Innovation Monday at K 2025: Spotlight on start-ups and young researchers
Frankfurt am Main/Düsseldorf, 30 September 2025 – On 13 October, Innovation Monday will be the sixth theme day of K 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. The focus will be on the innovative strength of the plastics sector. On the stage of the special show Plastics Shape the Future (Hall 6 / C40), start-ups will present fresh ideas, young researchers will be honoured, and a high-level panel will discuss the role of innovation for the industry’s competitiveness.
Start-up Pitch: 12 ideas for defossilising the plastics industry
The day will open with a start-up pitch at the Plastics Europe stand (Hall 6 / C40, 10:40–13:40 CEST). Twelve young companies will demonstrate how their technologies can help reduce Scope 3 emissions in the plastics industry – by cutting or replacing the use of oil and gas along the value chain. Each start-up will have five minutes to present and three minutes for questions from the audience. The session will be moderated by Martin Bellof, Project Lead Ventures & Partnering at chemstars. Following the pitch sessions, Plastics Europe will host networking and speed-dating opportunities at the RecycleBAR, the café area of the exhibition stand, where start-ups can engage with potential customers and venture capital representatives.
WAK Award Ceremony: Research in the spotlight
In the early afternoon, the WAK Awards will be presented on the main stage of Plastics Shape the Future (Hall 6 / C40, 13:40–14:40 CEST). Each year, the Scientific Working Group on Plastics Technology (WAK) honors outstanding master’s theses and doctoral dissertations in the field of plastics engineering.
The awards include:
- Brose Award: new processes and techniques in plastics processing
- Ensinger Award: development of technical plastics for innovative applications
- Oechsler Award: approaches to the design and development of plastic components
- Röchling Award: processes and material issues in plastics recycling
Award winners are selected by an independent jury based on nominations from professors of plastics engineering at German universities. The ceremony will be moderated by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elmar Moritzer (University of Paderborn, KTP).
Panel: Innovation as a Driver for Transformation
The day will conclude with a panel of leading industry representatives and scientists discussing the role of innovation in shaping the plastics industry (Hall 6 / C40, 15:00–16:00 CEST). The debate will focus on the latest technologies showcased at K, which create efficiency and growth while strengthening environmental responsibility and advancing circularity.
Panel participants:
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann, Director, IKV, RWTH Aachen
- Gert Callaerts, Packaging Innovation Coordinator, Bayer Crop Science
- Dr. Montgomery Jaritz, CEO, IonKraft
- Dr. Jens Eichler, Hydrogen Technology & Business Architect, 3M
- Marc Fette, CEO, CTC GmbH – An Airbus Company
Program overview – Innovation Monday (13. October 2025, Hall 6 / C40)
| Date & Time | Speaker/Host* |
|---|---|
| Mon, 10:30 – 10:40 (CEST) | Keynote: On Startup Ecosystems Speaker/Host*: |
| Mon, 10:40 – 11:40 (CEST) | Pitch Session I – „Newcomer„ Presentation of 6 startups (10 minutes each) Speaker/Host:*Martin Bellof*, Lead Ventures & Partnering (chemstars) |
| Mon, 11:40 – 12:40 (CEST) | Coffee Break: with networking in the Coffee Area Speaker/Host:* |
| Mon, 12:40 – 13:40 (CEST) | Pitch Session II – „Big Fish“ Presentation of 6 startups (10 minutes each) Speaker/Host*:Martin Bellof*, Lead Ventures & Partnering (chemstars) |
| Mon, 13:40 – 14:40 (CEST) | Coffee Break: with networking in the Coffee Area Speaker/Host: |
| Mon, 13:40 – 14:40 (CEST) | WAK Award Ceremony (GER): Scientific Alliance of Plastics Technology (on the main stage) Speaker/Host*: |
| Mon, 15:00 – 16:00 (CEST) | Panel Discussion: on Innovation Speaker/Host*: |
| Mon, 16:30 – 17:00 (CEST) | Expert Talk: Decarbonization & Standard evolution: Carbon accounting and Product Carbon Footprints Speaker/Host* |
The full programme of the special show is available here: https://plasticseurope.org/de/plastics-shape-the-future-k-2025/
About K 2025
K 2025 will take place from 8 to 15 October 2025 at Messe Düsseldorf and is regarded as the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. More than 200,000 visitors from around 160 countries are expected.
Press photos of K 2025 and the special show Plastics Shape the Future are available for free download here: https://plasticseurope.org/de/pressemitteilungen/
About Plastics Europe Deutschland
PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. is the association of plastics producers in Germany. The association is a trade association of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and part of the European network Plastics Europe, with representation in Brussels and the European economic centers and capitals.
Your contact at Plastics Europe Deutschland
Bettina Dempewolf
Head of Communications
+49 171 9713962
bettina.dempewolf@plasticseurope.de
Including press photos of the K 2025 special show “Plastics Shape the Future”