The competition is free to apply and applications open on 11 May 2020. We welcome applicants from UK and Europe whose tech have a strong component of chemistry and falls in one of the following 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 and spin outs
• Applications from small companies
• 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.
Competition timeline
| 11 May 2020 | Applications open |
| July 2020 | Applications close |
| August 2020 | Finalists announced |
| 28 September 2020 | Finalists present their technology |