Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC)

What Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) does

The Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) is Germany's first large-scale research center dedicated to circular chemistry, established as a non-profit GmbH (CTC gGmbH) in 2025 and operating from two permanent locations — Delitzsch (Saxony) and Merseburg (Saxony-Anhalt) — with a temporary scientific office in Leipzig. It is funded under the Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen with EUR 1.2 billion committed through 2038 by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (90%), the Free State of Saxony (7%), and the State of Saxony-Anhalt (3%), with a target headcount of 1,000 by 2038. The center is organized around five interconnected thematic areas — Automation and Standardization, Data-Driven Chemistry, Renewable Feedstocks, Recycling, and Societal/Environmental/Economic Metrics — anchored by two moonshot programs: the fully recyclable car (Design to Recycle) and the autonomous laboratory. The Talentschmiede supports up to 40 independent junior research groups, and the Academy for Chemistry Transformation (ACT) delivers education from school labs through doctoral training.

CTC's core technology stack combines open-source digital laboratory infrastructure (Chemotion ELN/LIMS deployed in collaboration with NFDI4Chem/KIT) with AI/ML for computational molecular design, biorefining, predictive LCA modeling, NLP-driven literature mining, and digital twins of laboratory processes. Seven pilot projects are operational, spanning digital lab orchestration, rare earth solvent extraction databases, lignocellulose-based surfactants, polymer ELN extensions, molded fiber materials, lignin chemistry databases, and predictive environmental assessment. The business model is institutional government funding rather than commercial revenue; technology transfer occurs through open-access publications, spin-offs (e.g., aevoloop GmbH), industry partnerships, and the Sciencepreneurship program with HHL Leipzig. The organization is governed by a supervisory board comprising federal, state, scientific, and industry representatives, and serves the German and European chemical industry, academic institutions, deep-tech startups, students/vocational trainees, and regional government stakeholders undertaking Central Germany's coal-phase-out structural transformation.

Name

Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC)

Legal name

CTC gGmbH – Center for the Transformation of Chemistry

Website

https://transforming-chemistry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) is a German non-profit large-scale research center focused on circular chemistry, funded with EUR 1.2 billion through 2038 by federal and state governments. It pursues moonshot research in autonomous laboratories and fully recyclable vehicles, serving the chemical industry, academia, and Central Germany's coal-region structural transformation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Delitzsch

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Institutional Funding: The CTC is funded by institutional government grants from three tiers: the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) covering 90% of costs, the Free State of Saxony covering 7%, and the State of Saxony-Anhalt covering 3%. Total funding of EUR 1.2 billion is available until 2038 for the establishment and operation of the center. This is not a commercial revenue model but rather multi-tier government sponsorship based on the Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen (Structural Strengthening Act for Coal Regions).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CTC is a non-profit large-scale research center that conducts mission-driven circular chemistry research across five thematic areas, delivered through two flagship moonshot programs (the Fully Recyclable Car and the Autonomous Laboratory), supported by open-source digital laboratory infrastructure (Chemotion ELN/LIMS), up to 40 independent research groups in the Talentschmiede, and seven operational pilot projects. Outputs are distributed via open-access publications, technology transfer to industry through spin-offs and licensing, and the Academy for Chemistry Transformation (ACT) education programs.

