Helping businesses embrace Net Zero with grants, fostering innovation to combat climate crisis........................................................
Innovate UK's Adopt and Accelerate programme nurtures a sustainable future by aiding UK businesses in embracing Net Zero solutions. Through grants of up to £25,000, SMEs collaborate directly with challenge holders to implement innovative solutions across various sectors. The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon practices nationwide, which is crucial for combating the climate crisis. By fostering innovation, the program equips businesses with the tools to address pressing environmental challenges. It welcomes innovators from diverse sectors like energy, water, aerospace, and bio-medicine, recognizing that collective action is essential for achieving the UK's Net Zero ambitions.
Innovation Exchange challenge: Green Hydrogen Electrolyser - Sub-gasket Application
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting a start-up organisation to find innovators who can identify the best material and application process for manufacturing and applying a sub-gasket to a novel hydrocarbon polymer membrane, without fundamentally changing the molecular structure of the membrane. The proposed solution should include provision for mechanical and chemical simulation, and the production of a manufacturing specification document. Production of a sample item would be beneficial but not necessary at this stage.
Award-Up to £25,000 plus support and further opportunities
Opportunity Details
Registration Opens-28/03/2024
Registration Closes-02/05/2024
Innovation Exchange challenge: scaling up Direct Air Capture
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting Carbonbit to find innovators who can identify process, mechanical and electrical engineering modifications to scale-up a small-scale DAC system to industrial scale. The solutions should comprehensively outline and detail these changes, enabling potential costing for the development of the industrial plant, as well as detailing the clear uses of AI and robotics in enhancing the overall solution.
Carbonbit has developed an MVP DAC system capable of removing 100kg CO2 per annum. The company now wishes to scale up to industrial scale, removing 20,000 / 100,000 / 500,000 tonnes CO2 per annum. and needs to understand the key process / mechanical / electrical engineering changes required to achieve this. It is considered that AI and robotics will play a part in both the scale up and the operation of the industrial plant and its overall circularity as well as in the service and performance monitoring. Therefore, the company also wished to understand to what extent this might be, and the resources required to realise this.
Award- Up to £25,000 for a successful solution provider, plus support for development, potential collaboration, and more.
Opportunity Details
Registration Opens- 03/04/2024
Registration Closes- 08/05/2024
Innovation Exchange challenge: construction of a poultry feed pellet using Yeast Protein Concentrate (YPC)
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting the challenge holder in seeking innovators to refine the formulation, pelletising, trial, and validation of an alternative poultry feed derived from Yeast Protein Concentrate (YPC). This new feed aims to substantially reduce the reliance on imported soya, which is both costly and carbon-intensive. The challenge involves developing a viable feed pellet that combines YPC with supplementary UK-grown protein sources such as legumes or lupin. For egg-laying birds YPC can only constitute 40-50% of the protein content. The challenge holder is looking for a partner capable of developing the formula, pelletising the feed, conducting the trials, and having the results validated by an external third party, likely an academic institute specialising in poultry nutrition. The main barriers to overcome include the aqueous nature of YPC, which poses challenges in drying and combining it with other ingredients while retaining nutritional content. Additionally, while many egg layers do not require pelletised feed, creating a pelletised product could enhance marketability within domestic markets.
Innovation Exchange: Towards Net Zero Fibre Bottle Challenge
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting Pulpex in their search for a solution provider capable of technically analysing recycled paper fibre and alternative biomass sources. These materials must be suitable for a fibre bottle moulding process, aligning with the goal of significantly reducing the carbon footprint of paper packaging solutions and meeting the sustainability requirements of the industry and major corporate clients.
The solution provider will purpose and technically analyse alternative biomass sources and recycled paper fibre for use in a fibre bottle moulding process. These alternatives should be scalable and aim for potential future certification for liquid food use, setting new environmental standards for packaging.
Award- The selected applicant will receive of up to £25,000 to support their project. Benefits may also include support from Innovate UK Business Connect, potential business collaboration, and more.
Opportunity Details
Registration Opens-05/04/2024
Registration Closes-10/05/2024
Innovation Exchange challenge: Modular Hydrogel Reactors for Sustainable Horticulture: A Peat Alternative
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting Carbonbit to find innovators who can identify process, mechanical and electrical engineering modifications to scale-up a small-scale DAC system to industrial scale. The solutions should comprehensively outline and detail these changes, enabling potential costing for the development of the industrial plant, as well as detailing the clear uses of AI and robotics in enhancing the overall solution.
Carbonbit has developed an MVP DAC system capable of removing 100kg CO2 per annum. The company now wishes to scale up to industrial scale, removing 20,000 / 100,000 / 500,000 tonnes CO2 per annum. and needs to understand the key process / mechanical / electrical engineering changes required to achieve this. It is considered that AI and robotics will play a part in both the scale up and the operation of the industrial plant and its overall circularity as well as in the service and performance monitoring. Therefore, the company also wished to understand to what extent this might be, and the resources required to realise this.
Award -Up to £25,000 per solution provider, plus support from Innovate UK Business Connect, invitations to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events, and more.
When
Registration Opens -08/04/2024
Registration Closes-10/05/2024
Innovation Exchange challenge: Developing a process to effectively reclaim and recycle silicone from used HealthTech and medical devices
The Net Zero Catalyst Fund is supporting Oshun Labs Ltd. to find innovators who can provide a solution to reclaim and recycle silicone from used HealthTech and medical devices in an efficient and effective manner. The solution process will need to include the identification, recovery, and recycling of silicone from used FemTech devices to a useable second life state. Silicone is extensively utilised in HealthTech and medical devices, yet its ability to be recycled poses challenges due to its size, bodily contact and product classification as clinical or offensive waste. With silicone usage becoming widespread, and the associated significant risks of plastic waste and pollution increasing, there is a growing demand for recycling solutions.
Award - The selected applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate directly with the challenge holder, implementing their innovative solution. Additionally, they will gain access to grant funding of up to £25,000 to support their project.
Opportunity Details
Registration Opens-03/04/2024
Registration Closes-08/05/2024
Please note the deadlines when applying
