Milestone for Europe’s cleantech ecosystem: Ecolyte GmbH, a deep tech pioneer and spin-off of Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), has been awarded the European Commission’s Innovation Radar Prize 2025 in the “Climate, Energy & Mobility” category. The award ceremony took place today at the AI Hub of Unicorn Factory Lisboa – parallel to the Web Summit Investor Day. Organized in partnership with Dealflow.eu and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, the event brought together leading innovators, investors, companies, and ecosystem leaders from across Europe.
The award recognizes technological excellence and social impact – two qualities that Ecolyte combines in an exceptional way. IonLeaf technology replaces environmentally harmful PFAS membranes, long considered the industry standard, with a bio-based and fully recyclable alternative. The result: a membrane that can be produced up to 90% more cost-effectively, consists of over 98% biodegradable materials, and is manufactured entirely in Europe.
Where technology meets responsibility
Ecolyte’s success is based on a simple but groundbreaking idea: paper as a substrate for ion-conducting membranes. A proprietary process is used to modify paper fibers with polyionic liquids. This creates a high-performance, flexible, and sustainable material that can be used across a range of industries—from redox flow batteries and electrolysers to sophisticated water treatment systems.
A signal for Europe’s green tech future
By winning the Innovation Radar Prize 2025 in the “Climate, Energy & Mobility” category, Ecolyte is sending a strong signal to politics, industry, and research: sustainable high-tech solutions “Made in Europe” are globally competitive. As PFAS-based materials are increasingly regulated due to their environmental impact, Ecolyte’s IonLeaf membrane offers a future-proof, sustainable alternative. The company is already working with leading industry partners to integrate the technology into existing energy systems.
From research laboratory to industrial scaling
What began as a research project at Graz University of Technology has developed into one of Europe’s most promising deep tech success stories. After several EU-funded projects (including EIC Pathfinder) and initial commercial pilot applications, Ecolyte is now preparing for scaling. By 2028, the company aims to increase production capacity to 10,000 square meters+ per week – a decisive step towards large-scale production and international expansion.
About Ecolyte GmbH
Founded in 2022 and based in Graz, Austria, Ecolyte GmbH develops organic redox flow batteries as well as sustainable membrane technologies for energy storage, water treatment, and industrial applications. Its patented IonLeaf technology offers an environmentally friendly, scalable alternative to PFAS-based materials, thereby making a direct contribution to Europe’s sustainable energy future. More at https://ecolyte.at
Questions & contact
Ecolyte GmbH
Kevin Spirk
Phone: +39 338 2613378
[Source: OTS, Press Release, Ecolyte on 11/11/2025]