Innovate UK

Oceanium develops innovative, all-natural food products and nutraceuticals from sustainably-sourced seaweed. It uses proprietary biorefinery technology and green chemistry processes to create bioactive ingredients and sustainable materials, promoting coastal community development and a regenerative food system.

Biovit is a company that specializes in the development of fortified foods. It uses 100% organic plant extracts, naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, to enhance the nutritional value of its products. The company aims to address health and environmental issues such as obesity and malnutrition, while also reducing food waste. Biovit has clinically developed and tested organic micronutrient blends for use in various food and beverage products, as well as supplements, providing consumers with organically sourced, nutrient-dense options.

Fuse Diagnostics develops innovative diagnostic products designed to deliver lab-quality information quickly and at a lower cost. Their solutions cater to food and water testing, bioprocessing industries, and cell biology research.

Industrial Robotic Solutions creates a robotic selecting and placement solution that automatically deposits fresh ingredients into industrially manufactured sandwiches.

British Sugar plc produces and markets sugar for international food and drink manufacturers. It also offers aggregates, animal feeds, bioethanol, electricity, tomatoes, soil, and liming products.

Clean Food Group develops sustainable food ingredients and fats and oils alternatives, ranging from liquid oils such as soybean to hard fats like palm oil, cocoa butter, and milk fat, aimed at reducing environmental impact while preserving taste and performance. It also builds a cellular agriculture system to commercialize palm oil production by fermentation using proprietary non-GM yeast, providing a sustainable, local, and circular alternative to traditional palm oil that does not contribute to deforestation.

The Good Pulse Company develops functional proteins and ingredients derived from pulses for use in plant-based foods and supplements, including plant-based cheeses and meats. It concentrates on maximizing the functionality and nutritional value of components extracted from pulse seeds such as peas and soy, and pursues the production of functional meat proteins through precision fermentation to offer sustainable, ethical food options without compromising taste or experience.

Modern Baker creates ground-breaking 'clean label' ingredient technologies to improve the nutritional profile of carbohydrate-based ultra-processed foods for the greater benefit.

Futraheat is an innovative company focused on developing high-temperature heat pump technology, specifically its TurboClaw system, aimed at facilitating the decarbonization of industrial heat processes. By providing cost-effective solutions, Futraheat enables a practical transition for various industries, including pharmaceuticals and food production, to shift from fossil fuel dependence to a zero-carbon alternative. The company's technology harnesses renewable electricity to deliver sustainable heating solutions, thereby contributing to the broader goal of reducing carbon emissions in industrial applications.

The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) serves as a collaborative hub uniting academia, industry, government, and public policy to address the challenges posed by biofilms, which significantly impact global economic activity across sectors such as food, health, shipping, clean water, and energy. Supported by funding from the BBSRC, Innovate UK, and Hartree Centre, NBIC's mission focuses on fostering a network for research and innovation that catalyzes partnerships with industry to drive breakthrough innovations. The Centre facilitates the exploration of unmet needs and the exchange of ideas through various initiatives, including roadmaps, workshops, and conferences. Additionally, NBIC is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of scientists through PhD and Post-Doc programs, alongside entrepreneurial training, aimed at enhancing their expertise and understanding of the commercial landscape while promoting the creation of new start-ups.

Libereat employs machine learning SaaS technology to automatically detect hazardous errors in food data for large brands, which traditional safety methods often overlook. This helps prevent consumer harm and fatalities, reducing severe costs, regulatory issues, legal liabilities, and reputational damage for food businesses.

Oceanium develops innovative, all-natural food products and nutraceuticals from sustainably-sourced seaweed. It uses proprietary biorefinery technology and green chemistry processes to create bioactive ingredients and sustainable materials, promoting coastal community development and a regenerative food system.

Better Nature Ltd. is a UK-based company specializing in the production of organic plant-based protein products. Founded in 2018 and located in Chesterfield, the company primarily offers a range of tempeh products, including tempeh mince, tempeh rashers, smoked tempeh, and lupin tempeh. These products are designed to provide nutrition for vegan diets, leveraging the benefits of tempeh, which is created through the fermentation of cooked soybeans. This process yields a protein-rich, gluten-free food that is also high in prebiotics and fiber. Better Nature distributes its offerings through an online platform, making its products accessible to a wide audience.

Datalase Ltd., based in Widnes, United Kingdom, is a leading provider of materials for laser coding and marking of products and packaging. The company specializes in developing innovative materials that can be incorporated into inks, coatings, and varnishes, enabling high-speed, in-line digital printing of variable information with lasers. This technology allows for late-stage customization on outercases, products, and primary packaging across various markets, including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, food and beverage, electronics, cosmetics, and tobacco. Datalase's solutions are used to print date and lot codes, 2-D data matrix codes, barcodes, images, and graphics. The company operates through a partner network in Europe, the United States, and Asia, and has strategic partnerships with SATO and PARC. Originally incorporated in 1987 as Sherwood Technology Ltd., the company changed its name to Datalase Ltd. in January 2006.

Aramune Technologies develops natural, plant-derived feed materials that can be mixed with standard animal feeds. These materials replace antimicrobial agents and promote growth in livestock.

Mimica develops a patented, bio-responsive label called 'Bump' for perishable products. Bump changes texture based on actual temperature conditions to indicate product freshness accurately and reduce waste.

Nandi Proteins Limited is a UK-based company, established in 2000 and spun out of Heriot Watt University in 2001. Formerly known as Nandi Biotechnology Limited, the company specializes in developing innovative technologies to enhance the functional properties of proteins used in food manufacturing and nutrition. Nandi Proteins focuses on improving common proteins such as whey, egg, and soy through patented processes that utilize controlled heat, time, and temperature. The company's goal is to lead the market in denatured protein technology, offering value-added protein products and pursuing strategic licensing agreements with industry partners. By leveraging its expertise, Nandi Proteins aims to deliver significant growth and provide manufacturers with the ability to enhance the physical characteristics and health benefits of food and beverage products while also enabling the cost-effective extraction of valuable components.

G2O’s graphene-based coatings technology provides efficient and cost-effective solutions to a broad range of filtration applications and can be used in conjunction with existing filtration membranes and systems. The technology has the potential to be used across multiple markets including the treatment of produced water in the oil & gas industry for oil and water separation, industrial and processed wastewater treatment, processing and wastewater treatment in the food, beverage, and dairy industries, domestic water filters, and desalination.