BASF finances innovative solutions in Bulgaria

The European leader in research and development and the world’s largest chemical company, BASF, is conducting the BASF Innovation Hub project for a second year. It brings together participants from 11 countries in Central and Southeast Europe, including Bulgaria, who will have the opportunity to receive financial support for their ideas. Other participating countries: Austria and Hungary (joint local event), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia (joint local event), Bulgaria, Greece, Czech Republic and Slovakia (joint local event) and Romania.

This year, the main topic of the competition is renewable energy sources and the project is focused on the issues of the Green Deal and the solutions to the key environmental challenges of today.

BASF Innovation Hub 2022 supports ideas that cover at least one of the following areas:

• Clean energy (examples: digital solutions that focus on increasing process efficiency and energy efficiency; solutions to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electricity supply (geothermal, solar, wind); geothermal energy and insulation solutions; optimization of heating, cooling and ventilation; decarbonization of energy systems and promotion of zero-emission technologies).

• Intelligent transport systems (examples: materials for lithium-ion batteries; biofuels/additives; materials for fuel cells; electromagnetically impermeable materials; environmentally friendly yet durable materials for casings).

• "From Farm to Fork" (examples: precision application technologies; consultancy services for digital farming; digital farming solutions; solutions that contribute to more sustainable food systems; selective crop protection products; biological crop protection).

BASF Innovation Hub 2022 – local and global level

BASF Innovation Hub 2022 – Local-level events. After the application phase, the TOP 5 local teams will have the opportunity to present their ideas to a local jury, which will determine the winner at local level. The winners of the local events automatically qualify and participate in the Grand Final of BASF Innovation Hub 2022. The second part of the competition is a unique opportunity for the winners to present their innovative solutions and start-up ideas to an even wider audience and potentially secure additional investment for their future development.

Applications will be accepted until 30 September 2022. In the first round of the competition, a jury will select the best idea in Bulgaria. In November, the winning idea will be presented at the Grand Finals of BASF Innovation Hub together with the most successful solutions from the other countries. The winner at local level will receive an award of EUR 2,500, and the best idea at regional level will receive EUR 5,000.

More information about the project and the deadlines can be found at: www.join-innovationhub.com, and additional questions can be submitted by e-mail: hello@join-innovationhub.com