Running from March to August 2026, the first cohort of the EriCa Reactor program is focused on Kemira’s core objective: ensuring clean water is accessible to people everywhere. After a successful application period, seven teams were selected in the program; six of them were selected by Kemira and one by Crazy Town. Get to know the teams at the end of this article!

As the lead industry partner, Kemira brings to the program our decades-long knowledge of scaling innovation, industry intelligence, market insights, and R&I expertise. The program is aligned with our strategic priorities and sustainability goals, offering Kemira an opportunity to both find new strategic partnerships and learn from the participating teams.

“Kemira is uniting its chemistry know‑how with cutting‑edge digital innovation to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges – from water resilience to climate action and circularity,” says Sampo Lahtinen, EVP, Research & Innovation. “Through the EriCa Reactor program, we’re accelerating the journey from early‑stage research to new market breakthroughs, creating growth through collaboration with bold, forward‑thinking innovators.”

Through the EriCa Reactor program, we’re accelerating the journey from early‑stage research to new market breakthroughs, creating growth through collaboration with bold, forward‑thinking innovators.

Kemira’s goal is to identify new market opportunities, drive sustainable transformation, and overcome innovation roadblocks for our customers through this collaboration. Our strategic partnerships can help to accelerate growth and delivery to market both for Kemira and our partners.

Instead of focusing on one-to-one contacts, the EriCa Reactor program provides a chance to interact with innovative startups that have expressed interest in collaborating with Kemira and an opportunity for our teams to engage, learn from and develop relationships that have the potential to eventually reach an established partnership status.

These six teams were selected by Kemira for the first cohort of the EriCa Reactor program, and will be coached by Kemira experts throughout  the five moths. In addition to Kemira coaches, they will be mentored by investors and other experts joining the program.

We invite you to meet the teams working to solve problems around simplifying public access to clean water. 

Anferra: Originating from Göteborg, Sweden, this startup has developed a patent-pending process that transforms waste streams into high-quality inputs for water treatment chemical production, contributing to a circular economy. The company seeks to benefit from support in pilot planning and execution. 

Caama-project: Developed in the University of Oulu (Finland), Research Unit in Sustainable Chemistry, and ready to spin off in 2026, the project focuses on developing an adsorbent material for industrial wastewater treatment, with a primary focus on the mining industry and recovery of metals. They are seeking to gain experience with scaling a pilot to industry-ready solutions.. 

CounterTrace: Headquartered in Houston, Texas, this startup aims to solve contemporary water challenges (such as PFAS removal) with a unique, re-usable polymer platform solution. The team is also looking to make industry relationships in the EU and obtain valuable feedback from industry experts and investors. 

NPHarvest: A spinoff from Aalto University, NPHarvest’ patent-pending technology captures nitrogen and phosphorus from nutrient-rich wastewater, that can then be recycled to key components for fertilizers. As participants in the Reactor program, NPHarvest is seeking valuable mentorship to help drive their efforts in scaling and commercialization. 

P-Agro Minerals: A Latvian startup, they are developing an affordable technology that removes and recovers Phosphorus from wastewater in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, helping small and medium-sized municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants meet increasingly strict phosphorus discharge limits. They seek mentorship in technology and the commercial side of business as well as obtaining deep understanding of customer needs and priorities. 

Spectromarine: Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company offers a patented, autonomous sensor platform that delivers real-time water quality intelligence instead of manual sampling and laboratory analysis which is current state of the art in water desalination plants. They’re looking for pilot program and business model validation through their program partners. 

Wellmatix: Originating in South Korea, Wellmatix is a material science and drug discovery company that has developed an AI-based platform for discovery of new materials. Wellmatix applied to the program to receive support in soft-landing in Finland to enter European markets and will be coached by Crazy Town. 

The second cohort of EriCa Reactor, kicking off in August 2026, focuses on enabling circular future. Kemira will continue as the lead industry partner throughout the second cohort as well. The application period starts in April 2026 – stay tuned!