Moonshot Fund (EN)

Presentations not public

The discussion focused primarily on the financing and development of the green chemistry sector in the Netherlands. It was noted that while sufficient funding is available for early-stage innovation, a so-called funding gap exists for companies aiming for commercial scale-up. Despite the availability of public funds, many green chemistry companies struggle to attract private capital, largely due to high risks and long payback periods.

Participants called for better coordination and transparency in policy and regulation to help young companies secure the necessary resources. The importance of a central investment structure or fund was also emphasized, which could serve as a bridging instrument focused on scaling technologies to the point of commercial deployment.

The discussion highlighted the need to combine different financing instruments, including subsidies, debt, and equity. Challenges related to regulation and market demand were acknowledged, along with the role of established companies and the need for creativity in financing innovative projects.

The speakers stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors and the need for a clear strategy for the development of the chemical industry. The conversation concluded with a call to action and the expectation that such investment structures will be essential for the future of sustainable chemistry in the Netherlands.

Transition Finance Network, commissioned by GCNE, conducted a study on unlocking risk capital for scaling up green chemistry (= plastics, biobased feedstocks, and CCU).

One of the recommendations concerns a dedicated fund for green chemistry. During this session, we will address the following questions:

• What should be the investment focus of the fund?

• How large should the fund be to get started?

• What lessons can we learn from other countries?

• How should the fund be structured?

• What's next?