Incubation & Business Modelling

CO₂ utilisation technologies, like other clean technologies, face capital intensity along their life cycles and high investment risk profiles. Various CO₂ utilisation technologies are on the edge of the ‘valley of death’: a funding gap between basic research and the commercialisation of new products.

But what are the specific barriers to commercialisation of CO₂ utilisation? And what business models are best to overcome these barriers? Currently no studies are dedicated to these questions. The EnCO₂re project Incubation and Business Modelling is investigating barriers to successful commercialisation of CO₂ utilisation technologies by conducting interview studies with start-ups in the field of CO₂ utilisation and clean technology investors.

Expected results

There was no comprehensive global overview of CO₂ utilisation activities. That is why the CO₂ utilisation activity map, recently created within the framework EnCO₂re, laid the essential groundwork for the ongoing commercialisation barrier study and upcoming business model analysis. This interactive online map facilitates future collaborations and exploitations of cross-sectoral synergies within the different stakeholders on the market for CO₂ re-use.

CO₂ utilisation global landscape of players

What exactly is being done?

CO₂-utilisation specific recommendations for key stakeholders in the commercialisation and business incubation processes will be derived from the outcome of the studies (e.g. policy makers, private and corporate investors and infrastructure providers and start-ups). Both the demand side and supply side of a dedicated CO₂ utilisation business incubation process will be strengthened, on the one hand by a favourable support system, and on the other hand by efficient business models for CO₂ utilisation technologies. The INKULAB at TU Berlin is such a system, an incubation laboratory project with specialised infrastructure and support for chemical start-ups.

http://www.adlershof.de/inkulab/.

The contribution to developing a CO₂ re-use market

Knowing the stage and its players is crucial for creating a market and define value chains. The next step will be in-depth studies that will identify best practise for capital efficient business models in the field of CO₂ utilisation.

“The re-use of CO₂ might not be the all-in-one solution for climate change, but it is a promising step towards an efficient use of resources and a closed carbon cycle.” – Marvin Kant

Project consortium & partners

• TU Berlin
• Covestro AG
• In collaboration with the SCOT project and a range of start-ups and investors.

Project Duration

01/2015 to 2017/18