Emerging Technologies Competition 2021 finalists

Cambridge Nucleomics has developed a robust biosensor that can directly detect hundreds of miRNAs simultaneously at ultra-low volumes with substantially less time and cost, where its application in human diseases has the potential to revolutionize precision and personalised medicine in future healthcare.

Celtarys Research have developed a highly versatile conjugation methodology for the efficient optimization of fluorescent probes for drug discovery. They can develop in a timely manner fluorescent ligands with optimal pharmacological and photophysical properties for any target with therapeutic interest outperforming radioligands and other available fluorescent probes, thus improving drug discovery. 

Imperial College have developed a patent-protected system for the identification of chemicals that bind selectively to a protein of interest in an irreversible manner. These chemicals act as the backbone for drug development, enabling the construction of precision medicines to treat currently incurable diseases.

MiProbes has developed a novel instrument-free diagnostic test for pathogenic bacteria. The test is able to identify UTI by detecting molecules released by UTI causing bacteria. Their technology is based on DNA biosensors, when activated cause a visible colorimetric change. MiProbes is enabling rapid, sensitive, specific and instrument-free bacteria identification.

The University of Bath have developed a non-invasive, transdermal, user-friendly, self-calibrating, low-cost and discreet continuous glucose monitoring technology targeted to non-insulin dependent diabetics and pre-diabetics. Their device combines painless extraction of glucose across the skin and on-board detection in a simple wearable configuration with wireless transmission to a mobile phone.

Edinburgh Napier University have developed innovative technology for deriving and modifying nanocellulose from sustainable seaweed stocks. The process is fast, very low energy with zero waste and provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel derived synthetic superabsorbent polymers used as thickeners and stabilisers in cosmetics and personal care formulations.

Merton College, University of Oxford have developed an innovative process and catalysts for chemically recycling the plastics waste. These types of plastics are difficult to be recycled mechanically back to its constituent monomers. The process achieves 100% conversion with high selectivity to high value monomers directly from plastics waste.

ReCatalyst is based on a proprietary technology for the manufacturing of platinum-based hydrogen fuel cell catalysts. They enable an intrinsically better way of dispersing scarce and expensive platinum in the form of nanoparticles over conductive carbon supports, which in synergy with alloying of platinum, enables more efficient and cheaper catalysts.

The MagLiB patent-protected technology employs bespoke magnetic fields to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries. They have scaled from smart-watches, to mobile phones, and now towards electric vehicles. Testing has demonstrated charging time reductions of up to 67 %, a substantial improvement that will aid the transition to low-carbon technologies.  

At the University of Cambridge, the Reisner Lab is developing photoreforming, a technology that uses a sunlight-driven photocatalyst to break down mixed waste, turning it into hydrogen and other chemicals. Photoreforming allows fuels and chemicals to be produced in a low-carbon, sustainable, and circular manner, powering a greener world.

The University of Oxford have developed a novel, inexpensive catalytic system for converting CO2 into sustainable aviation jet fuels by a one-step process using green hydrogen; a key platform for the aviation industry to deliver net-zero emissions. 

ColorSensing are developing an affordable smart packaging solution to help manufacturers cutting down waste consisting of a QR-shaped label where few pixels contain intelligent inks that react to different parameters inside the package, and an algorithm that allows reading the label automatically just with a simple picture of it.

Crover is centred around the first proprietary technology for locomotion in bulk solids (e.g. sand, grains, powders), through which the Crover team has built the world’s first ‘underground drone’ (a CROVER).  Crover's first product is a probing device that helps grain storage operators maintain the quality of their stock.

Hide Bitoech Ltd transform fish industry waste into a collagen-based sustainable leather substitute. As leather is 90% collagen, our material replicates properties of leather, while significantly reducing water consumption and pollution, carbon footprint, land use from leather production. Their material is suited for leather goods companies looking to reduce their environmental impact.

The Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub have developed a method to quantify the amount of post-consumer recycled content in plastics and packaging. The simple technology uses chemical auditing of fluorescent additives and is equally adept at quantifying chemically and mechanically recycled content to support both TrustMark schemes and the Plastic Packaging Tax.

The University of Padova have developed a new pasteurization method to increase the shelf life and microbial safety of food. The food is packaged in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) containing high concentration of CO2. The packaging is then compressed above supercritical CO2 conditions (>31°C and 7.38MPa), thus acting as a bactericidal agent. 

Bio-Sep Limited’s technology (BioSep+) converts lignocellulosic biomasses efficiently, cleanly and economically into cellulose, sugars and lignin. They use recoverable solvents which demands less energy by employing ultrasound to break the chemical bonds, producing quality separated products for use as platform chemicals in a wide range of industrial and domestic applications.

PQ-Net is a machine learning architecture that analyses powder X-ray diffraction datasets to accurately predict the presence of different material phases in multi-component samples and also to give quantitative information regarding various physico-chemical properties for each component such as the scale factor, lattice parameters and crystallite size of these phases. 

Naturbeads has developed biodegradable plant-based beads as a versatile substrate for enzyme immobilization. Naturbeads cellulose beads have the potential to replace current polystyrene and polyacrylates carriers, used in the biocatalysis industry for applications ranging from pharma to chemical and food, which are not biodegradable and contribute to microplastic pollution.

Synple Chem's automated capsule-based synthesiser works analogously to a capsule coffee maker. Requiring no optimisation, it is ideally suited to the needs of discovery chemistry. Following the addition of the starting material and a commercially available reagent capsule, the product is generated, isolated and purified at the touch of a single button.

ThioTech have developed a series of sulfur containing materials for capturing hazardous waste and precious metals, such as mercury and gold respectively. Benefiting from high sulfur content, high specific surface area and uniquely bonded sulfur - ThioTech materials are expected to outperform the incumbent industry standards in multiple applications.

Halogenation imparts molecular X-factor: enhancing bioactivity/bioavailability and the ability to build complex molecules. X-Genix have developed selective, economic and sustainable enzymatic halogenation using simple, non-toxic salts as starting materials.