Product overview

CTC is Germany's first large-scale research center dedicated to circular chemistry, established in 2025 as a nonprofit limited liability company (gGmbH). Rather than a commercial product company, CTC operates as a research institution with multiple interconnected offerings: (1) Chemotion ELN/LIMS - an open-source digital laboratory infrastructure that CTC uses as its foundational platform and actively contributes to developing; (2) The Talentschmiede (Talent Foundry) - an innovation hub supporting up to 40 independent research groups; (3) The Akademie für Chemie-Transformation (ACT) - an education division providing training from school students through postdoctoral researchers; and (4) Two visionary moonshot research programs - the autonomous laboratory and the fully recyclable car. CTC's research is structured around five thematic areas: Automation and Standardization, Data-Driven Chemistry, Renewable Feedstocks, Recycling, and Societal/Environmental/Economic Metrics. Seven pilot projects currently operational demonstrate concrete applications in areas such as digital lab orchestration, rare earth recycling, sustainable surfactants, and predictive environmental assessment. The center aims to grow to 1,000 employees by 2038.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chemotion ELN/LIMS Digital Laboratory Infrastructure Open-source electronic laboratory notebook with integrated Laboratory Information Management System functions, developed within the NFDI4Chem initiative at KIT. CTC uses Chemotion as its foundational digital laboratory infrastructure and is actively contributing to community development, including polymer-specific extensions.
• Autonomous Laboratory Moonshot Program Visionary research program aimed at creating a fully digitalized, intelligent laboratory system that uses automation, continuous synthesis technologies, and AI to independently plan, execute, and optimize chemical experiments. Sold to the research community through publications and partnerships.
• Fully Recyclable Car Moonshot Program Visionary research program developing materials and processes to fully close the material loop for automobiles — including rare earth elements in batteries, adhesives, lubricants, and plastics — following Design-to-Recycle principles for non-fossil origin, biodegradability where possible, and industrial-scale economic production.
• Talentschmiede (Talent Foundry) Research Groups Innovation hub offering up to 40 independent junior research groups developing novel approaches in automation, data-driven chemistry, and sustainable technologies, cultivating groundbreaking research and supporting entrepreneurial scientists.
• Academy for Chemistry Transformation (ACT) Education Programs CTC's dedicated education department providing qualification programs for school students, vocational trainees, doctoral researchers, and junior scientists across the Central German region, including the Sciencepreneurship program, graduate training combining research with entrepreneurial thinking, and chemistry lab technician apprenticeships.
• Pilot Projects Program (Seven Active Research Pilots) Seven operational pilot projects demonstrating concrete applications: (1) Orchestration and digital twins of laboratory processes; (2) Database for rare earth element solvent extraction; (3) Computational design of lignocellulose-based surfactants; (4) Chemotion ELN extension for polymers; (5) Recyclable molded fiber materials; (6) Lignin chemistry database; and (7) Predictive LCA model for environmental impact analysis.
• Technology Transfer and Spin-off Incubation Technology transfer services including spin-off incubation (e.g., aevoloop GmbH for sustainable recyclable plastics), joint ventures with industry, technology licensing, and Sciencepreneurship support through partnerships with HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.
• Transforming Chemistry Summit 2026 Conference Flagship international scientific conference organized by CTC bringing together approximately 200 researchers across the five thematic areas, with approximately 40 lectures and 5 plenary talks, held in Leipzig.

