Over the last 8 years the Emerging Technologies Competition has partnered with some of the largest multinational companies in chemistry. Our competition partners not only help judge our finalists but provide advice and mentorship to the entreprenuers and the development of their technologies.
What our 2021 competition partners have to say
Johnson Matthey
"Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet’s natural resources.
At JM we turn science into customer solutions. We take our knowledge of chemistry and materials and use it to solve complex problems, whether that is scaling up manufacturing or developing new and next generation products. With over 200 years of sustained innovation and technological breakthroughs, our solutions improve the performance, function and safety of our customers’ products.

Innovation is at the heart of Johnson Matthey's longevity. From our earliest origins as a gold assayer, through to our market-leading inventions in catalytic science and pharmaceuticals, our scientists have long been at the forefront of innovation. We are committed to creating an environment where innovation can flourish, encouraging creativity and innovation within our business and engaging with organisations outside Johnson Matthey in a spirit of partnership and collaboration.
JM is full of incredibly talented people with a real passion for science and commitment to innovation. We take pride in the fact that what we do makes the world cleaner and healthier for millions of people around the world.."
Unilever
"On any given day, 2.5 billion people use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life – giving a unique opportunity to build a brighter future. We want our business to grow but we recognise that growth at the expense of people or the environment is both unacceptable and commercially unsustainable. Sustainable growth is the only acceptable model for our business. Our Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) is central to our business model. It sets out how we are growing our business, whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.
We believe that innovation will solve some of the greatest challenges facing our world. We are interested in transformational technologies that will help reduce the environmental impact of our products or improve health and well-being for our consumers. In particular, we are interested in technologies that will help us to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of our products, and in technologies that will help people to clean themselves and their homes in environments where there is a lack of water, or poor water quality."
Croda
"Croda is a speciality chemical manufacturer supplying ingredients into a wide range of consumer markets. Through the imaginative and practical use of science, we create ingredients and technologies that improve people’s lives by enhancing the performance of everyday products. Croda is the name behind the high-performance ingredients in some of the biggest, most successful brands in the world, creating products that are relied on by industries and consumers worldwide.
Innovation and sustainability are at the heart of Croda. Through close collaborations we have an in-depth knowledge of customers’ needs, which enables us to focus Research and Development in areas that will allow customers to meet new market opportunities. We do this by creating, co-creating, acquiring or licensing new technology and taking a proactive, leading position on sustainability. This can be seen from the materials we use and the way they are used, to the ingredients we create and the way they are created."
PETRONAS
"Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is a global energy and solutions company, ranked amongst the largest corporations on Fortune Global 500®.
We seek opportunities in energy investments both in hydrocarbon and renewables across the globe and maximise value through our integrated business model. Our portfolio includes conventional and unconventional resources as well as a diverse range of fuel lubricant, and petrochemical products. This is further strengthened with a successful product delivery track record. Our customers are at the heart of everything that we do, and our businesses are anchored on meeting their needs.
Our technology is our differentiator and the key to ensuring excellence in all that we offer – energy, products and solutions, as well as unlocking new business frontiers. Sustainability is at the core of everything that we do, as we believe in harnessing the good in energy to add quality to everyday lives. People are our strength and partners for growth. We believe in progressing with our partners in addressing the evolving needs in today’s changing energy landscape."
Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty
Driven by passion and innovation, Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty aims to bring delightful and memorable sensorial experiences to consumers around the world. Currently present in all major markets, we strive to be the creative partner of choice for customers not only in personal, fabric, hygiene and home care but also in fine fragrances and overall beauty. The Company is driven by its inspiring Purpose of creating fragrances and beauty products for “happier, healthier lives with love for nature”.
In our quest to implement our Company Purpose, science and technology plays a leading role in advancing our mission and achieving our goals towards more sustainable fragrances. At Givaudan, we believe in the power of possibility by continuously researching new sustainable innovative molecules to be used for fragrance creation and developing emerging scent technologies that make a difference. Our renowned team of scientists is the core of our ground-breaking research, working together to bring innovative fragrant solutions to our customers that also enhance the lives of their consumers around the world.
Eli Lilly
"Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work.
Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism."
PepsiCo
"PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $67 billion in net revenue in 2019, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. Winning with Purpose reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business".
AstraZeneca
"AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company with a major UK presence. Our purpose is to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. The best way we can help patients is to be science-led and share this passion with the scientific, healthcare and business communities of the UK.
At AstraZeneca, health is our business and our contribution to society. How we operate supports sustainable ecosystems for healthcare that benefit people and our planet through science-based innovation. Our aspiration is for the future to be healthy and for us to be an active participant in a healthy society, planet and business. Our pioneering medicines touch the lives of millions of people, so it is a business imperative that we are partners and advocates for solutions to global health. At the heart of our sustainability approach is access to healthcare and its connection to environmental protection and ethics and transparency."
RSSL
“Reading Scientific Services Limited (RSSL) is a global leader at the forefront of scientific analysis, consultancy, product development and training, serving the food, drink and consumer goods industries as well pharmaceutical and healthcare providers. For over 30 years we have been helping world leading companies and SMEs to develop and supply products that are safe, innovative, of the highest quality and meet the demands of legislation and consumers.
We are looking for innovative solutions which support our strategic growth needs and to create partnerships where everyone involved succeeds. We are interested in emerging technologies which in can radically improve our analysis offering or give new avenues for our product innovation, especially in the realms of healthy living, for example in helping us develop new vegan or low sugar products for our customers. Other areas of interest include novel or natural stabilisers for either texture enhancement or microbiological preservation applications.”
Reckitt Benckiser
''Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is a world leading consumer goods company helping people deal with the ever-more demanding pace of life. RB is one of the fastest growing companies in the health and wellbeing sector as well as household hygiene category.
In RB, we’re a growing community of 40,000+ diverse, talented entrepreneurs – united in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. Drawing on each other’s skills and working together, we put people at the heart of our business. Through research and development, science and partnership, we make products that people have loved and trusted for generations. Our focus on cutting-edge science and our strong sense of social responsibility stretches back to 1819. Together they have enabled us to help people lead healthier lives and have happier homes for over 200 years.
All our brands are grounded in science and led by consumer need. Our purpose is to innovate continuously and work with like-minded partners to transfer good ideas into products and provide them with customers all over the world. The results can be seen in brands including Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Scholl, and Strepsils. These trusted, global products are found in stores in nearly 180 countries across the globe.''
Walgreens Boots Alliance
"Walgreens Boots Alliance is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail, touching millions of lives every day through dispensing and distributing medicines, its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products. The company has more than 170 years of trusted healthcare heritage and innovation in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesaling with a unique hybrid model of retail and own brand portfolios.
Walgreens Boots Alliance mission is to be the first choice for pharmacy, wellbeing and beauty – caring for people and communities around the world. We help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives."
Scott Bader
Scott BaderScott Bader is a global chemical company. Established in 1921, it has a century of expertise in manufacturing Adhesives, Resins, Gelcoats and Functional Polymers for a variety of markets around the world. Scott Bader now employs 700 people across 6 manufacturing sites and 15 offices worldwide.
Scott Bader is committed to expanding its global reach, with recent ventures including North America, India, Japan and Australia, while continuing to build on its reputation for innovation, outstanding quality and technical expertise.
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