Opportunity Overview
Innovate UK Business Connect is inviting Expressions of Interest from UK based industrial organisations with unresolved technical challenges in sustainable and resilient chemical supply chains, including challenges where engineering biology could contribute to new routes, processes or feedstocks, and where new thinking and external capability is sought that could unlock faster progress and a competitive advantage.
As a challenge holder, you will take part in an established Innovation Exchange (iX) process designed to surface solutions you would not typically encounter through existing supply chains or sector networks. By engaging across industries, this approach regularly uncovers proven technologies from other sectors, avoids costly duplication of effort, and brings in skills and expertise that are not available in house. For many organisations, this leads to first mover advantage, novel intellectual property, and the foundations of strong long-term collaborations.
This targeted, non-funded opportunity is delivered jointly by the Sustainable Chemical Supply Chains Innovation Network and the Engineering Biology Innovation Network and will support up to five challenge holders. We are seeking organisations with a clear industrial challenge that they want to progress, and who are open to discovering new ideas, partners, and approaches beyond their existing solutions.
Opportunity Details
We are looking for UK based industrial organisations to submit challenge led Expressions of Interest focused on sustainable and resilient chemical supply chains and engineering biology. Selected challenge holders will receive in kind support from Innovate UK Business Connect to define their challenge, engage potential solution providers, and explore routes to collaboration through a structured Innovation Exchange process. No grant funding is provided.
The Innovation Exchange process
If selected as a potential challenge holder, Innovate UK Business Connect will work with you to define and scope your challenge. At this stage, we may determine that the Innovation Exchange is not the most appropriate mechanism and instead suggest alternative support. This stage typically requires 2–3 hours of your time.
Once the challenge is defined, it will be hosted on the Innovation Exchange platform and promoted through relevant networks to invite solution providers to respond.
Submitted solutions will be reviewed and ranked by Innovate UK Business Connect. The shortlisted information will then be shared with you, and you will decide which solution providers to invite to a pitch event (online or in person). This stage typically requires around one day of your time.
After the pitch event, you will work with Innovate UK Business Connect to select the solution providers you want to take forward for follow-on discussions or collaboration.
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- Expression of Interest opens: 11 May 2026
- Expression of Interest closes: 15 June 2026
Two informal online briefing and drop-in sessions will be held to help prospective challenge holders understand the Innovation Exchange process, scope, expectations, and the nonfunded, in-kind nature of support. These sessions are optional and will provide an opportunity to ask questions before submitting an Expression of Interest.
- Briefing session 1: 19 May 2026
- Briefing session 2: 27 May 2026
Challenge holders are encouraged to attend one briefing session where possible and you can register for these here. Attendance does not influence selection but is strongly encouraged.
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What is a challenge holder?
An organisation that has a problem that they need to solve using external expertise and could benefit from a bespoke solution, from either within their sector, or outside of it.
What is a solution provider?
An organisation that can meet the requirements of the challenge with a solution that could be applied in a given timeframe. It could be ready to deploy, or it could need some co-development with the challenge holder.
As a challenge holder, what do you need from me if I’m successful in this opportunity?
If you will be one of the selected Challenge Holders, we will go through the IX process with you to firstly define the challenge based on the information you provided in the EOI. The full process is outlined in the IX process section above.
If I have a technology that requires an end user to test/trial and aid product development, can I be a challenge holder? And can this be an IX challenge?
Usually not. Finding an end user to trial an existing product is technology push and out of scope. It may be suitable if the need is framed as a challenge that still requires innovation (for example, improving or validating a biobased chemical to meet defined industrial requirements).
What if I know who I want to work with and/or the preferred solution?
iX is a cross-sector programme supporting innovation transfer by matching industry challenges to innovative companies from other sectors. Therefore it is not suitable for those who already know their preferred solution provider.
How will the EOI’s from challenge holders be assessed?
EOIs will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Alignment with the scope of sustainable and resilient chemical supply chains
- Clarity and suitability of the challenge as a well-defined industrial problem that can benefit from external innovation
- Relevance across the supply chain and potential for cross-sector or novel solutions, including engineering biology where appropriate
- Suitability for the Innovation Exchange approach
- Potential impact if the challenge is successfully addressed
- Level of support the Challenge Holder can provide to enable solution development
A portfolio approach will also be applied to ensure a balanced range of challenges across focus areas, technologies, R&D categories and market sectors.
Applicants will not be permitted to question or appeal decisions made regarding the challenge selection of individual projects and Innovate UK Business Connect will be unable to give feedback on unsuccessful challenge applications.
How do I apply?
Please complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form to submit a challenge for this opportunity. The deadline to submit your form is 15th June 2026.
The form consists of several brief questions for us to understand:
- Your details
- Check your eligibility
- Some details of the challenge
- The potential impact of solving the challenge
All submitted challenges will then be reviewed. If you meet the key criteria and are a good fit with the programme, we will be in touch to discuss further.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.