With the Business Case Challenge 2026, OMV, one of Austria’s largest industrial companies and a global Energy and Chemicals Group, invites students to help shape the transition toward a more sustainable future. 

The energy and chemicals industry is undergoing fundamental transformation. While fossil resources still play a role in producing essential products, long-term competitiveness requires new approaches, such as circular feedstocks, renewable fuels, and carbon management solutions. OMV’s Strategy 2030 emphasizes sustainability and innovation across its business segments, from energy to fuels to chemicals solutions.

This year’s challenge is built around a single idea: “This is not waste – It is the start of something new​.” Your task is to develop a business case that turns sustainability challenges into scalable, economically viable opportunities. 

Case Summary 

Teams can choose one of three independent topics. Each topic has its own context, business question, and deliverables. Your submission should propose a realistic initiative, explain why it fits OMV’s strategy, and quantify market potential, costs, and impact. 

Option A 

From Fossil to Sustainable Refinery: Opening New Feedstock Opportunities for OMV 

Refineries of the future will rely less on fossil hydrocarbons and more on renewable hydrogen, captured carbon (CO₂), biomass, and recycled plastic waste. This shift creates a new upstream landscape, where securing sustainable feedstock supply becomes a strategic advantage. 

Your challenge: 
How can OMV build a robust, competitive, and sustainable feedstock supply for future refineries, leveraging one core upstream pathway (choose one): 

1. CO₂, 2) biomass, or 3) plastic waste? 

 

Deliverables (Option A): 

• Market Analysis: estimate market size, identify competitors, and assess geographical factors 

• Business Plan: propose a transformation idea and a convincing plan, with strong focus on logistics and setup 

• Financial and Ecological Cost-Benefit Analysis: quantify costs and resources needed from OMV and compare to potential financial and ecological gains 

Option B 

How to Develop a Rice Straw Biorefinery in Asia With Valorization of Side Products? 

Rice straw is an abundant agricultural residue in Asia, often burned due to limited use. A biorefinery located close to harvest sites could convert rice straw into a bio-oil stream that can be upgraded in conventional refineries, supporting the shift toward higher-value fuels and chemical feedstocks. Economic viability depends on capturing and monetizing side streams like lignin and silica. 

Your challenge: 
Design a rice-straw biorefinery concept in Asia that converts waste into bio-oil while also valorizing side products to strengthen business viability and circularity. 

Deliverables (Option B): 

• Market Analysis: estimate market size and identify competitors 

• Business Plan: develop a convincing plan aligned with OMV strategy, describing how OMV could build or partner into this opportunity 

• Financial and Ecological Cost-Benefit Analysis: quantify costs/resources and compare to financial and ecological gains, including volumes of output and side products 

Option C 

Molecules of the Future: Building Business Around CO₂ Capture, Storage and Utilization 

Captured CO₂ will increasingly become a critical carbon source for low-carbon fuels and chemicals. However, the economics depend heavily on the full value chain, including capture type,  transport infrastructure (pipeline, ship, truck), and access to storage and utilization hubs. 

Your challenge: 
Develop a business innovation that helps OMV build scalable business around carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCS/CCU). Identify sources of CO₂, infrastructure prerequisites, and storage requirements, and propose a realistic business model for Europe. 

Deliverables (Option C): 

• Market Analysis: market size, competitors, and prerequisites for a functioning CO₂ value chain in Europe 

• Business Plan: a convincing plan for OMV’s role, including analysis of CO₂ sources and storage needs 

• Financial and Ecological Cost-Benefit Analysis: quantify costs and resources needed from OMV and compare to potential financial and ecological gains 

Bonus Option 

Interdisciplinary Track: Double Your Chances of Winning (Optional) 

You can choose to submit your case as an interdisciplinary team, combining business and economics skills with technical expertise (for example partnering with a student from a technical university). BCC provides a matchmaking option, and interdisciplinary submissions compete for additional prizes, effectively doubling your chances of winning. 

Additional deliverables for interdisciplinary submissions (mark clearly in your presentation): 

• For Option A: Specify the technology pathway (focus on refinery processing) and estimate yields and conversion efficiencies

• For Option B: Provide a technical concept for a rice straw biorefinery

• For Option C: Provide a technical concept of the CO2 value chain

Evaluation Criteria 

• Persuasiveness of your business plan 

• Detail and quality of your analysis 

• Clarity of presentation and storyline 

Structure of Your Submission (Presentation Chapters) 

1. Introduction and Executive Summary 

2. Idea Development 

3. Market and Cost Estimation 

4. Impact Assessment

5. Conclusion