Greentown Labs launched Go Make 2026, an open-innovation program developed with Shell Catalysts & Technologies and Technip Energies to support startups working on catalytic and process technologies for industrial decarbonization. Announced in May 2026, the initiative focuses on innovations for low-carbon fuels, low-carbon gases, CO2 removal and alternative chemical manufacturing.
The program selected five startups—Biosimo, Catalyxx, HydGene Renewables, TreaTech and Unifuel—from a global applicant pool spanning 35 countries. Their technologies include catalytic hydrothermal gasification, multifunctional catalysts and modular biocatalyst platforms designed to convert waste biomass and bioethanol into lower-carbon fuels, hydrogen and industrial chemicals. Participants will receive technical validation support, scale-up guidance and opportunities to pursue pilot and demonstration projects with Shell and Technip Energies.
For startups and industrial operators, the program creates a pathway from laboratory-scale chemistry to commercial deployment by combining entrepreneurial innovation with established catalyst and engineering expertise. The initiative reflects growing industry interest in catalysis as a critical tool for reducing emissions across large-scale chemical and energy processes.
Image Credit: Shell Catalysts
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Catalysis-driven Decarbonization
- Emerging catalysts that enable lower-temperature, higher-selectivity reactions create possibilities for replacing carbon-intensive process steps in large-scale chemical and fuel production.
- Modular Biocatalyst Platforms
- Scalable, modular enzyme and biocatalyst systems promise plug-and-play integration with existing plants to convert diverse biomass feedstocks into chemicals and fuels.
- Waste-to-fuel Conversion
- Advanced thermochemical and catalytic processes that transform agricultural and municipal waste into hydrogen, biofuels, and syngas offer routes to decouple fuel supply from fossil feedstocks.
Sectors Adopting This
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Integration of multifunctional catalysts could enable on-site, lower-emission synthesis pathways for commodity chemicals, shifting value chains toward distributed production.
- Energy and Utilities
- Pilot-ready catalytic processes for low-carbon gases and fuels present opportunities to retrofit existing refineries and gas plants to meet decarbonization targets.
- Waste Management and Recycling
- Conversion technologies that upgrade organic waste streams into marketable fuels or chemical intermediates could transform waste facilities into revenue-generating feedstock hubs.
