Radar · Chemicals and Materials Tech in United Kingdom
Best Chemicals and Materials Tech Companies in United Kingdom
The 297 best Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Plastic Energy.
By Riya SenguptaFinancials
297companies tracked
$1.5Bdisclosed funding
0unicorns
143have raised
Ranked by disclosed equity funding and recent momentum, the 297 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies we track across the United Kingdom have pulled in $1.5 billion in total disclosed funding, and that number tells you something real about where deep-materials science sits right now. No unicorns yet. But the top of the field earns its place on scale: Colorifix leads at $31 million raised, Haydale sits at $24 million, and PhaseCraft has secured $22 million, each backed by a mix of institutional players and public programs including EIC Fund and Ukri. So what's actually moving capital here? EV battery technology, next-generation EV platforms, and drive system innovations are the dominant themes pulling investment toward electrochemical and advanced materials specialists.
The sector's digital footprint backs the momentum story. Median install growth across chemicals and building materials apps is running at roughly plus-18% year-over-year across 32 tracked apps, which I'd call a quiet confirmation that procurement and specification workflows are shifting fast. Investors like Europa and Undaunted are circling early, and companies like Xampla and Immaterial, both at $18 million raised, show that sustainable and computational materials aren't fringe bets anymore. If you're sizing up where serious capital is concentrating in UK deep-tech materials, this directory is the place to start.
FLIAR INTELLIGENCE · CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS TECH × UNITED KINGDOM
Our analysis of 50 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies
$4.4b in tracked funding; 79% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
50companies analysed
79%cloud-native stacks
2025funding peak (by rounds)
1unicorns
2015median founding year
314kcombined LinkedIn audience
33%of audience held by top 3
9companies hiring publicly (12 mo)
Ranked: Best Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Web popularity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plastic Energy Operator of chemical recycling plants converting end-of-life plastics into recycled feedstock | $168M | 55 mo ago | 200 | 2011 | Carlos Monreal Founder | Top 10M | 94 patents Converting end-of-life plastics to pyrolysis oil and refining contaminants | 1 award |
| 2 | ONI Biotechnology company specializing in super-resolution microscopy systems | $113M | 53 mo ago | 143 | 2016 | Achillefs Kapanidis Co-Founder | Top 5M | — | 3 launchs |
| 3 | CIRCTEC Producer of sustainable fuels and circular chemicals from end-of-life tyres 35Funding top 21%Talent top 38%Growth top 43%Moat bottom 48% All 8 signals ▾Fundingtop 21% Talenttop 38% Growthtop 43% Moatbottom 48% Globalbottom 39% Techbottom 35% