KTN is offering a valuable package of training & support to a cohort of 10-15 promising early & late-stage innovators, in order to accelerate their pathway towards commercialisation and enabling the UK to build more resilient chemical supply chains.
The purpose of the SME Accelerator Programme is to provide a valuable package of training & support to a cohort of 10-15 promising early & late-stage innovators, in order to accelerate their pathway towards commercialisation.
This particular programme is about accelerating innovative Chemistry & Industrial Biotechnology solutions for a Net Zero World, enabling the UK to build more resilient chemical supply chains.
Over a five-month period (Nov 2020 – Mar 2021), KTN will take a cohort of early- and late-stage innovators through a programme that is designed to help them take the next step in their development journey towards commercialisation and make them more attractive to public and private investors.
This package of support and training will be delivered online and is designed to be flexible around the specific needs of early- and late-stage innovators. The programme includes:
- 1-1 KTN support from KTN sector experts including an Innovation Canvas session to help identify particular innovation challenges and prioritise actions to take your business to its next stage in development.
- Scale-up support: The opportunity to engage with and learn from experts in scaling up technologies and processes.
- Industry insights: The opportunity to hear from leading, established companies in the chemical supply chain about their own Net Zero strategy and innovation priorities, providing a great opportunity for innovators to gain exposure to these companies and understand the potential for collaboration and investment.
- Specialist business support: We will provide access to business support experts who can provide advice on IP, tax credits, export markets, etc to help your business grow.
- Investment readiness training provided by KTN expert Emma Fadlon. This will include: insights from leading investors about what they look for when they invest; training in how to prepare an effective pitch; and critique on your pitch from a panel of experts.
- The opportunity to improve your external profile and attract private investment: The top innovators from our cohort will be selected to showcase and pitch to investors and industry partners at a Showcase event (March 2021). KTN will provide innovators with exposure throughout the programme including at the Showcase event.
Who’s involved
This programme is led by KTN and sponsored by Innovate UK.
Confirmed Partner organisations include: Unilever, Croda, Lubrizol, IBioIC, Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), EarlyMarket LLP, Carbon Limiting Technologies, Ikigai Capital, Clean Growth Fund, UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund and Sustainable Ventures.
Who should apply
This programme is open to innovative and ambitious SMEs and start-ups who believe they:
- Are developing the next wave of technologies that could be deployed in 2030-50 to make a substantive impact in meeting the UK and global Net Zero ambitions; and/or
- Can enable the production of chemicals with a lower/zero carbon footprint; or through their innovative product, will enable substantive emission reductions in downstream sectors; and/or
- Are developing processes and technologies that can enable the UK to build more resilient and local chemical supply chains.
The KTN is particularly keen to hear from innovators whose core IP is in: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Digitisation; Artificial Intelligence fields. Also, innovators who are working in the following themes: Alternative feedstocks; Catalysis; Chemical Recycling of chemicals/ materials; process intensification. The KTN is open to applications from other fields and themes as long as they can justify how they will meet the other criteria.
The deadline for submissions is midnight 30 Sept 2020. All applicants will be notified of the outcome in early October.
For more information and to apply, please follow this link
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