ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2026
By International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3)
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Quick Answer
Global start-up challenge on sustainable chemistry for electronics: €15,000 (about ₹16.35 lakh) for the winner and two €5,000 impact awards. The 2026 call has closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 4 May 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3). Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 ISC3 Innovation Challenge is closed: the call ended on 4 May 2026 at 0:00 CET, and the page says submissions after the deadline cannot be taken into account. The page covers only the 2026 cycle and announces no next call, but the challenge is a yearly competition with a new focus topic each time, so watch for a 2027 topic. The eight finalists for 2026 have already been announced.
The challenge is run by the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) in Germany and offers a total of €25,000 (about ₹27.25 lakh) in prizes to start-ups from anywhere in the world. One part of the process is live and in person: the finalists pitch at the electronica trade fair in Munich on 13 November 2026, where the winners are announced. Proposals from developing countries, or tackling challenges there, are described as particularly important, so Indian start-ups are welcome.
What the competition offers
The prize pool is €25,000: €15,000 (about ₹16.35 lakh) for the overall winner, and two Special Impact Awards of €5,000 each for start-ups with a noteworthy effect on the environment and society. Finalists also receive customised support from the ISC3 Global Start-up Service, promotion through ISC3 channels, individual and group pitch training, a place at an industry matchmaking event in 2026, and a possible feature as Start-up of the Month. Eight finalists are chosen each year. The page does not say how the prize money is paid or whether any use restrictions apply.
Who can apply
Entrants are innovators and entrepreneurs who own or represent the innovation, working for a start-up, SME, research institute or comparable organisation active in sustainable chemistry. The enterprise must have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent staff and an annual turnover of at most €10 million. Enterprises majority-owned by a large enterprise are not eligible, unless the innovation leads to an independent spin-off. Women entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to apply.
The proposal must clearly address the year's focus topic. For 2026 that was Sustainable Chemistry and Electronics, which covered:
- Design and performance – eco-design, design for disassembly, less material use, and safer solders and encapsulants
- Critical materials – alternatives to scarce or toxic elements and use of abundant or recycled feedstocks
- Sustainable manufacturing – low-energy, low-waste fabrication and safer chemical routes
- End of life and circularity – e-waste recovery, plastics recycling and closed-loop systems
- Alternative materials – organic and polymer electronics, 2D materials, self-healing materials and bio-based plastics
- Novel devices – more sustainable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells and solar or optoelectronic devices
This suits Indian materials, chemistry and electronics start-ups with a real technical innovation. Because the topic changes every year, a start-up that did not fit 2026 may fit a later topic.
How to apply
The 2026 call launched on 12 December 2025 and ran until 4 May 2026. Entrants submitted a proposal that clearly addressed the topic, guided by the chemical and material criteria in the call's Annex I document. A practical tip: read the annex before drafting, and state in the first lines how your innovation fits one of the focus areas.
How applications are judged and what happens next
An international jury of experts carries out a two-step evaluation and scores each proposal on three questions. Innovation level: is the idea unique and truly original? Business viability: what is the market potential and is it commercially feasible? Sustainability: what is the environmental impact? In 2026 the jury evaluated entries from 6 May to 16 June, finalists were announced at the end of June, and pitch training ran from July to September. Finalists pitch at the award event, where the overall winner and the two Special Impact winners are picked.
About ISC3
ISC3 is based in Bonn, Germany, and is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Its services include the Global Start-up Service, the Investor Forum, research and policy work, and a climate action best-practices database. The 2025 challenge was won by Power2Polymers of Germany, with the two impact awards going to AC Biode and ClimEtSan-OnTheGround.
Things to check before you apply
- Check your headcount and turnover against the 50-staff and €10 million limits.
- Finalists must pitch live in Germany, so plan travel and visas; the page does not say whether ISC3 covers travel.
- The topic changes yearly, so confirm it fits before you invest in a proposal.
- The page does not say whether there is a fee, though none is mentioned.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
The overall winner receives a cash prize of €15,000 (about ₹16.35 lakh), and two Special Impact Awards of €5,000 each (about ₹5.45 lakh) go to start-ups with a notable impact on the environment and society. All finalists get tailored support from the ISC3 Global Start-up Service, individual and group pitch training, promotion through ISC3's channels and a place at an industry matchmaking event.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Cohort size
- 8 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
An international jury of experts scores proposals in a two-step evaluation on innovation level, business viability and sustainability impact, and chooses the finalists. The finalists pitch at the award event, where the overall winner and the two Special Impact Award winners are picked.
Application Process
- 1
Submit proposal
Send a proposal that addresses the year's focus topic before the deadline.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter the ISC3 Innovation Challenge?
Innovators and entrepreneurs who own or represent the innovation and work at a start-up, SME, research institute or comparable organisation. The enterprise must have at most 50 full-time-equivalent staff and a turnover of at most €10 million.
Can Indian start-ups apply?
Yes. ISC3 invites start-ups from around the world and says proposals from developing countries, or addressing challenges there, are particularly important.
How much is the prize?
The total is €25,000: €15,000 (about ₹16.35 lakh) for the overall winner and €5,000 for each of two Special Impact Awards.
Is the 2026 challenge still open?
No. The call closed on 4 May 2026 at 0:00 CET and later submissions cannot be considered. The page announces no next call, but the challenge runs yearly with a new topic.
How are entries judged?
An international jury scores each proposal on its innovation level, its business viability and its sustainability impact, in a two-step evaluation.
Do I have to travel?
Finalists pitch live at the award event, which in 2026 is at the electronica trade fair in Munich on 13 November 2026. The page does not say whether travel costs are covered.
What support do finalists get?
Customised support from the ISC3 Global Start-up Service, individual and group pitch training, promotion through ISC3 channels, an industry matchmaking event and a possible Start-up of the Month feature.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a prize competition. The page does not mention equity or any claim on your company.
What was the 2026 topic?
Sustainable Chemistry and Electronics, covering eco-design, critical materials, sustainable manufacturing, end-of-life and circularity, alternative materials and novel devices.
When are the winners announced?
At the award event after the finalist pitches. In 2026 that is at electronica in Munich on 13 November 2026.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
