The Net Zero Industry Launchpad is using the Innovate UK Business Connect Innovation Exchange (iX) platform to offer an exciting new pilot competition using the iX platform to support challenges that benefit or impact on Southwest Wales.
The Innovate UK Innovation Exchange (iX) programme is supporting Sinclair Group to find innovators who can map and analyse material flows entering and moving through the business, enabling packaging reduction, reusable alternatives, and enhanced circular economy performance.
Sinclair Group is one of Wales’ leading automotive retail groups, representing major brands including Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai and more, with a network of busy dealerships and workshops across South Wales and beyond. Over the last several years, the Group has undergone a significant sustainability transformation, embedding environmental responsibility into its culture, operations, and long‑term strategy.
As part of its wider transition to a more sustainable and circular operating model, Sinclair Group has already introduced new processes to cut general waste, improve recycling quality, and reduce carbon emissions, particularly across high‑volume workshop waste streams.
However, despite this momentum, the Group faces persistent challenges that cannot be solved through operational changes alone. Site‑to‑site variability, complex material flows, inconsistent packaging formats from suppliers, and limited visibility of what materials enter and exit the business mean Sinclair now needs deeper insight into its packaging and procurement related waste.
To accelerate its transition toward a circular economy and support compliance with Wales’ workplace recycling requirements, Sinclair Group is seeking innovative digital technologies that can map packaging and material flows with far greater accuracy. These solutions will enable the Group to identify avoidable packaging, redesign waste streams, and influence upstream supplier behaviours, shifting from reactive waste management to proactive waste prevention at scale.
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To lead a project as a solution provider your organisation must be a UK registered:
- micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME)
- academic institution
- research and technology organisation (RTO)
- community interest company (CIC) or charity
Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.
Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.
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Your project must:
- have a grant funding request of up to £25,000
- last for three months
- Not start before 1st June 2026
- Must end by 31st March 2027
Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and must intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.
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Sinclair Group has several waste streams that they sort so that recycling goes to the right place without their skips being contaminated by the wrong sort of waste materials. Vehicle parts are also packaged differently depending on the OEM supplier and brand.
The aim of the project is to be able to identify where waste arises within the business as incoming products are managed. The business wants to quantify what arises and where, so that we can better engage with our suppliers to a) design out waste and b) assess opportunities to consolidate common materials so that we might realise value from them. We are looking for a technology solution to help in this regard.
Sinclair Group would like to be able to create a map of their all goods inward (including packaging) to help inform future management and reduce waste.
Sinclair Group seeks solutions that:
- Digitally map packaging/material flows from procurement to disposal
- Create a “digital twin” or inventory layer showing waste generation points
- Identify opportunities to reduce materials, increase reuse, and standardise packaging
- Provide insights for supplier engagement and circular procurement
- Support compliance with upcoming requirements (e.g., 2027 plastic film segregation)
TRL expectation: 5–6+, pilot-ready within 6 months.
If selected, the solution provider will be supported to apply for up to £25,000 grant funding to deliver a 3‑month project through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). The funding will cover a 3-month project, the details of which will need to be refined with the challenge holder.
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Functional Requirements
Solutions should:
- Map diverse streams, including cardboard, plastics, metal, films, and hazardous items
- Integrate with existing procurement and waste datasets
- Accommodate variable supply-chain behaviour and non-uniform packaging
- Produce insights that support culture change and supply chain redesign
- Offer scalability across 20+ sites
Technical Requirements
Solutions must:
- Capture structured and unstructured data on material inputs
- Generate dashboards showing volumes, waste hotspots, and optimisation opportunities
- Inform our internal development of actionable recommendations to reduce waste or redesign packaging
- Support data exchange with suppliers and internal teams
- Offer either automated or semi-automated workflows
Operating Conditions
Solutions need to:
- Deploy with minimal disruption to site operations
- Function across mixed environments (showrooms, workshops, parts stores)
- Handle inconsistent supplier documentation or material labelling
- Maintain GDPR and data security compliance
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Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to Sinclair Group. The winning applicant, as selected by the company, will then be eligible to apply for £25k grant funding to kickstart the development of the proposed solution through a 3 month project. Selected solutions will be trialled by Sinclair Group with potential for further adoption if trials are successful.
The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:
- Pitch directly to Sinclair Group
- Apply for £25,000 to develop and pilot the solution
- Receive support from Innovate UK Business Connect
- Access technical support and feedback
- Gain visibility across the Innovate UK network
- Build a potential long-term commercial partnership with Sinclair Group and/or their partners
Scaling potential: Deployment across 20+ automotive retail locations, with wider replication opportunities across the Southwest Wales Net Zero Industry ecosystem.
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- Challenge launch: 24th Feb 2026
- Deadline for applications: 7th April 2026
- Selection and notification of finalists: 13th April 2026
- Pitch Day: 16th and 17th April 2026.
- Confirm selected solution provider: 21st April 2026
- Submission to Innovation Funding Service (IFS): Between 21st – 28th April 2026
- Project length: 3 months