Chemistry continually reinvents itself. Chemical production everywhere is influenced by new disciplines, from industrial biotechnology to the Internet of Things; and every traditional as well as new area of expertise has its specialists. Solutions for the big challenges, however, can only be found in interdisciplinary exchange and in complementary cooperation. Scientific congresses and fairs for existing business follow well established formats. To accelerate finding innovations, an industry speed dating format now exists for the chemical industry. Young start-ups play a crucial role here.