Royal Society of Chemistry Launches £50,000 Emerging Technologies Competition 2026

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has opened applications for its Emerging Technologies Competition 2026, offering a £50,000 prize fund to support chemistry-led innovations that can drive economic growth and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future. Applications close on 13 April 2026, with finalists invited to present their ideas at a live pitch event in London on 21 July.

The competition recognises innovation across four categories: Enabling Technologies, Energy, Environment, and Health. Finalists benefit not only from financial awards but also from expert feedback and validation provided by leading industry partners, including Unilever, Johnson Matthey, Croda, AstraZeneca, and GSK.

Participants gain access to the RSC’s Change Makers programme, which includes a Venture Acceleration Programme for deep-tech start-ups and a pre-accelerator for spin-out development. Previous finalists have collectively raised £200 million in funding and advanced technologies to industrial-scale and clinical trial stages.

The competition also emphasises diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from start-ups, spin-outs, and academic researchers, particularly women and individuals from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds.

---

Key Points Relevant to Policymakers

• Supports commercialisation of deep-tech chemistry innovations aligned with sustainability and health priorities.

• Strengthens UK innovation ecosystems through partnerships with major global corporations.

• Demonstrates measurable economic impact (£200m raised by alumni).

• Promotes diversity in STEM entrepreneurship.

• Provides structured accelerator and IP support to bridge research-to-market gaps.