Corporate–Startup Matchmaking Programme
Sidel Open Innovation Programme 2025
Partner with a global leader in packaging solutions
Why Collaborate with Sidel?
When you innovate with Sidel, you don’t just get a partner, but you get also access to a global ecosystem:
🌍 Global Reach -Sidel serves over 40,000 machines installed across 170 countries, supported by a team of more than 5,000 experts.
🚀 Market Leadership -Sidel commands about 60% of the global market share for PET packaging machinery
🏭 Real-World Testbeds – Validate and scale your solution in Sidel’s industrial lines and global labs.
♻️ Sustainability Leadership – Join Sidel in driving circularity, reducing plastics, and pioneering low-carbon packaging.
🤝 Long-Term Partnerships – Integrate your innovation into Sidel’s roadmap for the next generation of packaging, automation, and digital solutions.
Who are Sidel?
Sidel is one of the world’s leading providers of equipment, services, and complete packaging solutions for beverages, food, home, and personal care. For over 175 years, they have been shaping how products are packaged and delivered — from PET, can, and glass bottles to cutting-edge sustainable formats.
Now, Sidel is opening doors to visionary startups and scaleups to partner up and reinvent the future of packaging.
Focus Areas 2025 - 2026
We are looking for startups from anywhere in the world with game-changing solutions in four key domains:
Aseptic Technologies
Ensuring safety, efficiency, and shelf life for sensitive products.
⚙️ New way to sterilize preforms, caps and bottles.
⚙️ Low-energy aseptic processes and extended shelf life
⚙️ Optimize even more chemical sterilants consumption for a more sustainable production.
⚙️ Other ideas
Secondary Packaging
New concepts to drastically reduce plastics and boost sustainability in multipacks.
♻️ Replace plastic with paper or fiber solutions
♻️ Develop reusable trays and returnable systems
♻️ Create lightweight, recyclable, consumer-friendly packs
♻️ Other ideas
AI
Smart applications to improve reliability, usability, and quality.
🤖 Predictive maintenance and defect detection
🤖 Adaptive HMIs for easier operation
🤖 Smart vision for complete line management
🤖 Smart order and changeover management
🤖 Real-time optimization of yield and energy use
🤖 Other ideas
Robotics
Next-generation robotics to improve efficiency, flexibility, and safety in packaging line.
🦾 Collaborative robots (cobots) working alongside operators without barriers
🦾 Precision handling systems to reduce waste and improve quality
🦾 Flexible robots adaptable to multiple bottling and packaging tasks
🦾 Other ideas
What’s in it for You?
- Co-develop your solution with Sidel’s global R&D and engineering teams.
- Access industrial-scale equipment and facilities to accelerate deployment.
- Gain exposure to Sidel’s worldwide customer base from global leaders to innovative companies.
- Build long-term commercial partnerships with a trusted industry leader.
- Sidel is part of the Tetra Laval Group, a global powerhouse uniting Tetra Pak, Sidel, and DeLaval to lead food, beverage industry and farming producers’ worldwide.
How to Apply
Applications are open now and reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications will get a chance of feedback before the deadline.
November 28
Application deadline.
December 16
Selected applicants will be notified to prepared for the Selection Day.
January 14 (10:00–15:00 CET)
Selection Day (online), where selected applicants will pitch their ideas to Sidel’s higher management team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Accelerace helps Sidel identify and connect with the most relevant startups. However, the final selection of startups and any further discussions regarding the collaboration are handled solely between Sidel and the startup.
Sidel usually cover costs related to adapting new and promising technologies in its field of operation. Additionally, startups must cover any travel expenses on their end, such as attending in-person trials if they choose to do so. Online is preferred option.
No, Sidel does not take equity in participating startups. This pilot project is for collaboration, not investment.
Sidel has production departments worldwide, including in Asia, Europe, and North America. Startups can participate remotely through live broadcasting, allowing for real-time trials without needing to travel.
Companies as a startups can be considered at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher. The application can be also open to Research Projects with relevant vision.
The packaging industry is transforming fast. Consumers and regulators demand sustainability and safety, while brands seek flexibility and efficiency. Sidel is committed to leading this transformation — but we can’t do it alone.
By joining forces, we can deliver safe, sustainable, and innovative packaging solutions that meet the needs of tomorrow’s world.
Startups are selected based on their innovation potential, alignment with Sidel’s goals, and readiness for a pilot project. Once selected, startups will work with our team to define the scope and objectives of the pilot.
Innovations that we create and will collaborate together on will ultimately be shown to global customers (like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Unilever, etc.), with a view to test implementation in real production conditions.
After the pilot, startups may continue working with Sidel through further product development or by joining our network of suppliers or partners. The next steps will be mutually agreed upon based on the success of the pilot. Successful pilots can lead to long-term collaborations.
Sidel offers extensive support, including access to process engineers, technologists, and state-of-the-art pilot processing, packaging and lab facilities. Startups will also benefit from Sidel’s global network of suppliers and customers, including Fortune 500 multinationals.