The Royal Society of Chemistry has launched its 2021 Emerging Technologies Competition, inviting tech innovators, start-ups and spin outs from across the UK and Europe who are developing chemistry-driven technologies in the fields of Health, Food & Drink, Energy & Environment and Enabling Technologies to apply to the competition.

Now in its ninth year, the competition awards a share of £160,000 no-strings funding to accelerate the four winners’ technologies. The program also provides a unique platform for these innovators to engage directly with and learn from large multinational partners and judges – including AstraZeneca, Boots, Croda, Eli Lilly, Givaudan, Marks & Spencer, Pepsico, PETRONAS, Reckitt Benckiser, RSSL, and Unilever.

Past winners have gone on to raise a combined total of over £112m in equity investment and grant funding, with one company subsequently being sold for £28m. Winners and participants have significantly raised their profiles, expanded overseas, entered commercial contracts, conducted clinical and industrial scale trials, and collectively doubled their staff.

More information can be found on the Emerging Technologies Competition website. Entrants have until 18 April 2021 to submit their application and to spread the word to colleagues and peers to apply.