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
Sustainable alternative raw materials to fossil derived hydrocarbons for the manufacture of speciality vacuum greases
Opens: 10/11/2025 Closes: 19/12/2025
The Innovation Exchange (iX) programme is supporting M&I Materials Ltd to find innovators who can provide alternative sustainable hydrocarbon feedstock sources suitable for the use in the manufacture of speciality vacuum greases.
More Information
National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies
Opens: 03/11/2025 Closes: 17/12/2025
Up to £100k per project for advanced materials innovations in energy, healthcare, structure, durability, electronics, polymers, and metamaterials/metasurfaces.
More Information
Battery Innovation Concept Development Round 1
Opens: 23/10/2025 Closes: 17/12/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for up to £4m per project for innovation in battery technologies for electrification. This funding is from The Battery Innovation Programme.
More Information
Innovation Exchange challenge: Separation Technology to Remove Polymer Coating and Contaminants from Post-Consumer Leather
Opens: 12/11/2025 Closes: 02/01/2026
The challenge involves developing a separation technology to remove durable polymer layers from sheets of leather, leather pieces and leather fibres.
More Information
Battery Innovation Feasibility Studies Round 1
Opens: 23/10/2025 Closes: 17/12/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for up to £500k per project for innovation in battery technologies for electrification. This funding is from The Battery Innovation Programme.
More Information
MSI: SME resource and energy efficiency – feasibility studies
Opens: 22/10/2025 Closes: 10/12/2025
Up to £105k grants per project to research and develop industrial digital technologies to improve resource or energy efficiencies in manufacturing.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Wed
19
Nov
2025
Materials & Manufacturing Show and Tell Series, autumn 2025
12.00 - 13.00 | Online
Watch recordings or register for upcoming events
Wed
30
Jul
2025
Mon
22
Jan
2024
Our Experts
Related News
18/10/2024
SusChem: the network driving innovation in sustainable chemistry
How the UK’s SusChem National Technology Platform (SusChem UK) is supporting the UK chemical industry by fostering innovation and promoting sustainable practices.
Read more
16/01/2025
Women Innovators in Foundation Industries Awards 2025 Shortlist
Discover the shortlisted nominees for the first ever awards from UKRI’s Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, EPSRC and ESRC, recognising Women Innovators in Foundation Industries. These awards are taking place at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase in London on 19 February.