
Four groundbreaking innovations that hold the potential to transform industries and address global challenges have been named winners of the 2023 Emerging Technologies Competition by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The champions will share a significant funding prize of £100,000, which aims to accelerate the growth and development of their ventures. Dr. Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, stressed the importance of recognizing and supporting technological advancements that contribute to sustainability and drive economic progress.
Among the winners, the University of Nottingham secured the top spot in the Enabling Technologies category with its scalable platform for enhancing manufacturing processes in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fine chemicals. The continuous-flow Vortex Reactor technology harnesses continuous photo-, electro-, and thermo-chemistry to streamline the production of complex molecules while minimizing chemical usage, solvents, and processing steps.
In the Energy category, Lambda Energy emerged as the winner with its groundbreaking solution to reduce agriculture's carbon footprint and bolster food security. Their light-changing materials technology claims the potential to boost farm production by 20% by increasing red light availability for plants, resulting in higher crop yields without relying on electricity.
Mode Labs Ltd. claimed victory in the Environment category with its optical microcavity technology designed for monitoring water pollution. The technology enables targeted intervention, improved regulatory compliance, and better environmental outcomes.
In the Health category, NIQS Tech (Leeds) Ltd. took the top spot with its cutting-edge sensors capable of measuring glucose levels without drawing blood or breaking the skin barrier. The next-generation optical sensors provide real-time measurements by simply touching the sensor with a finger, promising more effective and convenient diabetes management.
The Emerging Technologies Competition celebrates the most promising chemical science innovations, encouraging the commercialization of groundbreaking ideas and bringing attention to solutions addressing society's most critical challenges. Since its inception in 2013, the competition's 64 finalists and winners have raised an impressive £172 million in equity investment and grant funding. Additionally, several participants have achieved substantial successes, with one winner being acquired for £28 million, another finalist for £623 million, and one securing a $350 million IPO on the US Nasdaq.
Source: labnews.co.uk