Resource efficiency for materials and manufacturing (REforMM)

This opportunity is now closed, but if you have an interest in this area, a major collaborative R&D competition will be launched in Spring 2023. Watch our Resource Efficiency for Manufacturing and Materials programme page for details.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £1 million in innovation projects.

The aim of this competition is to support UK materials and manufacturing organisations to become more resource efficient. Simultaneous demonstrations of how UK materials and manufacturing will become more resilient or technologically advanced are encouraged.

Your proposal must focus on two or more of these five core areas contributing to improvements in resource efficiency and be able to demonstrate carbon reduction:

• materials for the future economy
• smart design
• resilient supply chains
• world class production
• longer in use and reuse

In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.

In addition to this Feasibility Study Competition, a major collaborative R&D competition will be launched in Spring 2023.

Eligibility

Your project must:

• total project costs between £50,000 and £100,000
• start by 1 June 2023
• end by 30 November 2023
• last between 3 and 6 months
• carry out all of its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

You must only include eligible project costs in your application.

Lead organisation

To lead a project or work alone your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.

Where applicable you can collaborate with other UK registered organisations

Academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTO), charities, not for profit or public sector organisations cannot lead or work alone.

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Scope

Your proposal must focus on two or more of these five core areas contributing to improvements in resource efficiency and be able to demonstrate carbon reduction:

• materials for the future economy: new material applications for cutting-edge products that reduce emissions, energy consumption and costs
• smart design: effective design methods, design for resource efficiency, and design for maximum through-life value
• resilient supply chains: sustainable feedstocks, supply chain visibility, and co-location of waste and emission streams
• world-class production: flexible production capacity, minimal material waste, high-quality products, high productivity, and full adaptivity
• longer in use and reuse: minimising materials use and waste, practising complete traceability, and using new remanufacturing services

Enabling areas, such as clean energy, regulations and policy, skills, relations, and value models, must not be the main focus of your project.

An online briefing event will be held at 10am on 29 November 2022.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Dr Catherine Mort or a member of the Innovate UK KTN’s Manufacturing team.