Polyethylene Catalyst Evaluation and Industry Intelligence Platforms

OVERVIEW

Shanghai Leader Catalyst Co., Ltd, the Seeker for this Innocentive Challenge and a leading provider of high-performance catalysts, is seeking cutting-edge insights and partners to support the future of polyethylene catalyst development.

This dual-track Scouting Challenge invites proposals in two strategic focus areas:

1. Pilot-scale polymerization evaluation platform for assessing polyethylene catalyst systems, and
2. An Industry Intelligence solution that aggregates, analyses, and delivers valuable insights into global polyethylene and catalyst commercialization

For the evaluation platform, Shanghai Leader requires solutions able of simulating industrial conditions, with continuous polymerization capability exceeding 25 kilograms per hour (kg/h). The system must support gas-phase, loop slurry, and CSTR slurry polymerization processes. Evaluations must cover catalyst performance, operating parameters, and resin properties to qualify catalysts for scale-up and industrialization.

Simultaneously, Shanghai Leader are also investigating digital platforms or data services that can deliver timely, accurate, and global industry intelligence on polyethylene production and catalyst technologies – including the latest on commercial developments, new patents, regulation changes, and competitive activity.

This Scouting Challenge offers a collaboration opportunity with Shanghai Leader Catalyst Co., Ltd. Selected or shortlisted applicants will be invited to demonstrate, trial, or co-develop their platform/services/technologies with Shanghai Leader. There may be further commercial discussions with promising or awarded Solvers, with any contract to be negotiated with Shanghai Leader directly.

Submissions should align with one or both tracks of the Challenge. Respondents may propose an evaluation platform, an intelligence platform, or both – so long as they are commercially-viable and meet the solution requirements of Shanghai Leader.

This is a Scouting Challenge seeking a partner or supplier to provide systems or expertise to solve Shanghai Leader’s business challenge; the Solver is invited to submit a written proposal to be evaluated by Shanghai Leader with the goal of establishing a collaborative partnership.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on January 19, 2025.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

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ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Established in January 2001, Shanghai Leader Catalyst Co., Ltd. is a joint venture with  Sinopec Group (60% equity) and the Shanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry (40% equity) specializing in gas-phase process PE catalyst development, manufacturing, and supply. Shanghai Leader stands a leadership position of PE catalysts in China, owns strong capabilities in technology innovation, R&D, preparation, mass production, extensive technical supportand global supply.
Since its establishment at 2001, after 25 year's developmemt and business expansion, now the annual production capacity exceeding 1,400 MT, catalysts currently supplying to more than 20 countries and regions. 
SLC has a broad product series covers the main PE processes, particularly for gas-phase fluidization process, including:
•Univation Unipol PE process
•Ineos (BP) Innovene G PE process
•ST (Sinopec Technology) GPE process
•Borealis Borstar PE process 
•Basell Spherilene C, Luptech G processes

As the industry leader in China, SLC continuously focuses on innovation, optimization, and expansion, dedicated to creating superior value and driving progress for the PE industry.

Employees of Shanghai Leader Catalyst Co., Ltd. and the Sinopec Catalyst Group are ineligible to be considered for this Challenge.

THE CHALLENGE

Background

The growing, global polyethylene market – driven by increased demand in packaging, construction, and automotive sectors – requires innovation and advancement to meet the greater demand and evolving environmental regulations.

Catalyst systems (especially Ziegler-Natta, chromium-based, and metallocene catalysts) must be continuously refined and evaluated under near-industrial conditions. However, catalyst performance at lab scale often does not translate directly to results at full, industrial scale. This gap necessitates pilot-scale evaluation, where catalysts are tested in continuous reactors that simulate (as close as possible) real production environments.

Many research groups and companies are actively building or already using such pilot-scale platforms in advanced polymerization facilities: is yours available for outsourced catalyst testing?

In parallel, companies engaged in catalyst development need increased market intelligence on global trends like competitor growth/advancements, new/expanded patent filings, regulatory changes, and commercially-relevant market activities. This calls for industry intelligence platforms that collect, aggregate, analyze, and interpret data from multiple sources – giving catalyst development companies an up-to-date window on how to guide their R&D activities and commercialization plans.

