Taking the step from innovation to commercial application is a complex problem that chemical engineers lack knowledge and experience in. This project aims to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and enthusiasts who are developing new and innovative chemical engineering technologies across an array of sectors by creating a community for the sharing of best practice, knowledge, and experience.

With chemical engineering technology having application across multiple sectors, this project contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (2, 3, 6, 7, 12, and 13).

Project objectives

This two-year project aims to meet the following objectives:

1. To develop a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and enthusiasts whose start-ups and small medium enterprises (SMEs) are based on chemical engineering technologies.
   
2. To develop effective channels for the community of entrepreneurs to communicate with relevant external parties, such as organisations that provide investment and funding or expertise on intellectual property or taxation.
   
3. To develop effective channels for the community of entrepreneurs to inspire chemical engineering students and researchers to embark on the journey of technology entrepreneurship.
   
4. To educate entrepreneurs on topics that support start-ups.

Outputs

The outputs of the project will be as follows:

1. Online and in-person events and networking sessions for start-ups to showcase their innovations.
2. Technical webinar events on useful topics, such as intellectual property, patent law and access to open innovation portals for supporting chemical engineering entrepreneurs.

Timescales

The project will take place over two years. The following activities will take place in the first year, some of which will be confirmed in due course.

• 28 June 2022: UK and Singapore Networking Event (online)
• 21 September 2022: Webinar on Open Innovation hosted by Halo (view recording)
• 15 November 2022: Doctoral Researcher Introduction (view recording)
• UK, Singapore and Australia Demonstration Day Event (online)
• Entrepreneur Dialogues with Investors event (online)
• UK Networking event (online)
• Webinar on Patents hosted by the European Patent Office
• Webinar on Intellectual Property
• Webinar on Open Innovation Portals hosted by yet2

Further activities will be planned in the second year and detailed in due course.

Get involved

If you have an idea for, and are interested in delivering, a technical webinar to support this entrepreneurship community, please contact chemengmatters@icheme.org.

More information

If you would like to know more on this project, contact chemengmatters@icheme.org.