AMSTERDAM — Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) has been recognized by European startups for its collaboration efforts under the Imagine Chemistry innovation program.

The European Commission’s Startup Europe Partnership (SEP) initiative nominated the most active corporate firms in open innovation. The “SEP Europe’s Corporate Startup Stars 2018” lauded 36 companies; Nouryon was the only chemical firm in the ranking.

 “At Nouryon, we recognize that much of the world’s innovation capability is outside our company. We want to tap into that potential and to see where we can work as equal partner and turn innovative ideas into reality,” said Peter Nieuwenhuizen, the company’s Chief Technology Officer.

“We invest in collaborative innovation to drive growth and create sustainable solutions for our customers. One of the key ways that we execute this is via our Imagine Chemistry program, which we launched in 2017. We are therefore proud to be recognized for how we work with startups to solve specific problems — be it something our customers or we ourselves have identified — through the challenge-based approach of Imagine Chemistry.”

The “SEP Europe’s Corporate Startup Stars 2018” ranking was produced by open innovation advisory firm Mind the Bridge and innovation foundation Nesta.