27. Mar 2026
Evonik launches Innovation Factory to accelerate route to market
Evonik has launched a new “Innovation Factory” unit aimed at accelerating the transition of research projects into commercial industrial applications, as part of a broader realignment of its R&D strategy.
The unit replaces the company’s former Creavis strategic research arm and is designed to operate as an entrepreneurial development platform, with a stronger focus on speed, market relevance and application-driven innovation.
A key feature of the Innovation Factory is a defined development timeline, with projects expected to reach readiness for transfer into Evonik’s business lines within an average of five years. This is intended to shorten the path from laboratory-scale research to full industrial production.
Christian Eilbracht, chief innovation officer at Evonik, said the company is “aligning its innovation system to significantly shorten the time from development to market launch,” with the new unit intended to convert research into “tangible industrial progress.”
Focus on sustainable materials and new technologies
The Innovation Factory will concentrate on areas where Evonik already has established capabilities and where customer demand is growing. These include:
- Biopolymers designed to replace fossil-based materials
- Rhamnolipids, bio-based surfactants with applications in consumer and industrial formulations
- Anion exchange membranes (AEM) for green hydrogen systems
The company said these technologies will be developed through a model of “combinatorial innovation”, combining internal expertise with external input from academia, startups and industrial partners.
The Innovation Factory’s focus on biopolymers and sustainable chemistries is relevant to polyurethane producers, particularly in areas such as:
- Development of bio-based polyols and additives
- Expansion of low-carbon raw material platforms
- Integration of PU systems into hydrogen and energy infrastructure applications
The initiative also reflects a broader shift across the chemicals sector towards faster, market-led innovation models, as producers seek to reduce development timelines and improve return on R&D investment.
The Innovation Factory will be integrated into Evonik’s global R&D network, linking activities in Boston, Singapore and Shanghai to access new technologies, talent and partnerships.