UK Catalysis Hub III launches with £12.5m EPSRC investment
UK CATALYSIS HUB III: Researching Catalysis for Net Zero and Sustainability
The UK Catalysis Hub is set to launch its third phase, with further investment over seven years from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and other partners, to prioritise and accelerate research into net zero and sustainable chemistry. The Hub is a national research and innovation hub bringing together researchers in 46 universities to define the future of chemical manufacturing.
Hub III will support scientists and engineers in universities and national facilities across the UK, who will work together to solve urgent challenges in manufacturing, recycling and pollution reduction. It will convene experts from across the branches of catalysis, with projects that connect research in chemistry, advanced experimentation, engineering, computational modelling and digital tools. It will also support the training and career development of early career researchers, postdoctoral scientists and postgraduate students working in catalysis in universities across the UK.
The EPSRC investment of £12.5m is accompanied by an additional £7m committed from partners (companies, national labs, universities and international partners) to support research and education across the Hub from 2025-2032. Hub III activities are designed to connect the UK researcher community with other expert consortia working in catalysis across the world.
UK Catalysis Hub III is made up of broad and inclusive partnerships, and is open to new partners. It already includes forty-six universities, fifteen companies, the STFC Harwell science facilities and thirteen international partners. Its ethos promotes team science across disciplines, as the key to the delivery of discovery science and innovations essential for a more sustainable future.
Hub III research challenges include the discovery of catalysts and processes to transform wastes like plastics or carbon dioxide into useful raw materials for the manufacturing sector. It will target high-volume chemicals such as methanol, ammonia and polymers as well as lower-volume specialties like agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Building on a long-standing partnership with STFC facilities, Hub III laboratories at the Research Complex at Harwell and expert scientists provide a gateway for catalysis researchers across the country to make best use of the expertise and instruments at the Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the Central Laser Facility and scientific computing.
Prof. Charlotte Williams FRS, Director of the UK Catalysis Hub III said:
Catalysts are essential for the future circular economy and sustainability. We all need to ask ourselves: where does all our stuff come from? Who makes it, and at what environmental price? What do we think happens to it after use?
“Our Hub III vision is to deliver future chemicals and materials that are effectively designed for efficiency, resource circularity and pollution reduction. Our work focusses on reducing reliance on petrol and gas, making clever use of wastes like carbon dioxide and plastics, increasing material recycling and driving down emissions throughout the product life cycle.
“Delivering a sustainable future needs creative, innovative and highly skilled scientists – education and training are at the heart of our work in the UK Catalysis Hub III and in helping to build the future research community. We hope to inspire our scientists and engineers to challenge conventional thinking and make those fundamental new discoveries without which innovation is impossible. Our Hub research teams tackle those complex questions that can only be solved by working together. Our partnerships help harness national communities and expertise to accelerate real-world implementation and impact.”
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair at EPSRC said:
The UK Catalysis Hub provides an important national capability that supports innovation and sustainability in the chemical and manufacturing industries. This further investment will enable researchers, working across disciplines, to continue developing new, sustainable chemicals and manufacturing processes. The Hub will tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from the climate crisis to plastic pollution, demonstrating the role of discovery science for a more sustainable future.
Further Information
Image credit: © Research Complex at Harwell. Photographer: David Fisher.
