Catalysis Research Laboratory (CaRLa)

What Catalysis Research Laboratory (CaRLa) does

CaRLa (Catalysis Research Laboratory) is a jointly operated academic-industrial research laboratory established in May 2006 by BASF and the University of Heidelberg under the University's 'Industry on Campus' initiative, with initial co-funding from the Federal Government of Baden-Württemberg. The laboratory is dedicated exclusively to basic and applied research in homogeneous catalysis, with a particular focus on transition metal-based catalyst systems (Ru, Ni, Pd, Mn, Cr, V, Ag, Fe) across seven research areas: photochemistry, oxidations, aminations, hydrogenations, hydroformylation/carbonylation, CO2 chemistry, and quantum chemistry/modelling.

CaRLa operates from a 500 m2 laboratory at Im Neuenheimer Feld 271 in Heidelberg, equipped with specialized high-pressure infrastructure including six Premex stainless steel autoclaves, an HEL multi-reactor autoclave, pressure NMR tubes, a benchtop NMR, React IR, and H2/CO/NH3/C2H4 handling capabilities. The team comprises approximately eight postgraduate scientists, one PhD student in computational chemistry, and a technician (with ~10 researchers noted by 2023), drawn from 34 countries since founding. Research outcomes have produced 104 academic publications in renowned journals and 41 patent applications, with 18 projects transferred to BASF for industrial application development since 2015.

The laboratory operates as a non-commercial research entity funded jointly by BASF and the University of Heidelberg. It has no commercial products, no pricing model, and no external revenue streams. Research projects are long-term (>1 year) and focused on industrial relevance, with the explicit goal of technology transfer to BASF for process development. The collaboration has been repeatedly extended, most recently until fall 2028, with BASF and University leadership jointly overseeing scientific direction through a steering committee.

Name

Catalysis Research Laboratory (CaRLa)

Legal name

CaRLa - Catalysis Research Laboratory of University of Heidelberg

Website

https://carla-hd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CaRLa is a joint academic-industrial research laboratory between BASF and the University of Heidelberg, conducting basic and applied research in transition metal-based homogeneous catalysis. It employs approximately 10 postgraduate scientists developing novel catalysts for industrial chemical processes, with technology transferred exclusively to BASF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Catalysis Research

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base) (IMAEAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB), Thermochemical CO₂ Conversion Systems (RWGS, Fischer‑Tropsch integration, catalytic hydrogenation) (EUABAIAL), C1 & Synthesis Gas Derivatives (Methanol, Formaldehyde, Acetic Acid) (IMAEADAC)

Keywords

• Homogeneous catalysis research
• Transition metal catalysts
• CO2 utilization chemistry
• Industrial catalysis research
• Hydrogenation catalysts

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: CaRLa is funded by both partners - BASF and University of Heidelberg, along with the Federal Government of Baden-Württemberg for initial setup. Research projects are funded from both BASF and the University.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CaRLa is a joint academic-industrial research laboratory that conducts long-term (>1 year) research projects in homogeneous catalysis with industrial relevance, focused on developing new transition metal-based catalysts for chemical processes. The laboratory develops catalysts for photochemistry, oxidations, aminations, hydrogenations, hydroformylation/carbonylation, CO2 chemistry, and applies quantum chemistry/modelling for mechanism understanding, with the goal of transferring validated catalytic processes to BASF for industrial scale-up.

Product overview

CaRLa (Catalysis Research Laboratory) is a joint research laboratory operated by BASF and the University of Heidelberg, established in May 2006 as an "Industry on Campus" project. It is not a product company but rather a collaborative research facility focused on homogeneous catalysis. The laboratory conducts long-term research projects (>1 year) in partnership between academia and industry, with a focus on transition metal-based homogeneous catalysis, including Photochemistry, Oxidations, Aminations, Hydrogenations, Hydroformylation/Carbonylation, and CO2 Chemistry. CaRLa's offerings include research services, academic publications (104+ papers), patent filings (41 applications), and an annual Winter School educational program. The laboratory aims to transfer knowledge and new catalytic processes from basic research to industrial applications, with 18 projects transferred to BASF research since 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homogeneous Catalysis Research Services Long-term (>1 year) research projects in homogeneous catalysis with industrial relevance, focused on transition metal-based catalysts for photochemistry, oxidations, aminations, hydrogenations, hydroformylation/carbonylation, and CO2 chemistry, with results transferred to BASF for industrial application development.
• Winter School Educational Program Annual scientific exchange event with approximately 40 PhD students and PostDocs from international academic groups and BASF, featuring invited speakers, poster sessions, and site visits to BASF. Fully sponsored by BASF and held in Heidelberg.

