The focus is clearly on speed. Projects are to be developed to the point where they can be transferred to the operating business within around five years. This is Evonik's response to growing pressure in the market, where innovation is no longer defined solely by scientific excellence, but by its feasibility and economic impact. In terms of content, the company is focussing on fields with high strategic relevance for the life sciences and sustainable industry. These include biopolymers and rhamnolipids that can replace fossil raw materials as well as new materials for the hydrogen economy. The decisive factor here is the combination of internal expertise with external partners from science, start-ups and industry. The Innovation Factory will thus become the hub of a global network with locations in leading innovation ecosystems from Boston to Shanghai. For Evonik, this is a clear step towards a model in which innovation is not created in isolation but as part of an open and market-oriented system.
Press release of "Evonik Industries AG" dated 24 March 2026