Foundation Industries
Situated in our industrial heartlands, these sectors include metals, ceramics, glass, chemicals, paper and cement, producing 28m tonnes of material per year, and are worth £52bn annually to the UK economy.
The Foundation Industries (metals, ceramics, glass, chemicals, paper and cement) produce 28 million tonnes of materials per year in the UK, but in doing so are by far the UK’s biggest industrial polluters: around 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year, or 10% of the total CO2 emitted by UK homes and businesses. If we are to meet our Paris Climate Change Agreement to reduce our CO2 emissions by 80%, a transformational change is needed by these industries in how materials are sourced and processed, and the types of products manufactured. Developing a resource and energy efficient foundation industry will also help anchor production in the UK through increased competitiveness.
The UK funding landscape evolves at a rapid speed, with new initiatives and opportunities constantly announced. The TFI funding landscape will ensure you are up to date with key opportunities and developments so that you can be best equipped and prepared in accessing this funding.
The TFI funding landscape covers a wide range of opportunities related to the Foundation Industries. This includes an overview of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) opportunities, Global Challenges Research and Newton Fund, Eureka and Horizon Europe, equipping you with knowledge of the external landscape to ensure that you are aware and prepared for upcoming opportunities.
Read our latest perspective about the Innovate UK Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) challenge here.
Lead Contact: Ajay Kapadia
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Related Opportunities
Rapidly find innovative solutions to tangible materials and manufacturing challenges
Opens: 24/08/2023 Closes: 30/09/2023
Innovate UK is now inviting expressions of interest from those looking to rapidly find innovative solutions to tangible materials and manufacturing challenges.
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UK - Singapore Collaborative R&D Call Sustainability and Net Zero
Opens: 14/08/2023 Closes: 06/12/2023
UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £5m with a Singapore partner to develop sustainable tech for emission reduction and a net-zero future.
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Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2023 to 2024 Round 5
Opens: 12/09/2023 Closes: 01/11/2023
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.
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Related Events and Recordings
Related News
08/08/2023
UK – India Collaboration in Transforming Foundation Industries
Innovate UK launched the Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge in 2020, as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Wave 3.
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20/07/2023
Mobilising demand for low carbon materials to achieve rapid industrial decarbonisation
On 24th May, Innovate UK, First Movers Coalition (FMC) and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) co-convened a roundtable discussion to understand how demand for low carbon materials can rapidly decarbonise industry. The discussion centred on two key questions: why does demand matter and how can it be harnessed to decarbonise industry at scale and pace?
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Programmes related to Foundation Industries
Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries (WINFI)
On International Women in Engineering Day 2022, the Innovate UK KTN Materials Team and the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge launched the Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) programme.