the greenCHEM innovation network in Berlin,
- as well as the Startup Labor Schwedt as an EXIST model project of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in the state of Brandenburg.
New impetus for eastern Germany and the chemical industry
Eastern Germany is facing challenges: with the end of lignite use and the decline in fossil energy imports, the need for new, sustainable industries is growing. At the same time, the chemical industry is undergoing a global transformation towards sustainable, resource-conserving processes. The alliance partners see this as a historic opportunity for the region and the establishment of green chemistry.
“Green chemistry is the key to a climate-friendly future. It replaces fossil raw materials, closes material cycles and minimizes environmental pollution. Eastern Germany offers ideal conditions for driving this transformation forward - through scientific excellence, strong industrial partners and innovative start-ups,” say the initiators.
The close integration of basic research, applied development, industrial implementation and start-up support creates a model that can also attract international attention. Germany has the opportunity to take on a global pioneering role in green chemistry - with eastern Germany as a driving force and innovation location.
“The chemical industry is facing a profound change: climate change and resource scarcity require new, sustainable production methods. In eastern Germany in particular, this opens up great opportunities - for innovation, new jobs and economic prospects." as UniSysCat's speaker Juri Rappsilber says. "Those who invest in green chemistry now can lead the way internationally. With our Cluster of Excellence, we are driving forward catalysis research at the interface of chemistry and biology in a targeted manner - and thus creating the basis for real innovation. In the Green Chemistry East network, we bundle excellent research, start-up infrastructure and industrial partnerships - so that sustainable innovations find their way into practice more quickly.”
“The transformation of the chemical industry is a generational task that can only succeed if we work together. That's why networks like this one are so important. Over the next few years, we at the CTC will focus on accelerating the innovation process in chemistry through digitalization, standardization and automation and developing a new generation of materials that follow the “design to recycle” principle right from the start,” says Prof. Peter Seeberger, founding director of the CTC.
Aims of the cooperation
The signatories pursue the following common goals:
- Transformation of the chemical industry through innovative catalysis, biotechnology and circular economy solutions
- Establishing East Germany as a center of sustainable chemistry - through bundled research, infrastructure and start-up support
- Promoting technology transfer and business start-ups across all innovation phases
- Integration of marine biotechnology for the use of alternative raw material sources
- Strengthening the regional economic structure through sustainable processes and new jobs.
Laboratories, start-up support and top-level research
The core of the collaboration will be joint laboratories, including, for example, the Schwedt site and the expansion of existing infrastructures such as the “Catalysis2Scale” technical center at LIKAT or the Chemical Invention Factory in Berlin. Start-ups are to be given access to industrial test environments and support in scaling up new technologies. At the same time, the research institutions are focusing on excellent basic research - from catalysis research to marine biotechnology and sustainable material cycles.
“Innovation in green chemistry needs more than just brilliant research results - it arises from the interaction of the players along the innovation phases. The Green Chemistry East network unites these players with the necessary infrastructure to bring DeepTech innovations into application more quickly and to develop their impact” Martin Rahmel, coordinator of greenCHEM.
Research groups at the University of Greifswald have been working on marine biotechnology for many years. One focus of Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder's research is marine glycobiology: “The interdisciplinary research network ‘Green Chemistry East’ opens up new perspectives for us to make more targeted biotechnological use of the promising potential of marine sugar compounds from algae as renewable resources and to develop new applications.”
"A sustainable transformation in industry also requires local acceptance. This can only succeed if innovative approaches also generate new added value. In the Schwedt Startup Lab, we as a university are therefore working with industrial and municipal partners to create optimal application and development conditions for green technologies and thus shape the transformation on site through innovations from outside,” says Sascha Lademann, project coordinator of the Schwedt Startup Lab.
Next steps
Regular workshops, a joint “Transformation Day” with an innovation award and coordinated funding applications for the acquisition of third-party funding are planned. In a further step, a task force will manage the strategic development of the emerging ecosystem.