Quantifiable outcome

• EUR 1.2 billion in committed funding through 2038 from federal and state governments (90% federal, 7% Saxony, 3% Saxony-Anhalt)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hochschule MerseburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Hochschule Merseburg is a key regional partner hosting one of the CTC's two permanent locations. The inaugural meeting of the CTC Supervisory Board was held at the Hochschule Merseburg, and the institution collaborates with the CTC on student labs, citizen dialogues, and educational programs. The CTC conducted its first Merseburg citizen dialogue at the Hochschule Merseburg in March 2026, attracting over 70 guests.
• HHL Leipzig Graduate School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and CTC have a formal cooperation agreement to bridge natural science research and entrepreneurship in the Central German region. The partnership focuses on four pillars: education and training, interactive exchange formats, start-up support, and strategic use of intellectual property. Activities include mutual teaching contributions, joint courses and workshops, practice-oriented theses, lunch talks, micro-workshops, interdisciplinary matchmaking, and early-stage idea advisory. A highlight is the Sciencepreneurship program aimed at PhD candidates, postdocs, and junior group leaders. The collaboration was already live with CTC's participation in HHL Entrepreneurship Week 2026, where CTC researchers presented their work.
• Universität LeipzigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026The CTC and Universität Leipzig signed a cooperation agreement for intensive collaboration in research and teaching. The partnership's first joint initiative is a shared professorship for Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of Universität Leipzig. The partnership aims to leverage both institutions' strengths in chemistry, with teaching activities such as a 'Sustainable Systems in Chemistry' lecture series starting in Winter Semester 2025/26. The agreement represents the formalization of ongoing academic collaboration.
• Universitäten Oxford und YorkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025The CTC is an official partner in joint doctoral projects with the universities of Oxford and York in the CSHP CDT (Centres for Doctoral Training) program. This partnership extends CTC's research network internationally and provides opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage with world-leading UK chemistry departments while benefiting from CTC's research infrastructure and industrial connections.
• aevoloop GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025aevoloop is a CTC spin-off founded by Dr. Manuel Häußler (CTC group leader, also serves as CSO & Co-Founder of aevoloop) and Philipp Keßler (CEO & Co-Founder). The company develops sustainable, fully recyclable plastics based on CTC research into polyethylene-like materials from renewable sources. aevoloop relocated from Konstanz to Leipzig with 11 employees to collaborate with the CTC, representing the CTC's first settlement and spin-off success. The company was supported by SPRIND and has raised EUR 8.25 million in funding. It exemplifies the CTC's Sciencepreneurship philosophy.
• Netzwerk Grüne Chemie Ost (Green Chemistry East Network)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025Six leading institutions from science, innovation, and transfer in Eastern Germany signed a joint declaration of intent to launch a new Green Chemistry East Network on May 15, 2025. The CTC is one of the founding members, collaborating with other regional leaders to accelerate sustainable chemistry innovation and knowledge sharing across Eastern Germany.
• Beilstein-Institut, InChI Trust, IUPAC WorldFAIR Chemistry Project, NFDI4ChemcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 April 2025The CTC co-hosted the DigSustain2 workshop (April 3-5, 2025, Delitzsch) with these leading international organizations to promote sustainability of digital data standards in chemical sciences. This collaboration positions the CTC as a leader in digital standards for chemistry and drives FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices across the global chemistry research community.
• Chemiepark LeunaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2024The Chemiepark Leuna and surrounding companies provide a rich industrial ecosystem for the CTC's Merseburg location in Saxony-Anhalt. CTC maintained temporary offices in the Leunawerke main building from January 2024 to early 2026, enabling close proximity to industrial partners and research institutions in the chemical park. The connection remains active as the CTC transitions to its own Merseburg facility.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) / NFDI4ChemcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024The CTC uses Chemotion, an open-source ELN/LIMS system primarily developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) within the NFDI4Chem initiative funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The CTC has been actively contributing to Chemotion's development since 2024, particularly in areas of chemicals management, laboratory processes, regulatory requirements, and procurement/inventory system interfaces. The system is also used by international partners including NTU Singapore's SCCB project.
• Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung (MPIKG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The CTC operated under the umbrella of the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces (MPIKG) in Potsdam for its initial three-year build-up phase (2023-2025). Many CTC scientists, including Prof. Seeberger, hold positions at MPIKG. Research groups (e.g., 'Zirkuläre nachhaltige Polymere') are jointly operated at CTC and MPIKG. This relationship gave the CTC access to MPIKG's infrastructure, reputation, and scientific networks during its formative period.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Covestro AG: Major German polymer and materials science company working on circular economy solutions, alternative feedstocks, and recycling technologies. Comparable in target space (circular polymers, alternative feedstocks) but operating as a commercial enterprise.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes spanning multiple disciplines. Comparable as a German government-funded applied research enterprise with industry partnerships, though broader in scope than CTC's circular chemistry focus.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon: Large-scale German research center under the Helmholtz Association. Comparable as a government-funded large-scale research institution with industrial partnerships and regional structural-change mandate, though focused on materials and coastal research rather than chemistry.
• BASF SE Research & Development: World's largest chemical company with extensive R&D in circular chemistry, renewable feedstocks, and polymer recycling. Comparable as a major actor in the same circular chemistry space, though driven by commercial returns rather than mission-oriented funding.

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP): German applied research institute focused on polymer research and development. Directly comparable as a German research center working on polymers, circular materials, and industrial applications, though operating under the Fraunhofer model rather than government grant funding.
• Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ): Spain's leading chemistry research center, focused on sustainable chemistry, catalysis, and renewable feedstocks. Comparable mission and scale to CTC as a dedicated chemistry research center addressing sustainability challenges.
• Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung (MPIKG): Max Planck Institute that housed CTC during its 2023-2025 build-up phase. Many CTC scientists (including Peter Seeberger) maintain dual roles. Directly comparable as a fundamental chemistry and colloid research institution.

Emerging players

• aevoloop GmbH: CTC spin-off developing fully recyclable plastics based on CTC research. Directly comparable as a chemistry startup commercializing closed-loop polymer technology, though much earlier-stage than CTC.

Others

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy organization. Comparable as an ecosystem player advancing circular chemistry principles, though focused on thought leadership and partnerships rather than direct R&D.
• SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen: German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations supporting high-risk, high-impact research. Comparable as a German public-sector innovation funding mechanism and a CTC ecosystem partner (via aevoloop funding).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ctc-germany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC)