Emerging Technologies Competition 2026 is live – APPLY NOW!
Providing a platform for the next generation of chemistry innovators, start-ups and spin outs
This year’s Emerging Technologies Competition will provide a platform for the next generation of innovators, start-ups and spin outs to come forward with innovative and promising chemistry tech, tackling key societal challenges.
The programme provides a unique platform for innovators to build exposure and unrivalled industry validation for their projects, as well as engage directly with and learn from our partners and judges . This year, our panel includes experts from multinationals, including AstraZeneca, BP, Ceres Power, Croda, Givaudan, Innospec, Johnson Matthey, GSK, Petronas, RSSL, and Unilever, as well as newly recruited entrepreneurship experts from companies including AQDOT, Xampla, and Carbometrics, who have walked the walk on the entrepreneurship journey.
Alex Heaffey, RSC Entrepreneurship Programme Manager and organiser of the Emerging Technologies Competition, said: “We always want to ensure the competition reflects the continual evolution of chemistry. This year’s event sees additional recognition for technologies aimed at tackling our 2026 Change Makers themes of sustainable PLFs, polymers in liquid formulations, and PFAS – so called ‘forever chemicals’.
“This means that technologies from early-stage spin-outs and start-ups turning the dial on these two challenge areas can now apply for an additional Change Makers Spotlight Prize. We’re also adding in a second prize in each category, recognising the difficulty our expert judges have every year in selecting just one winner”.
“And as ever, our judges will be looking for creativity, technical feasibility, a realistic approach to commercialisation, alongside genuine impact and market potential.”
A proven route to success
Over the 13 years of the competition, we have welcomed more than 1,400 applications from agile tech innovators, start-ups and spin-outs. In turn over 350 finalists have been selected to present to our dedicated panel of judges and competition partners, leading to 79 crowned winners.
Many of the competition entrants have gone on to commercial success, with previous winners going on to raise a combined total of over £149m in equity investment and grant funding. Others have successfully conducted clinical and industrial scale trials, entered commercial production and duly expanded overseas. A number of eligible finalists and winners have also joined our Change Makers pre-acceleration and Venture Acceleration Programmes, which have helped them develop everything from their business value proposition and intellectual property strategy to their networks with other entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors.
Tackling global issues
Previous winners have presented solutions to an incredible variety of issues, from stabilising vaccines without refrigeration to converting waste carbon dioxide into useful biochemicals. In 2026, the competition is once again calling on entrants to demonstrate the challenges they could help to overcome for the benefit of the scientific community, industry and society as a whole.
Our Emerging Technologies Competition team are very much looking forward to seeing the creative ideas and innovations that are going to help shape the world of tomorrow.
Applicants have until 13 April 1PM BST to submit their entries. A shortlist of finalists will be revealed in early June, ahead of the Emerging Technologies Competition live final on 21 July.