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

Our Experts

Related Opportunities

Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) Phase 3: Spring 2024

Opens: 29/01/2024 Closes: 19/04/2024

Grant funding for feasibility and engineering studies, and for the deployment of industrial energy efficiency and deep decarbonisation projects.

More Information

Global Cement and Concrete Association: Innovandi Open Challenge 2024

Opens: 19/02/2024 Closes: 15/04/2024

GCCA are looking for start-ups working on Carbon Capture Use and Storage for low carbon concrete.

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Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2024 to 2025 Round 1

Opens: 13/02/2024 Closes: 10/04/2024

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

Tue
9
Jan
2024

SBRI Competition Briefing: Decarbonising concrete

12.30 - 13.30 | Online

Watch now
Wed
22
Nov
2023

Industrial Energy Transformation Fund Phase 2 - Technology Showcase

10.00 - 15.00 | Manchester

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Innovate UK announces the Concrete Commitment Cohort

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First Innovation Pavilion at UK Metals Expo

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Innovate UK worked with UK Metals Expo to successfully highlight transformative technologies in the metals sector at the first Innovation Pavilion.

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Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries (WINFI)

Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries (WINFI)

On International Women in Engineering Day 2022, the Innovate UK Business Connect Materials Team and the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge launched the Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) programme.

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