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Resources for Chemistry-focused Startups

Below is a list of organizations and resources specifically dedicated to helping chemistry-focused startups navigate the challenges associated with bringing new molecules and materials to market.

Technical Assistance, Formulation & Material Testing

  • Composite Material and Engineering Center at Washington State University – Pullman, WA  
    CMEC focuses on building materials (wood and natural fibers, structural, and polymeric materials). The center does basic and applied research and have a robust laboratory space and ICC accredited testing facilities.

  • National Research Council of Canada's Bio-based Specialty Chemicals Program – Ottawa, ON   
    NRC works with companies to develop technologies and services that produce high-value specialty chemicals from biomass. The center works with partners on strategic research projects and helps de-risk new technologies. NRC has several lab-scale and pilot-scale facilities for both chemical and biochemical processing.

  • Gaston College Textile Technology Center – Belmont, NC
    The Textile Technology Center provides technical support for textile companies, including testing services, product prototyping and sample production. The Textile Center has an analytical chemistry lab and a microscopy/defect analysis lab with staff devoted to problem solving.

  • The Molecular Foundry – Berkeley, CA  
    The Molecular Foundry is a Department of Energy-funded nanoscience research facility that provides users from around the world with access to cutting-edge expertise and instrumentation in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. Access is obtained through a brief, peer-reviewed proposal with no charge for users who intend to publish their results. Access is available on a cost-recovery basis for research that is not intended for publication.  

  • USDA Bioproducts Research – Albany, CA
    USDA Bioproducts Research is a comprehensive research laboratory that works with academic and industry partners to solve technical challenges associated with developing and commercializing bio-based products and materials. Several GC3 Startup Network members have worked with USDA Bioproducts Research to better understand specific process and technical challenges.

De-risking & Scale-up

  • Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Demonstration Unit (Part of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs) – Berkeley, CA
    ABPDU helps to optimize and scale early-stage biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals product and process technologies. Their team is equipped to help with a variety of challenges, including feedstock selection, prototyping and optimization, scale-up integration and demonstration, and funding and grant proposal support.

  • GreenCentre Canada – Kingston, ON
    GreenCentre helps companies meet their research and development needs in a low-risk, collaborative structure by providing an extensive and practical range of services to entrepreneurs, including proof of concept testing, market analysis, process development and scale-up manufacturing services, and IP and strategic support.

  • MSU Bioeconomy Institute (MBI) – Holland, MI
    MBI helps startups quickly and cost-effectively de-risk and accelerate the commercialization of new specialty and biobased chemicals. The Institute combines a full spectrum of science, engineering, operational, and business expertise with an integrated and flexible infrastructure that includes both lab-scale and pilot-scale facilities.

  • Xerox Research Center of Canada (XRCC) – Mississauga, ON
    With decades of expertise in materials chemistry, formulation design, prototyping, testing, and chemical process engineering, XRCC has opened up their R&D and pilot facilities to startups and other companies looking for help scaling up their technologies. 

Laboratory Space

  • Delaware Innovators Space – Wilmington, DE
    Located at the former DuPont Experimental Station, the Delaware Innovation Space is 100,000 square feet of multi-use lab space for the industrial biotech, advanced materials, chemical ingredients, renewable energy, nutrition, and healthcare science-based businesses and ventures. The Space houses all-inclusive, private lab suites, shared open space, premium lab equipment, hands-on support services, shared use conference rooms, networking events, education, training and mentoring.

  • Greentown Labs – Somerville, MA
    Located just outside of downtown Boston, Greentown Labs offers 33,000 sq. ft. of prototyping lab and co-working space, a shared machine shop, and an electronics shop and wet lab facilities, as well as an extensive network of industry partners and mentors.  

  • Icogenex Corporation – Seattle, WA
    Icogenex Bioincubator rents lab and office space, including use of equipment, amenities and services, to startup and small biotech companies in the Seattle area.

  • ZeaChem Technology Institute & Processing Services – Boardman, OR
    ZeaChem offers third parties access to its demonstration-scale cellulosic biorefinery to prove technologies at scale. ZeaChem produced cellulosic sugars, lignins, acids, esters, and alcohols at its Demonstration Biorefinery and is now accepting processing service reservations from third parties interested in using their Demonstration Biorefinery.

Funding

  • Bioindustrial Innovation Canada – Sarnia, ON
    BIC is a not-for-profit organization based in Sarnia, Ontario which is dedicated to building a renewable materials manufacturing and innovation cluster in the Sarnia region. BIC provides business and technical support, including access to risk capital for technology demonstration and scale-up. 

  • Chemical Angel Network 
    The Chemical Angel Network is an accredited network of angel investors investing in early-stage chemical and material technologies. 

  • Safer Made 
    Safer Made is a new venture fund investing in companies and technologies that create safer products for people and the natural world.

Contact

If you would like to be connected to a startup that has used one of these resources or if you have additional resources to add, contact:

               Julie Manley
               Director of Startup Network
               julie@greenchemistryandcommerce.org