Enabling Technologies Winner 2021

WINNER Sustainable Enabling Technology 2021

For

Ultrasonic Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to High Value Chemicals.

The Emerging Technologies Competition is the Royal Society of Chemistry’s annual initiative for early stage companies and academic entrepreneurs who want to commercialise their technologies to make a societal impact.

We were amongst the 24 finalists invited to pitch their technologies to a judging panel of industry heavyweights at an exciting virtual live final. We are thrilled to announce that we won our category; as an enabling technology.

Bio-Sep were chosen as winners as ''their technology aims to solve a critical global challenge namely the need for renewable carbon sources, and it looks to do this by making efficient use of an abundant waste stream.''

Jo Slota-Newson continued that ‘the judges were impressed with the breadth and depth of capabilities in the interdisciplinary team and, while the technology has a significant development path ahead, the team demonstrated a thoughtful approach that focused on the critical elements of scale-up. So we very much looking forward to seeing their progress from here on.’

Our chief chemist Dr Andy West, pitched our technology to an impressive panel of judges from global companies including AstraZeneca, PepsiCo and Unilever, organisations that we aspire to partner with in the future as we bring our products to market, including AstraZeneca, PepsiCo and Unilever. 

Thrilled by winning our category and the impact it will have as we commercialise our technology over the coming year, he responded;

“For a small company to get this level of recognition from an organisation like the Royal Society of Chemistry and all of the judges involved is amazing, and the difference it will make is huge. Just that recognition that we’re making a difference or trying to make a difference is really really good, and the external validation will be brilliant for us.

“We’re in this take-up stage where we are really trying to push to get our technology on the market and one of the things we’re missing – which this win will really help with – is that validation of the products that we make, so we can now get a lot of external validation which would have previously been a big challenge for us – and that, again, will be a game changer for us.”

The prize includes a £20,000 cash prize, further business acceleration grants and a RSC mentor. We look forward to meeting the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Entrepreneur in Residence – Steve Pleasance, who will start our mentoring programme.

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