Knowledge Centre

Innovate UK Business Connect's Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Network shines a spotlight on businesses rethinking how materials are made. Revive Eco is a brilliant example of this – a UK-based team of innovators, scientists, and sustainability problem-solvers, with a shared passion for transforming waste into opportunity. In this case, used coffee grounds into high-value, sustainable ingredients.

Innovate UK Business Connect's Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Network champions businesses developing cleaner, more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-derived chemical processes. Synthetic biology company ErebaGen is a great example that uses cutting-edge biology to transform how chemicals are made and have highlighted how chemicals and engineering biology form part of the pharmaceutical supply chain, illustrated through a project funded by the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme (SMMIP).

Innovate UK Business Connect's Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Network is focused on accelerating the defossilisation of the UK chemicals sector and supporting a transition to a more sustainable, high growth economy. The network is currently showcasing companies that are helping to drive this de-fossilisation. One company is Holiferm, they have been supported by a number of Innovate UK grants and work to develop sustainable chemical alternatives.

Innovate UK Business Connect's Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Network is focused on accelerating the de-fossilisation of the UK chemicals sector and supporting a transition to a more sustainable, high‑growth economy. The network is currently showcasing companies that are helping to drive this de-fossilisation in collaboration with Innovate UK. Among these is biotechnology spin‑out 17Cicada, which is developing new methods to convert waste into valuable products and has progressed its innovations through multiple Innovate UK grant‑supported initiatives.

This online workshop brings together stakeholders from industry, academia, research organisations, supply chains, and government to help shape this opportunity.

As the UK becomes increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services underpin critical systems across transport, energy, finance, defence and emergency response. However, ensuring the resilience of these services is not just a technical challenge—it is a workforce capability challenge fundamental to national security and economic stability.

The pharmaceutical sector faces a critical challenge: how to rapidly decarbonise active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing while maintaining safety, quality and regulatory compliance. Existing API processes remain heavily reliant on fossil based solvents, making solvent use one of the most carbon intensive aspects of medicines manufacturing.

Preparing the workforce to deliver secure, resilient and sovereign energy systems

New Workforce Foresighting insights into decentralised cell and gene therapy delivery