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ZCP – Z-Chitosan Products Germany
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Discuss your project

Partnering

Three ways to work with us.

From the lab to series production. You can work with ZCP in one of three models: licence, joint development, or samples and supply. The right route depends on your development capacity, your timeline and the exclusivity you need.

Check feasibility Book a meeting
Illustrative image
Dip coating in series production.

The three routes

Licence, joint development or supply.

Each route leads to a product with Z-Chitosan. They differ in who develops, who manufactures and which rights you receive. Routes can be combined: many projects start with samples and then move on to joint development or a licence.

Meeting room at dusk with a sample case, a fountain pen and a glass vial on a walnut table
Illustrative image
LicenceYou manufacture yourself, using the technology and know-how in your field of use.
Two pairs of gloved hands working together on polymer test plaques in a laboratory
Illustrative image
Joint developmentWe develop your product together, in phases with clear decisions.
Open black sample case with pellets, vials, a fabric swatch and plastic plaques
Illustrative image
Samples & supplyYou source Z-Chitosan as an additive and process it yourself.
What you receive
  • Use of the technology by field and region, under the licence agreement
  • know-how for production and processing
  • data package
  • “with Z-Chitosan” mark
  • A formulation, coating or finish tailored to your product
  • test plan and test reports
  • support with classification and documentation
  • Z-Chitosan as masterbatch, concentrate, coating solution or finishing agent
  • technical and safety data sheets
  • application support
What you contribute
  • Manufacturing, quality assurance and sales in your field
  • testing and approval of your product
  • reporting as agreed
  • Product knowledge, material and process data
  • trials in your production
  • market access and responsibility for approval
  • Processing into your material
  • testing of the end product
  • call-off of series volumes
Time to marketMedium to long: you build up production and testing yourself.Medium to long: depends on phases, test scope and regulation.Short to medium: you add to an existing product.
RightsScope, rights and exclusivity are set out in the licence agreement for each field of use and regionForeground and background IP agreed before the project startsNo rights to the technology; use under the supply agreement
Typical partnersMasterbatch and compound producers, manufacturers of medical devices, textiles and paints with their own production and market accessManufacturers planning a new product or product generation, often together with a research institutePlastics processors, textile finishers, paint and hygiene product manufacturers with established products
Enquire about a licenceDiscuss your project Request samples

Prices and terms are discussed in person.

Partnership Architect

Find your model in five settings.

Adjust five sliders. The Architect recommends a model and explains why. Use it as a starting point for the first conversation.

  • Licence

    You manufacture yourself, using the technology and know-how in your field of use.

  • Joint development

    We develop your product together, in phases with clear decisions.

  • Samples & supply

    You source Z-Chitosan as an additive and process it yourself.

Adjust the sliders to see a recommendation.

How much development you can handle yourself, from formulation to testing.

A rough indication is enough.

A field of use is, for example, urinary catheters, performance textiles or wall paints.

“In-house production” means you want to produce Z-Chitosan material or masterbatch yourself.

An indication only, no figures.

What am I looking at?

The Partnership Architect maps five inputs (development capacity, time to market, exclusivity, volume, budget) to one of three models: licence, joint development, or samples and supply. The rules are listed in the table below the tool.

Process

How it works.

Five phases, four decision points. After each phase both sides decide together whether to continue, adjust or stop. This keeps the risk in each phase manageable.

Model

Phases 1 and 2 together, phases 3 to 5 at the licensee with technology transfer.

  1. Goal
    Establish whether Z-Chitosan fits the material, process and goal.
    Result
    Project brief, draft test plan, regulatory classification
    ZCP contributes
    Technology knowledge, initial assessment, proposed incorporation route and tests
    Partner contributes
    Product requirements, material and process data, target markets

    Start, adjust or stop the lab phase

  2. Goal
    Trial incorporation at lab scale and run first tests.
    Result
    Lab samples, test results to the agreed standard, recommended variant
    ZCP contributes
    Z-Chitosan samples, formulation or coating proposal, coordination of testing
    Partner contributes
    Substrates and reference material, requirements for colour, mechanics and processing

    Start, adjust or stop a pilot trial in production

  3. Goal
    Test processing under production conditions.
    Result
    Pilot parts from the production line, process window, test results on the part
    ZCP contributes
    Pilot quantities, support during trials, evaluation
    Partner contributes
    Line time, process data, quality inspection

    Start, adjust or stop validation

  4. Goal
    Produce the evidence required for product and market.
    Result
    Test reports (efficacy to standard, biocompatibility or migration depending on the product), documents for conformity assessment or approval
    ZCP contributes
    Data package on Z-Chitosan; selected test data on request, subject to review and NDA; dossier support
    Partner contributes
    End-product testing, technical documentation, conformity assessment or approval

    Approve market launch and scale-up

  5. Goal
    Secure series supply and quality.
    Result
    Supply or licence agreement, specification, quality agreement
    ZCP contributes
    Series supply or technology transfer, depending on the model
    Partner contributes
    Series production, labelling, market surveillance

Indicative duration per phase: see Joint development.

Public funding

Funding for joint development.

Joint development projects may qualify for public funding. Whether a programme fits depends on location, company size and partners. We look at this with you in the first meeting.

SAB R&D project funding (Saxony)
single projects of small and medium-sized enterprises and collaborative projects of companies and research institutes. A site in Saxony is required. ERDF/JTF funding period 2021–2027.
Eurostars (EUREKA)
market-oriented research and development in international consortia led by an R&D-performing SME. At least two independent partners from two Eurostars countries, maximum duration 36 months. Next deadline according to EUREKA: 4 March 2027.
ZIM (Central Innovation Programme for SMEs)
no new applications accepted since 7 July 2026, for a limited period.

As of 26 September 2026 · sab.sachsen.de · eurekanetwork.org · zim.de

Not funding advice. The guidelines and calls of the funding bodies apply.

Two tools to get started.

Sources3
  1. Sächsische Aufbaubank: EFRE/JTF – Forschung und Entwicklung – Projektförderung (FuE-Projektförderung) 2021 bis 2027. sab.sachsen.de, retrieved 26 September 2026.
  2. EUREKA: Eurostars – Programme, Eligibility, Call 12. eurekanetwork.org/programmes/eurostars, retrieved 26 September 2026.
  3. Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand: befristeter Antragsstopp seit 07.07.2026. zim.de; IHK Bodensee-Oberschwaben, Meldung „ZIM: Befristeter Antragsstopp seit 7. Juli 2026“, retrieved 26 September 2026.

Let's talk about your project.

In the first meeting you describe your product and goal. We assess which route fits and what makes sense next.

Book a meeting Discuss your project