Application

The Emerging Technologies Competition 2019 will open on May 7, it is free to enter and you can see more on our criteria for entering below. 10 companies from each category will be shortlisted to showcase their technology to a panel of judges. Those shortlisted will be announced in the week beginning 28 August 2019.

Key 2019 dates

Date

Stage

7 May - 15 July

1. Applications open online

28 August

2. Shortlisted companies announced

28-29 September

3.Cambridge Judge Business School Entrepreneurship Education Weekend for shortlisted companies in Cambridge

28-29 October

4. Shortlist companies technology showcase. 2 day showcase and exhibition at Chemistry Means Business in London

28 October

5. Winners announced at the Industry Awards in London. Winners will receive £10,000 cash prize

The competition categories

We welcome chemistry-driven innovation relating to improving and maintaining health.

Topic inspiration:

  • New drugs and therapies
  • Devices for drug delivery
  • Targeted drug delivery
  • Novel modes of drug administration for paediatrics and geriatrics
  • Diagnostic devices (in vivo and in vitro)
  • New technologies for infection prevention
  • Antimicrobials
  • Epigenetics
  • Screening, collection enhancement and monitoring
  • Sensors and microfluidics
  • Novel taste-masking technologies for pharmaceuticals

We welcome chemistry-driven innovation relating to securing clean energy and preserving the environment.

Topic inspiration:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Energy conversion and storage
  • Renewable fuels and renewable energy
  • Low energy cleaning
  • Waste minimisation
  • Renewable feedstocks
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Fuel cell and battery technology
  • Water/ air quality and purification
  • Chemicals from carbon dioxide
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Hydrogen storage and (bio)hydrogen production

We welcome chemistry-driven innovation relating to the sustainable production of safe and healthier food and drink.

Topic inspiration:

  • Healthy food and nutrition
  • Food safety
  • Smart ingredients
  • Novel delivery technologies
  • Food and raw material authenticity, security and traceability
  • Clean label
  • Food ingredient stability and monitoring
  • Crop protection and agricultural productivity
  • Water quality
  • Sustainable practices in process efficiency and waste minimisation

We welcome chemistry-driven ideas relating to developing advanced materials and enabling technologies for sustainable innovation.

Topic inspiration:

• Sustainability benefits in use
• Sustainable & smart packaging
• Polymers and coatings
• Delivery and encapsulation technology
• New technology for surface modification
• Soft matter materials
• Novel catalysts, including enzymes
• New composites
• Novel process technologies
• Novel characterisation methods
• Materials for extreme environments
• Crop protection and agricultural productivity

 

Eligibility criteria

• Applications from university entrepreneurs:<20 employees and <£2million turnover. 
• Applications from small companies:<20 employees and <£2million turnover.
• Technologies/ ideas must have a strong chemistry component and relevant to the competition categories: Health/ Energy & Environment/ Food & Drink/ Enabling technologies.
• Based in UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland.
• We advise that the technology you enter has some form of protection.
• Applicants are required to be available 28-29th of October in London if shortlisted.


Protect your ideas

Applying to the Emerging Technologies Competition counts as a public disclosure of your idea and it is your responsibility to protect it adequately before making an application.

Before applying, please ensure you are satisfied with the level of protection for any idea or material included in the application, and seek your own legal advice if necessary. We advise university groups to contact their technology transfer office if they require guidance.

Failure to do so may affect your ability to protect it in the future.

Applicants are not required include more detail about their ideas than they feel comfortable with or than is indicated in the online application form. However, please be aware that providing insufficient detail may affect the ability of the judges to make a fair assessment of your application.

There is no cost to enter the competition and you will retain full control and ownership of your technology.

Competition Partners and Judges

The competition judging faculty will be made up of; industrial partners, industry leaders and experts who work at or have worked for multinational companies and are global leaders in their fields. They will provide tailored support and guidance to all winners in each of our competition categories which has previously included: strategy reviews; assisting with market research; supporting funding bids; sample testing; introductions to new networks; and guidance on IP and regulation.

The applications will be judged according to the following criteria:

• The scientific feasibility of your technology
• The market opportunities and potential impact of your technology
• Your approach to commercialisation
• The stage of development of your technology will be taken into account in order to make a fair assessment of your application.

See more on
Judges
Competition Partners

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