The UK’s foundation industries are vital for its manufacturing and construction sectors. The foundation industries are:
- cement
- metals
- glass
- paper
- ceramics
- chemicals
The challenge aims to transform the UK’s foundation industries by:
- making them internationally competitive
- securing more jobs throughout the UK
- growing the sector by 2024 in an environmentally sustainable way
The ‘Transforming foundation industries’ (TFI) challenge is part of the ‘clean growth’ theme of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
Our work
The challenge’s programme is addressing barriers affecting the sector in a number of ways. The following are examples of current projects.
Scaling innovation
In partnership with St Helens Council, Liverpool City Region and the not-for-profit company Glass Futures, we are establishing a £57 million open access facility. This will scale up and commercialise sustainable glass manufacture.
Industry-led innovation
We are launching a series of industry-led collaborative research and development competitions. These are focused on cross-sector working, skills, knowledge transfer and adoption, with the aim of transforming the sector’s thinking.
Projects funded to date can be found in our portfolio, Shaping the future for the foundation industries in the UK.
University technology transfer
We are establishing an EPSRC research and innovation hub, which will connect high-quality innovators from universities with companies that can use their technology in industrial settings.
Transforming Foundation Industries Research and Innovation Hub (TransFIRe)
Supporting innovation
Through TFI Network+ and Foundation Industries KTN, we are helping to coordinate and develop a network across the foundation industries that will remove common barriers to innovation and adoption.
Providing late-stage finance
Through partnerships with private equity institutions, we are leveraging our funding to provide capital for fast-growing small and medium-sized enterprises.
Partners
Our partners include:
All our partners are supporting the development of a vibrant foundation industries community. This includes organising many virtual and face to face workshops and presentations, as well as networking events.
Foundation Industries Future Leaders Group
We have set up a future leaders group for this challenge to help the UKRI challenge team engage deeper into the foundation industry sectors and provide active feedback around initiatives and support programmes.
About the Foundation Industries Future Leaders Group.
Funding
Our funding opportunities may fund research and development projects that are classed as feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development.
For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, the following intervention rates may apply:
- up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 50% if you are a large organisation
For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, the following intervention rates may apply:
- up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 35% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 25% if you are a large organisation
Capital costs may be funded through some funding opportunities with intervention rates of up to 80%.