Global speciality chemicals major Evonik is overhauling its innovation engine, unveiling a new strategy designed to fast-track cutting-edge research into real-world industrial applications.

 

At the center of the shift is the newly structured Innovation Factory, an entrepreneurial unit tasked with rapidly converting breakthroughs into market-ready solutions. Replacing the former Creavis division, the unit is built around speed, commercial relevance, and sharper market focus.

 

"We are aligning our innovation system to significantly shorten the time from development to market launch," says Christian Eilbracht, Chief Innovation Officer at Evonik. "The Innovation Factory is our promise to turn excellent research into tangible industrial progress – for both ourselves and our customers."

 

The overhaul comes with a strict deadline: every innovation program must be ready for transfer to a business line within an average of five years, fully prepared for production and operations. The approach signals a decisive push to eliminate delays between discovery and deployment.

 

"The Innovation Factory operates according to a clear principle: 'Building what's next.' To achieve this, Evonik will integrate its own expertise even more closely with external impulses from academia, startup ecosystems, and industry partners. This results in technically and commercially more resilient solutions that deliver immediate industrial value and meet real market demands," says Axel Kobus, Head of the Evonik Innovation Factory.

 

The company is doubling down on high-impact sectors where demand is surging. Among them: rhamnolipids—eco-friendly biosurfactants already used in cosmetics and cleaning products—as well as next-generation biopolymers designed to replace fossil-based materials. 

 

Evonik is also advancing anion exchange membranes (AEM), a critical technology expected to play a major role in scaling the green hydrogen economy.

 

The Innovation Factory will anchor Evonik’s global R&D footprint, linking innovation hubs across key markets. From its life sciences satellite in Boston to biotech operations in Singapore and membrane research in Shanghai, the company is positioning itself closer to emerging technologies, talent pools, and strategic partnerships worldwide.