Green chemistry entrepreneurs in the Netherlands are facing a persistent obstacle: there is too little capital and support to scale up from demo to industrial scale (TRL 5 to 9). As long as this funding gap is not closed, fossil alternatives will remain dominant and the necessary transition will stall.
Research confirms bottlenecks
Commissioned by Groene Chemie, Nieuwe Economie (GCNE), Transition Finance Network, together with ROM-Nederland, Invest-NL, RVO, the Ministry of Climate & Green Growth and the NGF Biobased Circular, investigated the causes as well as directions for solutions. The conclusion: the chemical sector lags behind when it comes to upscaling. Private investors are not yet sufficiently involved, while entrepreneurs need to make the step to industrial scale now.
Advices from the report
To really get green chemistry off the ground, the report recommends, among other things:
- Ensure robust support mechanisms and demand management.
- Set up one clear desk for entrepreneurs - for knowledge, permits, space and subsidies.
- Bring focus and develop a clear strategy: determine what does and does not belong to Dutch green chemistry and make conscious choices in that regard.
- Set up an investment fund specifically for the step from demo to industrial scale green chemistry.
Entrepreneurs and partners underline urgency
"Building green chemistry is crucial for a future-proof Dutch industry. I am therefore pleased that GCNE has taken the initiative to address a persistent problem within green chemistry. The report reflects well the signals from the sector and is an important basis for the Ministry of Climate & Green Growth to make adequate policy." - Karlo van Dam, Director Sustainability Industry, Ministry of Climate & Green Growth
"We see daily how promising circular chemistry companies fail when moving from demo to industrial scale. A targeted funding solution is indispensable to crank up that engine." - Angelique Erkenbosch, Business DeveloperInnovationQuarter
"As a scale-up in green chemistry, we experience daily how challenging it is to secure investments for scale-up. Without appropriate funding, real impact remains elusive."
- Ton Vries, CEO BioBTX
"With our technology we can reuse residual waste as feedstock, but to make a real impact we need to be able to run at industrial scale. This report shows exactly where the pinch is and where the solution lies." - Michiel Spits, CEO DOPS Recycling Technologies
Continued
GCNE, ROM-Nederland, the Regional Development Companies (ROMs), Transition Finance Network, Invest-NL, the Ministry of Climate & Green Growth and the NGF Biobased Circular are catching on: over the next few months they are working together to explore and outline the first contours of an investment fund to give green chemistry the boost it needs.
"This report underlines that we must act now. From GCNE, together with the Regional Development Companies, TFN and partners like the NGF Biobased Circular, we are working with entrepreneurs, government and investors to create the conditions and capital that are needed."
- Dina Boonstra, Director NV NOM on behalf of ROM Netherlands
Want to know more or get involved? Feel free to contact Angelique Erkenbosch at T. +31 6 280 44 572 or E. angelique.erkenbosch@innovationquarter.nl.