TFI Challenge backs eight new projects

The projects have secured a combined £24m of UK Research and Innovation funding for industrially scaled demonstrator projects through the Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge.

The competition, delivered by Innovate UK, ran from January to March this year, following an expression of interest phase at the end of 2021. The opportunity forms part of the TFI challenge’s work to fund research and development projects that demonstrate future technologies, capable of addressing the resource or energy efficiency challenges.

Applicants were also required to show cross-sector and collaborative elements, with significant industry investment and opportunities. A total of eight projects were successful in their applications, with extra funding being made available due to the strength of the project proposals.

Successful projects include European Metal Recycling Ltd’s project RECTIFI, which will demonstrate novel materials handling and separation techniques to increase the quality of scrap for a more circular supply chain in the steel industry – as well as reducing emissions and exported waste.

A second project is led by Carbon Upcycling Technologies UK, an award-winning Canadian startup, which will demonstrate a solution that converts local low-grade, contaminated glass cullet into high-performance feedstocks for the cement industry.

As well as capturing CO2 from cement plant emissions, the project will help reduce cement requirements in concrete mix through superior strength and durability performance. The other winners include projects tackling issues that include sensor technology, heat and hydrogen production, bio-based resins, and a range of waste re-use opportunities between different foundation industries.
 
"Underpinned by circular economy thinking the Foundation Industries and their supply chain partners are bringing forward a range of new innovations as they move towards a sustainably competitive future," said Bruce Adderley, challenge director for the Transforming Foundation Industries challenge. “But these need to be demonstrated at scale if they are to be rapidly deployed in the UK, and taken to international markets.

"That is why we are delighted to be able to support these projects which have huge potential to address decarbonisation through inter-industry collaboration focused on resource and energy efficiency," he added. 

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