Global coatings company AkzoNobel has officially kicked off the Paint the Future startup challenge in China. The annual event invited startups to “put forward their pioneering solutions to accelerate innovation in the paints and coatings industry.”

“We can’t wait to see what brilliant ideas and solutions this collaborative innovation ecosystem will bring to the paints and coatings industry,” says Mark Kwok, AkzoNobel’s President of China/North Asia and Business Director for Decorative Paints China/North Asia.

“We look forward to creating more value with startups by offering more sustainable, cutting-edge products and services to our customers.”

Startups in China are now able to register and submit their solutions for the challenge, which is run in partnership with Plug and Play China. Final winners will get the opportunity to collaborate with AkzoNobel.

The challenge focuses on three areas, including:

• Digital Customer Experience - Looking for new technologies and digital solutions that can help AkzoNobel improve the way customers experience its products and services and ensure more consistent results with less time and effort during the entire paint process. This includes picking the right paint and application methods, connecting with the right painting professionals and successfully completing the paint job.
• Zero Waste - Seeking sustainable and cost-effective solutions that are not only about the recycling of paints and coatings, but also about the consciousness to minimize waste and maximize the potential of materials across the whole value chain, minimizing the impact to our planet.
• Smart Supply Chain - Interested in end-to-end supply chain solutions, spanning customer/consumers, delivery, planning, manufacturing and suppliers, that can help us accelerate the building of a strategic, integrated, customer-driven and smart supply chain to better service our customers in China and achieve operational excellence.

The deadline for submissions is May 15 and selected finalists will participate in an accelerator event in August.

Previous Winners

In July 2020, AkzoNobel announced that agreed to partnerships with five companies that were a part of the inaugural Paint the Future, which was held in 2019.

Details on those collaborations included:

• Lonza Microbial Solutions – a real-time microbial detection method. This new technology can obtain data that will help assess the quality of raw materials and respond to any deviations in production lines.
• IGM Resins – instant-drying hybrid decorative paints. This partnership is focused on developing paint for professionals that dries significantly faster. Typical applications will include doors and window frames.
• ICL Group – safe and stable paint formulations. This is a response to an increase in concerns and regulatory pressure around allergens and toxic materials.
• Smart Materials – self-healing coatings. Developing coatings that recover from scratches at room temperature, which will help to protect the surface and retain the coating’s glossy appearance.
• Wagner Painting – zero overspray application equipment. Developing an intelligent and adaptable industrial spray equipment concept, known as “SpraySavvy,” which aims for zero overspray and less waste.

In March of that same year, the company released an update on its partnership with the winner, Apellix, a Jacksonville, Florida, startup.

The duo is reportedly collaborating on a computer-controlled spray-painting drone, which uses “unique software flight control” that the companies say can more accurately apply coatings and capture painting data.

Apellix’s custom-built drone is tethered to the ground for its power and coating supply, however, its flies autonomously, according to AkzoNobel. The drone uses “unique software flight control,” which the companies say can more accurately apply coatings and capture painting data. The application aims for benefits such as reduced application time and less waste, as well as increases safety.