Evonik launches Innovation Factory to accelerate market-driven innovation, focusing on sustainable technologies, global collaboration, and faster commercialization of industrial solutions.
Evonik has unveiled its new Innovation Factory, marking a significant shift in how the company approaches research, development, and commercialization. The initiative represents a strategic realignment of Evonik’s innovation ecosystem, transforming its former research unit into a more agile, entrepreneurial platform. Acting as the successor to Creavis, the Innovation Factory is designed to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to real-world industrial application, with a strong emphasis on speed, market relevance, and practical impact.
According to Christian Eilbracht, the company is restructuring its innovation processes to drastically reduce the time required to bring new technologies to market. He highlighted that the Innovation Factory embodies Evonik’s commitment to converting high-quality research into measurable industrial progress, benefiting both the company and its customers. This transformation is intended to ensure that innovation is not only advanced but also aligned with real business needs and timelines.
A defining feature of the Innovation Factory is its structured development timeline. Each innovation program is expected to progress to a stage ready for transfer into one of Evonik’s business lines within an average of five years. At that point, the innovation should be sufficiently mature for scaling, production, and commercial deployment. This disciplined timeframe introduces accountability and ensures that projects remain focused on delivering tangible outcomes.
Axel Kobus emphasized the guiding principle behind the initiative: “Building what’s next.” To achieve this vision, Evonik plans to deepen collaboration with external partners, including academic institutions, startups, and industry stakeholders. By combining internal expertise with outside innovation, the company aims to develop solutions that are both technically robust and commercially viable, addressing immediate and emerging market demands.
From a technological standpoint, the Innovation Factory will concentrate on areas where Evonik already holds strong capabilities and where there is clear customer demand for new solutions. One prominent example is the development of rhamnolipids, a class of environmentally friendly biosurfactants. Already used in cosmetics and cleaning products, these materials offer significant potential for broader industrial applications due to their effectiveness and sustainability advantages.
In addition, Evonik is advancing a portfolio of biopolymers designed to replace fossil-based raw materials, supporting the transition toward a more sustainable chemical industry. Another key focus area is the development of anion exchange membranes (AEM), which are expected to play a crucial role in enabling the future hydrogen economy, particularly in green hydrogen production technologies.
The Innovation Factory is not a standalone initiative but a central component of Evonik’s broader global research strategy. It strengthens the company’s footprint in leading innovation hubs worldwide. These include Boston in the United States, where the Cambridge Innovation Satellite focuses on life sciences, Singapore with its expertise in biotech process solutions, and Shanghai, which serves as a hub for membrane technology development.
By leveraging these global locations, Evonik Industries gains access to cutting-edge technologies, skilled talent, and strategic partnerships across key markets. This interconnected approach enhances the company’s ability to identify trends early, collaborate effectively, and deliver innovations that are both scalable and impactful.
Ultimately, the Innovation Factory represents Evonik’s forward-looking vision of industrial innovation—one that prioritizes speed, collaboration, and real-world application. It reflects a broader industry shift toward more dynamic, market-driven research models, positioning Evonik to remain competitive and responsive in an evolving global landscape.
