From research to green business ideas - Ecopreneurs at the Green Startup Center Leoben

How does a good idea become a sustainable business? This is precisely where the Green Startup Center Leoben comes into play – a project led by the Centre for Applied Technology (ZAT) Leoben, supporting young people on their path to founding green startups.

Green Startup Center Leoben

As part of the broader Green Startupmark initiative, the project focuses on promoting green innovation in the Upper Styria region. The main goal is to transform scientific insights and creative ideas into viable business models – fully aligned with the European Green Deal.

Spotlight: The Ecopreneurs Programme

A key focus lies on the Ecopreneurs programme, a core component of the Startup Combo. It targets students, researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are eager to turn their sustainable ideas into market-ready business models. Through workshops and coaching sessions, participants develop their first business plans – unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of their academic work.

Here are some of the pioneering Ecopreneurs teams:

🌿 Energy Alps – Developing a gravity-based energy storage system that requires no water, saving space and reducing environmental impact.

🌿 AMPlify Expertise – Advising companies on sustainable solutions in plastics and additive manufacturing.

🌿 Heat Exchanger – Improving heat exchanger efficiency with smart design for better energy use.

🌿 Aeromeds – Using drones to deliver medicines across hospital sites, supporting smarter healthcare logistics.

🌿 Cairos – Producing synthetic natural gas from CO₂ and hydrogen using catalytic methanation – scalable and cost-effective.

🌿 PolyDecypher – Assessing plastics across the supply chain, focusing on recycling and circular economy solutions.

These examples show how today’s Ecopreneurs are already building the economy of tomorrow – innovative, environmentally conscious, and practical.

Supporting Sustainable Founders

Alongside the Startup Combo, the Green Incubees programme supports founders with validated business plans, offering individual mentoring, access to prototype labs, and hands-on guidance toward achieving their proof of concept.

With strong links to the Montanuniversität Leoben and a well-established partner network, the Green Startup Center provides an ideal ecosystem where green startup ideas can take root – and grow.

🌱 Learn more and apply: Ecopreneurs-Programm