Contracts for Innovation: Resource Efficient Impacts (Automotive, Chemicals and Construction)

Organisations based in the UK, EU, EEA can apply for funding to develop the impact validation of a demonstrated resource efficiency solution.

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK (IUK) and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

IUK is offering funding through three strands under the Contracts for Innovation programme to support the validation of resource efficiency solutions in the chemicals, construction and automotive sector.

The programme builds on research from DESNZ and aims to accelerate the adoption of technologies and business models that contribute to a circular, low-carbon economy.

Projects must deliver an impact validation report, informed by a demonstration either carried out during the project or completed within the last five years.

Each strand targets a specific sector:

1. Resource Efficient Automotive Impacts
   
   Projects should focus on electric road vehicles, including passenger cars, light goods vehicles, HGVs, buses and coaches. Areas of interest include reducing embodied carbon, vehicle lightweighting, incorporating secondary content, promoting repair and remanufacture, designing for disassembly and recycling, and improving recovery of materials and components.
2. Resource Efficient Chemicals Impacts
   
   Projects should aim to improve resource efficiency and reduce life cycle emissions in the chemicals sector. Eligible themes include industrial symbiosis, redesign of formulations and products, use of captured CO₂, sustainable biomass, and recycling or valorisation of plastic and waste streams.
3. Resource Efficient Construction Impacts
   
   This strand supports solutions that lower embodied carbon and reduce emissions in construction. Focus areas include low-carbon materials, product reuse, extending building lifetimes, lean design, and disassembly and material recovery.