Chemistry
By 2050 our industry will have embraced a circular economy and be using different feedstocks, technologies and energy sources to produce chemicals. The Innovate UK Business Connect Chemistry team can help you navigate these changes and identify innovation that will ensure your business, research or service remains sustainable.
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Innovate UK Business Connect works with all sectors that use chemicals or chemistry in their business. These include:
- UK Chemical Manufacturers
- “Chemistry-using” Sectors – where chemistry is critical to the business, e.g. Pharmaceuticals, Home & Personal Care, Agrochemicals, Fuels and Energy
- Innovative companies (particularly SMEs and start-ups) and leading academics developing technologies and solutions for a Net Zero future
Innovate UK Business Connect uses sector knowledge to help businesses innovate through providing access to connections and collaborations as well as expertise and funding.
We can also help with innovation related to:
- Synthesis and catalysis. Materials chemistry, including formulated products, polymers and composites
- Digitalisation of manufacturing and R&D operations – for increased productivity
- Exploitation of Industrial Biotechnology and Engineering Biology (often called Synthetic Biology) for improved products and low carbon processes.
Our current focus in this area
Related Opportunities
Contracts for Innovation: industrial human relevant drug models
Opens: 02/03/2026 Closes: 15/04/2026
Organisations can apply for a share of £2 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop and commercialise non‑animal methods for assessing the pre‑clinical pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular safety of new medicines.
More Information
iX Challenge - Dry ice alternatives that maintain LUSH spa's sensory and theatrical magic
Opens: 23/02/2026 Closes: 17/04/2026
LUSH Spa invites solutions which can address the challenge of maintaining the moments of magic created using dry ice within 3 spa treatments. The proposed solution should be either: a direct replacement of dry ice, e.g. making dry ice or a dry ice replacement easily…
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ARIA: Universal Fabricators - concept papers
Opens: 16/02/2026 Closes: 09/03/2026
ARIA's £50m Manufacturing Abundance programme seeks to harness proteins to produce a functionally universal range of materials at scale.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
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Related News
27/11/2025
The Science Apprenticeship Forum: Reflections on the 2025 Conference by Apprentices
The Science Apprenticeship Conference is designed specifically for science apprentices and aims to connect apprentices and celebrate their sector-wide impact.
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16/09/2025
Cohort Announcement for the Battery & Critical Materials Investment Readiness Programme 2025
Innovate UK Business Connect is delighted to announce the onboarding of 21 companies onto its Batteries and Critical Materials Investment Readiness Programme.