EriCa Reactor accelerator program

EriCa Reactor program runs in cohorts, with each cohort dedicated to a theme.

💧 Ensuring clean water

♻️ Enabling circularity and material recovery

🌱 Replacing fossil-based raw materials

🤖 Advancing industry digitalization

• Hands-on mentoring, guidance and insights from industry experts, investors, and business developers on go-to-market, customer acquisition, scaling-up and distribution, fundraising and technology development
• Opportunities to work alongside leading industry R&D teams, gaining feedback and insights to strengthen and validate your technology
• Gaining customer understanding and insights across different industries.
• Understanding of what scaling to global markets requires, with market knowledge, experience and networks
• Peer-learning with fellow participants and curated matchmaking across the wider EriCa ecosystem
• Full EriCa Green Chemistry Park membership, including 24/7 access to coworking and lab facilities in Espoo, Finland

Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. At the heart of EriCa is the social capital, the trust, shared knowledge, and open doors that are built when talented people come together. Our community-driven approach ensures you are a valued member of a network of experts, peers, and mentors who are invested in your success.

You can participate onsite or hybrid.

You will experience:

• Peer-learning with fellow founders: Share challenges and celebrate wins with a curated cohort of like-minded innovators tackling similar global issues.
• Curated matchmaking: Get introduced to the right people from industry experts, potential investors to business developers, who can help you move forward.
• A high-trust environment: A culture built on respect and openness, where candid feedback and real collaboration help you grow faster

The global demand for fiber-based packaging continues to grow. Mitigating climate impact and resource scarcity requires a transition toward circular material use, reduced reliance on virgin raw materials, and the replacement of single-use plastics with sustainable, recyclable packaging and fiber-based solutions.

We invite startups, scaleups, and spinoffs developing high-impact solutions in renewable packaging, advanced functionality and end-product properties, improved recyclability, and product performance to apply for the second EriCa Reactor cohort.

We also welcome digital and AI-driven innovations that improve process efficiency, product performance, and enable efficient technologies, chemical solutions, and innovative business models.

• Offer differentiated, market-shaping solutions in fiber-based packaging and related materials
• Have scalable technologies with initial technical validation and a credible business model (TRL ≥ 4)
• See clear value in collaboration with a global industry partner
• Are targeting international growth and market expansion
• Are driven by a committed, ambitious, and capable team
• Have secured initial funding or other external support 

Applications are welcome from startups and university or industry spinoffs worldwide.

Apply by October 25

November: Selection interviews and team selection announcements

December: Team onboarding

January 11–13, 2027: Program Kickoff (2-day, onsite in Espoo, Finland)

January–May 2027: Workshops, coaching, and mentoring; membership at EriCa Green Chemistry Park begins

May–June 2027: Demo Day (onsite in Espoo, Finland) and offboarding

The first EriCa Reactor cohort focused on solutions for clean water and sustainable water management.

Breakthrough technologies, chemical solutions and digital tools for water treatment, purification and responsible water use were sought globally. Selected 7 teams from 5 countries were supported in validating their solutions, exploring industrial use cases and preparing for scaling with Kemira’s expertise in water-intensive processes.

• ​Anferra, Sweden
• ​CAAMA / University of Oulu, Finland
• ​Countertrace, USA
• ​NPHarvest, Finland
• ​P-Agro Minerals, Latvia
• ​Spectromarine, Netherlands / Latvia
• ​Wellmatix, South Korea

Teams are on the stage at Demo Day on August 20 (click for more)