The application period for the second cohort of EriCa Reactor has officially closed, with around 30 applications received from 15 countries. The strong international interest brings together innovative teams working to advance the future of fiber-based renewable packaging.
“We’re excited and grateful to have received strong applications from innovative teams across the globe. The interest and ambition around the future of fiber-based renewable packaging are truly inspiring,” says Oona Sulkunen EriCa Ecosystem Lead from Crazy Town, the operator of EriCa Green Chemistry Park.
More than an accelerator: From validation to industrial scale
EriCa Reactor is an accelerator program connecting startups and spin off teams with industrial expertise, mentoring and ecosystem partners. The program aims to help promising technologies progress from laboratory validation towards industrial piloting and commercial applications together with industry.
EriCa Reactor first cohort’s and second cohort’s lead industry partner is Kemira, a global leader in sustainable chemistries in water intensive industries and EriCa’s anchor partner. By bringing startups and industry closer together, EriCa Reactor creates opportunities to explore collaboration, validate technologies and accelerate the path from innovation to market. EriCa Reactor offers personal interaction and coaching from Kemira’s technical and commercial experts to each team.
EriCa Reactor connects startups with the wider deep tech ecosystem and offers mentoring from ecosystem partners, including investors to experts in IPR, circular economy, commercialization and B2B market strategy:
Voima Ventures, Pontus Stråhlman
Maki.vc, Paavo Räisänen
Kiilto Ventures, Matti Rönkkö
Stephen Industries, Florencio Campomanes
FinestLove VC, Kustaa Valtonen
MiXi Center, Alisa Mick
Atlan, Enrique Montaño Carranza
Papula-Nevinpat, Ville Kari
UIIN, Balzhan Orazbayeva
Espoon kaupunki – Esbo stad – City of Espoo, Maria Hartikainen
Elina Chung, Miikka Liimatainen, Dr. Henrik Keinonen, Tommi Juhani Uitti
And of course Crazy Town experts Toni Pienonen, Mikko Korpela and Oona Sulkunen.
Selected teams also receive five months of free EriCa membership, including access to coworking and project spaces and the EriCa Shared Labs at EriCa Green Chemistry Park in Espoo.
Cohort 2: Enabling a circular future through fiber-based renewable packaging
The second cohort focuses on solutions that can enable more sustainable, circular packaging. This includes innovations in materials and chemistry, improved end-product performance and recyclability, process efficiency, digital and AI-driven technologies, and new business models.
The program is designed for startups and spin-offs with lab scale validated technologies ready to take the next steps towards industrial-scaling and market entry.
With applications now closed, the next step is to review the applications and identify the teams that will join the second cohort. The second cohort will kick-off officially in January 2027.
Thank you to everyone who applied and shared their innovations with us. Stay tuned to what comes next!
EriCa Reactor is run and operated by Crazy Town, the operator of EriCa Green Chemistry Park