Contracts for Innovation: Chemicals Sector Efficiency Grant – 2025 Competition

Contracts for Innovation: Chemicals Sector Efficiency Grant – 2025 Competition is sponsored by Innovate UK Business Connect (KTN). Provides pre-commercial funding to advance cleaner, more efficient processes in the UK chemicals industry.

Contracts for Innovation: Chemicals Sector Efficiency Grant – 2025 Competition | FI Group UK Contracts for Innovation: Chemicals Sector Efficiency Grant – 2025 Competition Programme: Innovate UK Business Connect (KTN) Geographical Scope: national Key Features: Up to £3 million in pre‑commercial funding to advance cleaner, more efficient processes in the UK chemicals industry.

• Up to £3 million funding, awarded as a pre‑commercial contract • Designed for the chemicals and industrial materials sectors • Supports late‑stage validation or demonstration of resource‑efficient technologies • UK‑registered companies with TRL 5‑7 solutions are eligible • Part of the Contracts for Innovation – Resource Efficiency programme • Backed by Innovate UK Business Connect and chemicals sector challenge owners • Be a UK‑registered business (applying alone or as part of a consortium) • Have a validated prototype or demonstrator (TRL 5‑7) • Conduct all R&D in the UK and plan to exploit results from the UK • Capable of delivering the project by 30 April 2026 • Research organisations may join consortia but cannot lead or perform the majority of the work • Deadline: 27 August 2025 at 11:00 am UK time • Project start: From 1 October 2025 • Project end: No later than 30 April 2026 • Results notified: September 2025 This competition is led by Innovate UK, with delivery supported by: • Innovate UK Business Connect (KTN) – engaging chemicals sector challenge owners and fostering collaboration • Chemicals sector challenge owners – ensuring industry-driven innovation alignment The chemicals strand complements UK industrial strategy priorities in decarbonising resource-intensive processes and advancing clean, efficient production methods.

It aligns with initiatives such as the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and Clean Growth Strategy, accelerating adoption of low-carbon technologies. This strand of the 2025 Contracts for Innovation (Chemicals) competition focuses on resource-efficient solutions for the UK chemicals sector, aligned with net‑zero and circular economy objectives.

• Catalysis, reaction pathways or feedstock substitution • Separation, purification or process intensification • Solvent and reagent innovations • Improvements to energy efficiency, water use or raw material recovery • Substitutes for toxic or high‑impact materials • Technologies enabling low‑carbon industrial clusters • Projects must be deployable within 2–5 years and align with UK Net Zero Industrial Clusters • Awards issued as pre‑commercial procurement contracts (not traditional grants) • Total fund per strand: £3 million (including VAT) • Funding pays for specific R&D services, not equity or IP • Projects must start from 1 October 2025 and finish by 30 April 2026 • Applicants must outline clear deliverables and commercial relevance • Access up to £3 million in non‑dilutive funding • Position your solution within national clean industry priorities • De‑risk scale‑up and validation of high‑impact industrial technologies • Showcase your innovation to key sector stakeholders and potential partners • Retain your IP with future commercial potential Our Service Offering in Grants At FI Group UK, we help businesses unlock funding for innovation through expert support in grant discovery, bid writing, management, and innovation loans.

From early-stage project scoping to full application and delivery support, our team ensures your funding journey is efficient, strategic, and successful.

Bid writing : crafting compelling, compliant applications with strong technical and commercial narratives Grant management : supporting delivery, reporting, and compliance throughout the project lifecycle Innovation loans : helping secure and manage Innovate UK loans for late-stage development and market readiness Book An Introductory Meeting Our Service Offering in Grants At FI Group UK, we help businesses unlock funding for innovation through expert support in grant discovery, bid writing, management, and innovation loans.

From early-stage project scoping to full application and delivery support, our team ensures your funding journey is efficient, strategic, and successful.

Bid writing : crafting compelling, compliant applications with strong technical and commercial narratives Grant management : supporting delivery, reporting, and compliance throughout the project lifecycle Innovation loans : helping secure and manage Innovate UK loans for late-stage development and market readiness Book An Introductory Meeting Read Our 2025 International Grants Guide Trusted by Innovators Across the UK Discover how businesses like yours have benefited from our expertise in R&D tax credits and innovation funding.

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