Towards a Net Zero World for the Chemicals Sector – New KTN Competition for Innovators

Are you an innovator who is developing a new process that could help the Chemical Sector reduce the carbon intensity of its products?

Would you like to exhibit and present at one of the UK’s premier conferences where you will have the opportunity to meet potential collaborators and customers from the Northern Power House industrial clusters?

Would you like to be profiled in KTN’s Report in this area?

If you answered ‘yes’ then you will be interested in this opportunity!

Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), funded by its partner Innovate UK, is excited to announce a competition to identify the top innovators in the UK who are developing technologies that can help the Chemical Sector reduce the carbon intensity of its products or processes as part of the journey towards Net Zero carbon emissions.

 

Selected companies will be provided with an opportunity to join KTN at the EvoNorth Conference (Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire Cricket Ground) on the 4th & 5th March 2020. EvoNorth represents the largest gathering of senior executives from the public and private sector in the North of England and this year Net Zero will be a key theme.

 

KTN will be hosting a conference session focused on innovation on day 1 and will also hosting exhibition space throughout the conference. The top innovators will be provided with exhibition space and an opportunity to pitch, providing a fantastic opportunity to raise their profile and network with potential collaborators and customers.

Why Should I do This?

Top innovators will be:

• Profiled in a KTN report which will analysing and highlight innovators who can help the chemicals sector move toward Net Zero
• Invited to pitch training with KTN‚Äôs expert Access to Funding and Finance team to help better prepare them for pitching
• Provided with exhibition space at EvoNorth
• Given an additional opportunity to pitch at EvoNorth alongside KTN
• Given a ticket to attend both days of the conference (valued at ¬£495)

How to Apply and Competition Process

This competition is open now and will close noon on the 20th January 2020. APPLY HERE.

It is a competitive process and places are limited. Applications will be evaluated by a panel based on the impact they could have on the manufacture of chemicals as part of a transition towards Net Zero. We will be taking a portfolio approach to ensure we showcase a wide mix of technologies.

 

We expect to notify companies of the results of the selection process by 24th January 2019. Successful companies will be invited to a 1-day pitch training session in London on 10 February; please hold this date.

 

Please also make sure you are available to attend Day 2 of EvoNorth on 5th March. NOTE, we are unfortunately not able to cover any travel, accommodation or subsistence costs associated with your participation.

Scope and Eligibility

This Competition is open to innovative businesses (start-ups, SME) operating in the UK.

 

We realise that alternative forms of energy and energy efficiency technologies will be critical in helping the chemical sector move to Net Zero; however, they are out of scope for this particular competition. Carbon Capture and Storage is also going to be a very important technology for cluster-based decarbonisation but is out-of-scope, however technologies focused on capturing carbon from waste gas streams and those that valorise carbon dioxide (CCU) are in-scope.

Background

This Competition is part of a larger project that KTN has been engaged to undertake by its partner Innovate UK to map existing UK research expertise, centres and areas of strength in relation to innovation development and scale-up relevant to the key decarbonisation technologies for the Chemical Sector. A report will be produced by KTN which captures our findings from this project. The questions contained within this Competition Survey will be used to help highlight the current capability within the UK innovation community.

 

This activity builds on the BEIS Chemical Sector Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Anyone considering applying should also be familiar with the BEIS Industrial Clusters Mission (which will impact the chemical industry residing within clusters) and may also want to review the Chemistry Council Sustainable Innovation for a Better World report.

 

For further details regarding the application process or the wider project please contact Peter Clark or Sheena Hindocha.