The Challenge

Shanghai Leader is therefore seeking collaboration proposals and insights into:

• Track 1 Submissions: A pilot-scale platform for evaluation of polyethylene catalysts, and
• Track 2 Submissions: An industry intelligence platform, with insights focused on and relevant to polyethylene and catalyst markets.

In the first track, Solvers are invited to propose an evaluation platform or facility where Shanghai Leader could outsource their catalyst testing at pilot-scale. The platform should simulate industrial processes with flexible polymerization methods (gas-phase, loop slurry, and CSTR slurry), and support evaluation of at least three catalyst types: Ziegler-Natta, chromium-based, and metallocene.

The ideal solution or proposal for this Challenge will detail a solution/platform/facility, able to be used by Shanghai Leader, which offers throughput exceeding 25 kg/hour, is equipped with detailed process controls, and supports accurate analysis and evaluation for catalyst performance.

Solvers may propose operational platforms, facilities available for outsourcing activities from China-based organizations, or systems available for purchase, partnership, or co-development.
 

In the second track, Solvers are invited to propose platforms or services that provide accurate, up-to-date insights on the global polyethylene and catalyst industries. This includes real-time or regularly-updated access to:

• Industrial commercialization data
• Patent landscapes (new, updated, term of patent, and ownership)
• Competitor and organizational activity
• Regulatory landscape and trends

Shanghai Leader welcomes proposals to both tracks from individual Solvers, teams, research groups, start-ups, or mature organizations.

Submissions will be evaluated based on their relevance, technical capability, data quality, and readiness level. Selected Solver applicants will be invited to pitch directly to Shanghai Leader.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

Shanghai Leader is interested in solutions that meet the following requirements:

Must have:

Track 1: Evaluation Platform

1. Continuous polymerization evaluation capability of ≥ 25 kg/hour

2. Support for Ziegler-Natta, chromium-based, and metallocene catalysts (at minimum)

3. Ability to simulate one or more of the following: gas-phase, loop slurry, and CSTR slurry polymerization

4. Raw material purity specifications:

• Ethylene: ≥ 99.95%(v/v) (volume per volume), with CO, CO₂, O₂, H₂O, and NH₃ ≤ 0.1 ppm (parts per million)
• Hexene: ≥ 99.9wt% (percentage by weight), with H₂O ≤ 10 ppm
• Hydrogen: ≥ 95%(v/v), with CO, CO₂, H₂O ≤ 0.1 ppm

If you have specific concerns with meeting any of the above raw material specifications, please register and then message the Challenge Manager, who will put you in touch with Shanghai Leader to discuss alternative analytical methods.

5. Data capture of reaction kinetics, including rate constants and deactivation

Track 2: Industry Intelligence Platform

1. Coverage of polyethylene and catalyst markets
2. Access to commercialization status, competitor activity, and organization search
3. Searchable patent and regulatory databases
4. Ability to visualize market trends over time
5. Demonstrated frequency of updates (real-time or near-real-time).

Nice to have:

1. Track 1: Multi-reactor setups for comparative evaluation of catalysts
2. Track 1: Integration of polymer property testing
3. Track 2: Custom reporting dashboards
4. Track 2: API and integrations available for data export

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 7-9 are invited.

This Scouting Challenge has the following features:

1. Shanghai Leader will evaluate your submission to determine their interest to contact you for further business and collaboration discussions.
2. If further contact is requested, you can negotiate the terms of the contract (including scope of work, tasks and duration) directly with Shanghai Leader.
3. The monetary value of any contract will vary depending on the amount of work to be delivered and the agreed-upon time frame.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual) or Solver (Organization).
2. Participation Track – please select whether you are applying to Track 1 (Polymerization Evaluation Platform for Catalyst Performance), Track 2 (Industry Intelligence Platform), or Both.
3. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
4. Partnering – this is an opportunity to partner. Please confirm you would be able to partner with Shanghai Leader (subject to contract).
5. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
6. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc).
7. Solution Feasibility – Supporting Information and Rationale, such as references and precedents, that will help Shanghai Leader evaluate and validate the feasibility of the solution (up to 500 words).
8. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution.  (up to 500 words).
9. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
10. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words).

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on January 19, 2026.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, Shanghai Leader will review and select the winning ideas/solutions according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Learn more: Find out more about participation in Innocentive Challenges.