Innovate UK has announced the 18 projects selected in the Resource Efficiency for Materials and Manufacturing (REforMM) collaborative R&D competition.

The REforMM collaborative research and development (R&D) competition is supported through Innovate UK’s net zero make and use initiative.

The nominated organisations will complete collaborative R&D projects to de-risk new approaches to improve resource efficiency.

Resource efficiency

Broad adoption of resource efficiency is critical for economic growth, to protect our environment and ensure resilience of supply. However, maximum implementation of resource efficient solutions is a complex task.

Materials and manufacturing vision

This programme builds on the Innovate UK materials and manufacturing vision 2050.

The vision concludes that the UK has clear potential to become a world-class destination of choice for advanced low-carbon manufacturing. Improving resource efficiency is a key pillar in delivering this potential.

A number of the projects will be showcased at Materials Research Exchange (MRE) 2024 in April.

Mike Biddle, Innovate UK Executive Director for Net Zero, said:

There is so much the UK can do in the essential area of resource efficiency and it is exciting to see such a breadth of innovative projects. My team will work closely with all involved to help these innovations become successful, helping the UK to prosper from the transition to net zero.

David Elson, Innovate UK Head of Materials and Manufacturing, said:

Resource efficiency is recognised as critical for UK materials and manufacturing organisations to transition to net zero. These inspiring projects, and the wider REforMM programme, will develop innovations, refine business models and reduce the risk of adoption of resource efficiency through specification, skills development and facilitation of private investment.

Further information

The 18 projects

A digital framework for the design and additive manufacturing of lattice metamaterial structures (METAMAT)

Collaborators:

• Holdson Limited

• Lancaster University

• Teesside University

• Authentise Limited

• NS85 Limited

Additive manufacturing for repair and re-use of castings (AdCast)

Collaborators:

• Weir Minerals Europe Limited

• Manufacturing Technology Centre

• AI Build Limited

Carbon-neutral agroforestry-derived resins to materials for automotive applications (CARMA)

Collaborators:

• Bio-Sep Limited

• NCC Operations Limited

• SHD Composite Materials Limited

• Scott Bader Company Limited

• Centre For Process Innovation Limited

• Polestar Automotive UK Limited

Efficient netshape manufacturInG for reduced materials waste in production or thermoelectric coolers (ENIGMATEC)

Collaborators:

• Innovative Materials Limited

• European Thermodynamics Limited

• University of Birmingham

GRAPHene scaleup for strength ENHANCEd concrete (GRAPHenhance)

Collaborators:

• Nationwide Engineering Research and Development Limitd

• William Blythe Limited

• Thomas Swan & Co Limited

High performance 3D-Li anodes with recycled and sustainably sourced carbon scaffolds

Collaborators:

• Sigma Lithium Limited

• Gen 2 Carbon Limited

Improving resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through low-temperature, low-pressure ammonia synthesis

Collaborators:

• We Are Nium Ltd

• Cardiff University

• Teer Coatings Limited

Incredible Husk and WCM: Unlocking sustainable composite materials applications to support lifecycle decarbonisation of the automotive industry

Collaborators:

• Incredible Husk International Group Limited

• WCM Europe Limited

Industrial byproduct as an alternative construction material for the future economy

Collaborators:

• Green Lithium Refining Limited

• Sol Environment Limited

• 3X6 Limited

New tungsten carbide electrocatalysts for resource efficient green hydrogen electrolysis (neWCat)

Collaborators:

• Hardide PLC

• Cranfield University

Oakdale: a step-change in UK materials and manufacturing using carbon negative materials to achieve carbon neutral batch

Collaborators:

• Oakdale (Contracts) Limited

• Materials Processing Institute

Production resource optimisation of SiC fibre for net zero efficiency targets (PRONET)

Collaborators:

• Tisics Limited

• Centre For Process Innovation Limited

Pure Copper Resource Efficiency (Pure CuRE)

Collaborators:

• Aaeramine Limited

• Manufacturing Technology Centre

• Phoenix Scientific Industries Limited

Resource efficient additive manufacture of actuators (REAMA)

Collaborators:

• R53 Engineering Limited

• University of Warwick

• Polestar Automotive UK Limited

• Matsuura Machinery Limited

Revolutionising waterless textile dyeing through optical colour mixing and machine learning colour-recipe prediction

Collaborators:

• Amphibio Ltd

• University of Leeds

Scaling up Treekind®, a truly sustainable vegan leather alternative, completely free of plastic polyurethane

Collaborators:

• Biophilica Limited

• Centre For Process Innovation Limited

Sheep wool external wall insulation

Collaborators:

• Vector Homes Limited

• Wool Insulation Wales Limited

Smart model advancing reusability driven from track record of additive manufacturing to increase adaptability and predict product performance (SMART-APP)

Collaborators:

• Materials Processing Institute

• The Plastic Economy Limited

• Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited