koala: Advancing the Circular Economy through Green Chemistry – koala at the CVC 2026

The chemical industry is facing a decisive moment. Rising resource constraints, regulatory pressure and climate targets are accelerating the shift from linear production models towards circular systems. For koala, this transition is not just a response to external challenges – it is at the core of our mission. As a Green Chemistry network, initiated by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion and the RWTH Aachen University, koala supports the transformation of chemical innovation from research to real-world application.

Circular Economy as a Strategic Lever

For the chemical industry, circular economy is a key lever to reduce emissions, lower costs and remain competitive in global markets. However, circular solutions rarely emerge in isolation. They require collaboration across disciplines, sectors and value chains. koala places this collaborative approach at the heart of its work, bringing together research, startups, industry partners and ecosystem stakeholders to jointly develop circular solutions.

Connecting Research, Startups and Industry

koala acts as a connector and enabler within the Green Chemistry ecosystem. We help translate scientific excellence into scalable applications by combining technical expertise with entrepreneurial know-how. Our growing network already includes experts covering all stages of the chemical value chain and is deeply embedded in the chemical startup ecosystem in Germany, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, while also being well connected internationally.

A central element of this ecosystem is the QuinCAT incubator. QuinCAT provides early-stage, research-based startup teams with laboratory and office infrastructure, coaching, mentoring and access to industry-relevant networks. This environment enables teams to develop first products, validate applications and prepare for initial scaling steps. As startups grow, koala continues to support them by facilitating connections to partners, investors and suitable locations for further expansion.