17/02/2026 PtX Basic Materials PtX Lab Paper

Safeguarding Agency, Enabling Transformation

Strategic Immediate Relief as the Foundation for a Resilient and Competitive Chemical Industry by 2045

PtX Lab Paper | 02/2026 | Topic: Sustainable Chemistry | 10 Pages

The German chemical industry faces major challenges: high energy costs and international competition threaten sites, jobs, and expertise. Industry and trade unions are therefore pushing for immediate and effective relief. The immediate measures create time and scope of action that must be used for green investments – the basis for greater resilience and competitiveness.

In response to the work of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the Chemistry Industry Agenda 2045, the paper Safeguarding Agency, Enabling Transformation by PtX Lab Lausitz proposes eight concrete measures that will secure liquidity in the short term, enable investment, and promote innovation – while paving the way for a climate-neutral industry. 

These range from tax incentives for transformative plants and guaranteed purchases of green methanol to investments in climate-friendly chemical parks. All measures can be implemented quickly at federal level, are prudent in terms of budgetary policy and targeted.

Short-term relief is not an end in itself: it is clearly linked to transformation and creates the basis for the long-term resilience and competitiveness of the German chemical industry.

Bibliographic data

  • Publication: Safeguarding Agency, Enabling Transformation – Strategic Immediate Relief as the Foundation for a Resilient and Competitive Chemical Industry by 2045
  • Publication date: February 2026
  • Publisher: PtX Lab Lausitz – Think and Do Tank for Fuels and Basic Materials from Green Hydrogen, Calauer Straße 70, 03048 Cottbus
  • Suggested citation: PtX Lab Lausitz (2026): Safeguarding Agency, Enabling Transformation – Strategic Immediate Relief as the Foundation for a Resilient and Competitive Chemical Industry by 2045

Graphic from the publication

The graphic shows a circle with eight units and icons such as wind turbines, factories and recycling.
Schematic overview of the eight initiatives for short-term relief measures.

More publications