Sustainability

The world is changing at an ever greater pace. Industry and innovators are responding, working together to create the products, services and businesses of the future. KTN is here to help.

We make the full range of diverse connections required to shape a more positive future: technology, design, supply chains, business models, behaviour change, systems change. We are committed to driving innovation that is sustainable – responsible, resilient and even regenerative.

KTN helps drive innovation that can reduce industry’s environmental footprint and improve resource efficiency, and also create benefits such as competitive advantage and enhanced value-add for the customer. By making the right connections – for instance to cutting edge knowledge & research, the best solution providers, and testing facilities.

KTN helps innovators navigate the journey to market fruition. We make connections to the multitude of skills and assets required to bring any product or service to market. And of course the funding and finance that might be required.

KTN works extensively with stakeholders – from national and regional government to national and regional government, Catapults, clusters, trade associations, learned institutions, expert consultancies, think tanks and charities. We connect seemingly disparate stakeholders to shape a better innovation landscape, and multiply the impact that any one of these organisations could have alone. To help drive positive change.

To explore this topic further take a look at the Horizons tool.

Our current focus in this area

As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, we are changing the demand profile on many materials. But at the same time, as the world population rises, resulting in an ever increasing demand for energy and products which puts increasing pressure on materials (and their supply chains), we are also generating more and more ‘waste’.

The Decarbonising Ports & Harbours Innovation Network’s overarching objective is to raise the profile of the critical part ports and harbours need to play in Maritime transport’s transition to net zero by 2050 and accelerate this transition by giving clear direction.

Governments across the globe are working and deploying plans to reduce carbon and particulate emissions to improve the environment for generations to come.

Empowering organisations in their journey to Net Zero. The UK has committed to an ambitious Net Zero target by 2050. To help realise these goals, KTN is delivering a range of Net Zero solutions that will have an impact on the large-scale change the planet needs.

Connecting the UK’s growing Chemicals community with industrial collaborators, research-base expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

The KTN supports the offshore wind industry as a major contributor to the ORE Catapult innovation hub funded by BEIS, as well as supporting the companies who are making applications for funding for offshore renewables.

The Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging activity at KTN is proactively driving engagement and collaboration as part of the core programme of the UKRI ISCF Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP).

KTN supports the SuperSolar Network Plus with the Head of Infrastructure acting as Chair to the Network Industrial Advisory Group. Through this group, and programmes such as Energy Catalyst as described above, KTN is actively brokering B2B and B2A linkages.

Liquid fuels will be a requirement for long-haul air travel in the longer term and a requirement for short haul whilst new technologies such as electric and electric/hybrid are developed. Aviation contributes around 2-3% to global CO2 emissions; through the International Civil Aviation Organization, the industry is committed to carbon neutral growth from 2021.

The world is changing at an ever greater pace, and manufacturers are responding – improving the products they make and the way they make them. This enables reduced environmental footprint and improved resource efficiency, but also creates benefits such as competitive advantage and a closer alignment with the customer’s needs.

Related Opportunities

ISCF SSPP Collecting flexible plastic packaging waste at home

Opens: 27/02/2023 Closes: 12/04/2023

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £250,000 to develop innovative ideas that help with the collection of flexible packaging waste from households.

More Information

Novel, low-emission food production systems: feasibility studies and industrial research

Opens: 18/01/2023 Closes: 19/04/2023

Apply for a share of up to £16m to deliver resource efficient, low-emission food production systems, including alternative proteins and Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA).

More Information

Launchpad: Net Zero, MFA, Tees Valley, Round 2

Opens: 13/02/2023 Closes: 29/03/2023

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for projects that grow activities in the net zero innovation cluster centred on Tees Valley. This Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) funding is from Innovate UK.

More Information

Battery manufacturing training initiative: expression of interest

Opens: 07/03/2023 Closes: 04/04/2023

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million to establish at least one training initiative for battery manufacturing. This funding is from the Faraday Battery Challenge. This is a phase 1 EoI of a potential 2 phase competition.

More Information

European Commission Plastics Related Funding & tender opportunities

Opens: 01/03/2023 Closes: 22/02/2024

Horizon Europe funding for reducing plastic pollution, pollutant monitoring, circular economy, and biodegradation validation. Various closing dates.

More Information

V2X Innovation programme: bi-directional charging demonstrations

Opens: 21/03/2023 Closes: 10/05/2023

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £9.4m for small scale demonstrations of novel Vehicle to everything (V2X) energy technology providing storage and flexible services under Phase 2 of the V2X Innovation Programme.

More Information

Related Events and Recordings

Thu
26
Jan
2023

Innovate UK's Net Zero Living Programme: Fast Followers Competition Briefing

15.00 - 16.00 | Online

Watch now
Thu
26
Jan
2023

Horizon Europe: Climate calls, Mission Adaptation to Climate and Mission Cities

10.00 - 12.00 GMT | Online

Watch now
Mon
20
Mar
2023

Glimpse of the Climate Future workshop - March 2023

14.00 - 16.00 | Online

Recording coming soon
Wed
1
Feb
2023

Local Net Zero Targets & Behaviour Change

11.00 - 12.00 | Online

Watch now
Tue
28
Feb
2023

Energy-smart places: delivering net zero

09.00 - 17.00 | Manchester & Online

Recording coming soon
See all events

Our Experts

Related News

Net Zero Talk: Episode 5 - Common challenges to meeting net zero

16/11/2022

Net Zero Talk: Episode 5 - Common challenges to meeting net zero

Read more
HydroGenerally - Episode 6: Waste to Hydrogen

28/11/2022

HydroGenerally - Episode 6: Waste to Hydrogen

Listen to this discussion on why converting waste to hydrogen is so important, and explore the hydrogen transition opportunities and challenges in this sector, with Innovate UK KTN’s Steffan Eldred and Debra Jones, who are joined by special guest Rob Dent from BOC UK & Ireland.

Read more
More News

For general enquiries regarding our Sustainability sector contact us now

Close

Connect with Innovate UK KTN

Join Innovate UK KTN's mailing list to receive updates on funding opportunities, events and to access IUK KTN’s deep expertise. Please check your email to confirm your subscription and select your area(s) of interest.