Moscow, 1 November 2016.SIBUR’s IQ-CHem awards bring together global chemical technology start-ups and investors. Start-ups will get a unique opportunity to showcase their achievements to SIBUR and other leading global corporations, such as Dow, DuPont, 3M, AkzoNobel, BASF, LG Chem, Henkel, Linde, and UOP. The total turnover of IQ-CHem partners exceeds USD 300 bn.

The project aims to find and foster innovation and start-ups in petrochemicals production and application, all for the purpose of developing and improving the petrochemical industry. IQ-CHem’s global scale creates more capitalisation opportunities for the most promising start-ups. 

Eligible projects must focus on innovations in gas processing and transportation, production and application of plastics, elastomers, basic monomers and speciality chemicals, and cutting-edge equipment and technological solutions for boosting the operational efficiency of chemical and technical processes.

The jury will include more than 30 international experts representing partner companies, science institutions, and investors. The best start-ups will be offered opportunities to cooperate with global chemical leaders and also get monetary prizes. The total prize fund is USD 55,000.

Contestant applications are accepted until 1 March 2017. The winners will be announced on 5 June 2017 at Startup Village 2017, a major start-up conference in Moscow. Contestants can apply at www.iq-chem.com.

“The petrochemicals industry can and must capitalise on the potential of open innovation to facilitate further discoveries and implementation of new solutions in all major areas, from construction and medicine to packaging and 3D printing. Thanks to the participation of international partners, IQ-CHem is now the largest corporate contest of innovations in Russia and among the most outstanding contest projects in the industry,” said Vasily Nomokonov, Executive Director of SIBUR.