Work with the City of Rotterdam and its Partners to Create Products from Captured CO2 and Unlock the City’s Ambition of Becoming Fully Circular by 2050

PROOF OF CONCEPT, ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INDUSTRY EXPERTISE & NETWORK Deadline passed

Get in the Ring and the City of Rotterdam are working together towards a fully circular Rotterdam on the Unlocked Challenge. CO2 emissions are one of the primary causes of modern climate change, and an issue that must be addressed. Therefore, the City of Rotterdam has taken measures and now aims to reduce this waste by 75% from their 2019 report by 2025, and 90% by 2030. 

 

We are looking for startups and scaleups with solutions that can utilise industrial point source emissions from the harbour industrial complex of Rotterdam and convert them into high-value products in the domains of CO2 Mineralisation, Power-to-X and Food & Feed. By working together with promising startups and scaleups from around the world, the port of Rotterdam is positioning itself as a leading carbon utilisation hub. The efforts of the region include (but are not limited to) industrial point sources to building materials, chemicals & fuels and food & feed products. 

 

Do you have a solution that utilises CO2 and are you eager to implement it in the Greater Rotterdam The Hague Area? Then this is the challenge for you!

OUR PARTNERS

       

         

The deadline for this Challenge has passed, please check out our other Challenges

The challenge

The City of Rotterdam is looking for proven technology solutions to transform captured carbon into products. The three main domains that this challenge focuses on are:

CO2 Mineralisation

This domain targets solutions that transform CO2 into solid minerals. We are looking for several practical applications such as: building materials (concrete or cement), battery minerals and valuable carbonates like magnesium silicate and others.

Power-to-X

This domain is focused in conversion technologies that ultilise CO2 to tranform it to fuels and chemicals. This process allows for the creation of renewable carbon-based fuels and a range of chemical end products. Example outputs include methanol, ethanol, syngas, polymers and speciality chemicals.

Food & Feed

The goal of this domain is to utilise carbon as input in the transition to alternative proteins and their production process. This encaptures the production of microbial proteins by algae, bacteria or yeasts that use carbon as input in the fermentation process to create alternative proteins. Example outputs include alternative proteins for animal feedstock and/or for human food production.

What's in it for you

Startups accepted into the programme will receive:

  • Pilot opportunity with Netherlands-based industry leaders.

  • Access to CO2 and H2 infrastructure and field labs to test and scale up your solutions.

  • Investment opportunities from partners.

  • Access to experts and network through 1-1 meetings with key ecosystem players.

  • Partners in this challenge include: OCAP, AVR, Fieldlab Industrial Electrification, Chrysalix Venture Capital, InnovationQuarter, Energy Transition Fund Rotterdam, among others.

Additional criteria

This is a global challenge that welcomes solutions from all over the world. Participation requirements are:

  • Solutions need to have a Technology Readiness Level equal or greater than 4 (TRL > 4).

  • Solutions must be related to CO2 or CO utilisation.

  • Available to travel to the Netherlands to meet with the partners.

  • Execution of the pilot in The Greater Rotterdam The Hague Area.

TIMELINE

NOVEMBER 8TH

Q&A WEBINAR

NOVEMBER 25TH

APPLICATION DEADLINE

DECEMBER - JANUARY

FINALISTS ANNOUCEMENT

JANUARY 26TH

MATCHMAKING DAY

Deadline passed

The deadline for this Challenge has passed, please check out our other Challenges