RESEARCH PROJECT • BERLIN
Digital catalysis for
a sustainable future.
ASCEND combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and self-driving laboratories to make the production of sustainable fuels and chemicals from green hydrogen and CO₂ scalable.
0
Years duration
0
Project partners
0%
Digitized
catalysis.
Berlin location
The challenge
Climate neutrality requires scalability.
The chemical industry generates about 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the EU’s annual output. Most come from fossil-fuel-based electricity and the production of plastics, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.
Catalysts are key to the solution: around 80% of chemical products rely on a catalytic step. Innovations in catalysis are essential for scalable, climate-neutral production by 2050.
The approach
Fully digital workflows.
ASCEND brings together two breakthrough approaches: digital catalysis and thin-film catalyst technologies. Digital catalysis uses artificial intelligence (AI), simulations, and automated self-driving laboratories (SDLs) to speed up the discovery of high-performance materials, while thin-film processing reduces material use and improves efficiency.
- Accelerated discovery
Significantly faster identification of new catalysts. - Industrial scalability
Direct transfer of results into industrial applications.
Research & Technology
ALL RESEARCH AREASDigital catalysis
Combines AI and computer simulations to model chemical reactions and catalyst behavior. Reduces lab work and speeds up discovery.
Self-Driving Labs
Automated experimental setups where AI plans, executes, and learns from experiments. They can test catalyst variations in a fraction of the time it would take manually.
Thin-Film Catalysts
Catalysts applied as ultra-thin layers to maximize atom economy. They have higher surface area for reactions and improved efficiency.
Collaboration
Our consortium
News & Updates
ALL NEWS
Net zero 2050 as a clear goal.
ASCEND’s vision goes beyond fundamental research. We are developing the technological blueprint for the power-to-X industry of the future. By scaling our results, we make a direct contribution to European energy resilience and global climate protection.
Blueprint for power-to-X
Standardization of digital workflows for industry.
Industrial scalability
Fast transfer from laboratory scale to application.
Long-term relevance
Creating the methodological foundation for the chemistry of the future.
Collaborate with us
Information for industry partners and research institutions on synergies and data use.
Collaboration detailsPress & Media
Press releases, visual assets, and contact persons for media inquiries.
To the press areaSocial updates
LinkedIn-Feed
Current insights from the project, event highlights, and short updates on research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer.
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