IQ Innovation Award for revolutionary raw material extraction from CO2: Best innovation in Central Germany comes from Saxony

Thanks to the innovation, green chemicals and e-fuels are to be produced from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the future. Preparations are currently underway to test the system in an industrial environment, for example at biogas plants.

„To effectively combat climate change, we not only need to save CO₂ but ideally also consume the greenhouse gas as a resource. With its technology, enaDyne GmbH provides the key building block for this cycle, utilising the CO₂ from industry for new products. This is not only climate-neutral, but CO₂-negative – a true masterpiece in the chemical industry, which was previously dependent on fossil raw materials. The number one climate killer is thus becoming a valuable raw material. We see this as a real leap forward innovation and a breakthrough in the fight against global warming," said Jörn-Heinrich Tobaben, Managing Director of Metropolregion Mitteldeutschland Management GmbH, welcoming the jury's decision.

The overall prize of the IQ Innovation Award Central Germany with prize money totalling 15,000 euros was jointly sponsored by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce from Halle-Dessau, Leipzig and East Thuringia. In addition, four other cluster winners and the winners of the local IQ competitions in Halle (Saale), Leipzig and Magdeburg were announced at the award ceremony. These are:

• Cluster Automotive: Team AuRora – Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• Cluster Energy/Environment/Solar Economy: Wattando GmbH, Dresden
• Cluster Information Technology: Healyan GmbH, Barchfeld-Immelborn
• Cluster Life Sciences: anvajo GmbH, Dresden
• IQ Innovation Award Leipzig: Nadar GmbH
• IQ Innovation Award Halle: point electronic GmbH
• IQ Innovation Award Magdeburg – Otto von Guericke Award: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg – Chair of Organic Chemistry

The Cluster Prize, which is endowed with 7,500 euros, was jointly sponsored by Iqony-Raffinerie-Kraftwerk-Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH and the North-East Regional Association of the Chemical Industry. Prize money totalling around EUR 70,000 will be awarded.

With the IQ Innovation Award Central Germany, the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany promotes innovative, marketable products, processes and services in five industry-specific clusters. In the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany, structurally important companies, cities and districts, chambers and associations as well as universities and research institutions from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are committed to the common goal of sustainable development and marketing of the economic, scientific and cultural region of Central Germany.

Press release of the "Metropolregion Mitteldeutschland" from 23 June 2023