Evonik is driving forward the green transformation of industry. In its new innovation strategy, the specialty chemicals company is focusing even more strongly on the topic of sustainability. To this end, it is bundling a large part of its R&D activities into three new innovation growth cores. They are expected to achieve additional sales of 1.5 billion euros by 2032 compared to 2023. “Our new innovation strategy shows how sustainable products and solutions will be supporting Evonik’s future growth even more strongly, and, at the same time, reducing our customers’ ecological footprint,” says Harald Schwager, deputy chairman of Evonik’s executive board.

Evonik addresses the most relevant sustainability trends in business

The innovation growth cores that have now been presented focus on bio-based solutions, the energy transition and the circular economy. “With our technologies, we are shaping a future worth living. The three new innovation growth areas address the most relevant sustainability trends for our businesses,” says Evonik’s chief innovation officer, Ralph Marquardt.

Biotechnological solutions to protect resources, health and ecosystems

In the “Advance Precision Biosolutions” innovation growth core, Evonik scientists are using biotechnology to develop solutions to improve people's health and quality of life, save energy and resources, and protect ecosystems. One example is modern biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids. In May, Evonik inaugurated the world's first industrial plant for the production of this new class of biosurfactants in Slovakia. At the same time, the company is driving forward the development of rhamnolipids for other areas of application.

The innovation growth core “Accelerate Energy Transition” bundles contributions to the energy transition. This includes, for example, solutions for capturing carbon dioxide from process waste gases or directly from the air. Evonik also produces membranes in Schörfling, Austria, that can be used to purify biomethane and other gases. After the plant was only expanded in 2023, the construction of another plant is already underway. The company is also researching other membrane solutions, for example for the production of hydrogen.

Circular economy to close material cycles

The innovation growth core “Enable Circular Economy” bundles all of Evonik's research and development projects for a modern circular economy. The aim is to help close material cycles. The company is paving the way for its customers to enter the circular economy. This is achieved, for example, through advanced catalyst recycling or solutions that improve the recycling of polyurethane or rubber. 

“Research and development already make an overriding contribution to our growth,” says Marquardt. “This trend will continue with these new growth areas.” The new innovation growth areas are therefore building on the success of Evonik’s previous innovation growth fields, which were selected in 2015. 

Within ten years, an additional €1 billion in sales is to be generated with sustainable solutions for healthcare, cosmetics and the production of additives, among other things. In 2023, this figure was already more than €650 million. “Given the turbulence of recent years, that is a good performance, which we can build on in the future,” says Schwager. “A global pandemic, an invasion within Europe, those were events no-one foresaw nine years ago. That we came so close to our goal despite such unprecedented challenges shows that we focused on the right topics.”

Evonik focuses R&D investments on chemical research activities 

With a total of €443 million, Evonik maintained its research and development expenditure at the previous year's level in 2023, even in a challenging economic environment. The largest share went to the research activities of the producing chemical business units. The strategic research unit Creavis accounted for a smaller share. In relation to sales, the R&D ratio in 2023 was 2.9 percent. For Evonik, new developments and sustainability are fundamental components of a future-proof business model. That is why the company continues to focus on strong research and development and is thus driving the green transition with numerous contributions, both in its own sphere of activity and for its customers.