Press release
North America
May 15, 2015

Evonik Issues Second National Competition for College Students

Company Seeks Ideas to Shape the Future with Memory Polymers

Specialty chemical company Evonik Corporation has launched its second competition for college students this year to generate ideas and creative solutions that could help the company solve problems or explore opportunities.

“Based on the success of our first competition, we are again providing students across the country with an opportunity to work on a real-life problem,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, vice president and regional head of corporate innovation strategy & management at Evonik Corporation. “Utilizing such a program to engage students is at the very heart of innovation – finding novel ways to reach a solution.”

Evonik’s latest competition involves Shape Memory Polymer, and the company is asking students to provide an innovative idea or application that will use the material in a consumer or industrial setting. Shape Memory Polymer materials can be mechanically stretched or re-formed to several times its original size at ambient temperatures, then heated and have it return to its original forms within 99+% accuracy.

This rubber can be extruded or molded into various forms – monofilaments (think guitar strings), woven multifilaments (think fibers for apparel or as large as woven rope), extruded sheet stock (up to 8-feet wide with any length), or injection-molded parts (any geometry).

The competition is operated by MindSumo, a San Francisco, Calif.-based firm that connects students with companies. The challenges are offered to students at more than 400 universities, with a particular focus on science and engineering fields. A cash prize is offered to the winners. The current Evonik challenge is open through June 3, 2015.

Visit the MindSumo site to learn more or register for the Evonik challenge.

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Company information

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2014 more than 33,000 employees generated sales of around €12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €1.9 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.