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
Battery innovation feasibility studies round 2
Opens: 09/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million for innovation in battery technologies for electrification.
More Information
Battery innovation concept development round 2
Opens: 09/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million to support innovation in battery grade material technologies for electrification.
More Information
Medicines Manufacturing: Labs of the Future
Opens: 13/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £7.5 million to support the development and use of digital, automated, and robotic technologies. This aims to improve the speed and efficiency of pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing.
More Information
iX Challenge - Modular Hydrogen Separation for Small Scale Pilot Waste Facilities
Opens: 24/03/2026 Closes: 27/04/2026
The Innovation Exchange (iX) programme is supporting an energy technology company developing waste‑to‑hydrogen and waste‑to‑energy systems to identify innovators who can design small‑scale hydrogen separation solutions for pilot‑scale waste pyrolysis facilities.
More Information
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Alternative Fuels
Opens: 26/03/2026 Closes: 16/09/2026
Up to £150m total funding across 3 strands: this strand will fund the development and build of innovative alternative fuel vessels and accompanying port refuelling infrastructure.
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ARIA: Universal Fabricators - full proposals
Opens: 01/04/2026 Closes: 05/05/2026
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
Our Experts
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.