Stuttgart, October 15, 2025
Stuttgart Innovation Award Recognizes Innovation and Impact
Cyclize has been awarded the Stuttgart Innovation Award for its approach to making carbon circular and reducing CO₂ emissions in the chemical industry. The start-up was recognised for its work in the category “Sustainability & Social Impact”, standing out among a strong field of competing innovations. The awards, handed out in four categories, were presented during a formal gala event in Stuttgart by Dr Frank Nopper, Mayor of Stuttgart, Prof. Klaus-Olaf von Klitzing, Nobel Prize laureate, Dr Ulf Merbold, astronaut, and Edith Wolf, Member of the Executive Board of the Vector Foundation. The Stuttgart Innovation Award is endowed with EUR 25,000 per category and honours solutions that combine technological innovation with societal relevance.
Circular Carbon Through Chemical Recycling
Founded by Maike Lambarth, Dominik Novakovic, Jan Stein and Dr. Stephan Renninger, all alumni of the University of Stuttgart, Cyclize has been operating as a start-up since 2022 and has been incorporated in 2023. The company’s goal is to enable a circular carbon economy by replacing fossil feedstocks with carbon derived from waste.
Cyclize achieves this through a plasma-based chemical recycling technology that converts waste streams which cannot be mechanically recycled into synthesis gas. This gas can be used as a feedstock by the chemical industry, helping to reduce reliance on fossil resources and lower CO₂ emissions. With this approach, Cyclize contributes to the defossilisation of chemical value chains while keeping carbon in productive use.
The Stuttgart Innovation Award honours innovative projects that combine technological excellence with social and environmental impact. Cyclize’s selection reflects the growing importance of circular solutions for carbon-intensive industries and highlights the role of start-ups in driving industrial transformation.
From Research to Industrial Application
Cyclize’s technology originated from research at the University of Stuttgart and represents a successful example of transferring scientific innovation into entrepreneurial application. The Stuttgart Innovation Award recognises not only the technological maturity of the approach but also the entrepreneurial commitment required to bring such solutions closer to industrial deployment.
Building on this recognition, Cyclize continues to focus on scaling its technology through pilot and demonstration projects in collaboration with industrial partners. The company’s goal is to enable climate-compatible chemical production while maintaining competitiveness and creating long-term value for industry and society.
About Stuttgart Innovation Award
The Stuttgart Innovation Award is presented by the state capital of Stuttgart in recognition of outstanding innovative achievements. A jury of experts reviews all applications and nominates the best submissions. The award recognizes the importance of innovation for the development of the business location. The prizes are awarded in four categories and are endowed with 25,000 euros each.
Copyright of photo: Ludmilla Parysak for Stadt Stuttgart
