Five companies have embarked on an innovation journey with AkzoNobel after their ideas were selected as part of the company’s Paint the Future supplier collaboration program. Agreements are now in place with the five successful participants following the inaugural event held last November, which subsequently led to 115 submissions. The ideas that AkzoNobel thinks will create the most value were submitted by:

• Lonza Microbial Solutions (Switzerland)—a real-time microbial detection method
• IGM Resins (the Netherlands)—instant-drying hybrid decorative paints
• ICL Group (Israel)—safe and stable paint formulations
• Croda Smart Materials (UK)—self-healing coatings
• Wagner Painting (Germany)—zero overspray application equipment

“Staging the event revealed so many insights into the industry and I really appreciate the unique way we all teamed up to define our industry challenges,” said Klaas Kruithof, AkzoNobel’s chief technology officer. “Following the event, our suppliers delivered a wide variety of intriguing solutions and we’re looking forward to working together and further developing the selected five ideas, which are very exciting and fit perfectly with our collaborative mindset.”

“I’m absolutely delighted to see Lonza being recognized for its innovation and expertise,” said David Ashton, head of Global Marketing at Lonza Microbial Solutions. “Being selected from such a vast number of enterprising projects is a great honor. We’re very much looking forward to this collaboration.”

Launched in 2019, Paint the Future is AkzoNobel’s global collaborative innovation challenge. Initially open to startups, it was quickly expanded to embrace academia, research institutes, and a first group of suppliers, with a view to gradually strengthening the collaboration program. The initiative is focused on establishing an innovation ecosystem to help accelerate, test, launch, and scale ideas and solutions for the paints and coatings industry.

For more information, visit www.letspaintthefuture.com and www.akzonobel.com.