Quantifiable outcome

• 104 academic papers published in renowned journals
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASF SEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023BASF is the co-founding partner and primary industrial collaborator of CaRLa. The partnership was established in May 2006 and has been extended multiple times, most recently until fall 2028. BASF provides significant funding, researchers, and receives technology transfer of developed catalytic processes. Currently 10 researchers work at CaRLa with organizational changes including Dr. Thomas Schaub and Dr. Jaroslaw Mormul jointly leading on the BASF side.
• BASF Group ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Dr. Helmut Winterling, President BASF Group Research, represents BASF's commitment to the collaboration, emphasizing that basic research in homogeneous catalysis helps develop processes requiring less energy and generating less waste to achieve BASF's sustainability goals.
• University of Stuttgart, TU Munich (BMBF Verbundprojekt)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Collaboration partners in the BMBF-funded project for the sodium acrylate from CO2 and ethylene 'Dream Reaction'. Project involved multiple academic institutions working together.
• University of HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006University of Heidelberg is the co-founding academic partner through its 'Industry on Campus' initiative. Scientific management is provided by Prof. A. Stephen K. Hashmi (Organic Chemistry) and Prof. Dr. Peter Comba (Inorganic Chemistry). The university provides research personnel, facilities access, and academic oversight. Prof. Dr. Katja Patzel-Mattern, Vice-Rector Innovation and Transfer, represents the university in the collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT): LIKAT is one of Europe's largest applied catalysis research institutes, with broad homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis research programs producing publications, patents, and industrial collaborations. Comparable to CaRLa as a publicly funded applied catalysis research lab with industrial partners.
• Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (MPI KOFO): MPI für Kohlenforschung is a leading academic institute focused on homogeneous catalysis, organometallic chemistry, and reaction mechanism research with strong industrial translation. CaRLa is a direct peer in homogeneous catalysis research and academic-industrial collaboration.
• Solvias: Solvias is a Swiss specialty company providing catalysis, ligand, and process chemistry services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, with a strong homogeneous catalysis capability. Comparable to CaRLa as a specialized industrial-facing R&D organization in homogeneous catalysis.

Broad incumbents

• Evonik Industries: Evonik operates one of the largest specialty chemicals R&D footprints in Europe, with internal homogeneous catalysis programs and academic partnerships. Tangentially comparable to CaRLa as a large industrial player whose R&D scope overlaps with CaRLa's applied catalysis mission.
• Clariant (now split, including Catalysts business): Clariant's catalysts business develops and supplies industrial catalysts, including homogeneous and process-enabling systems, with adjacent industrial research. Comparable to CaRLa as a broad industrial incumbent with overlapping catalysis research and product ambitions.
• Johnson Matthey: Johnson Matthey is a global specialty chemicals and catalysts company with significant homogeneous and process catalysis IP, including licensing and research partnerships. Comparable to CaRLa as a broad incumbent with deep industrial catalysis R&D and patent portfolios.
• Umicore: Umicore operates a major industrial catalysis business spanning homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, with research collaborations across European universities. Adjacent to CaRLa's industrial catalysis R&D agenda but at much larger scale.
• Heraeus Precious Metals: Heraeus operates a significant precious-metals-based homogeneous catalysis business (especially Rh, Ru, Pt) with industrial R&D and academic partnerships. Comparable to CaRLa through overlapping precious-metal homogeneous catalysis chemistry.
• BASF Group Research (Process Catalysis): BASF's own corporate process research organization is the recipient of CaRLa's technology transfer and is therefore the single most direct industrial counterpart to CaRLa. Highlighted here because the lab is structurally embedded inside BASF's research pipeline.

Regional players

• CAT Catalytic Center (KIT / Heidelberg): CAT Catalytic Center is a similar joint academic-industry catalysis research initiative in Germany that bridges KIT and industrial partners. Directly comparable to CaRLa as a German public-private applied catalysis research lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LaboratoryCaRLa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catalysis-research-laboratory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catalysis Research Laboratory (CaRLa)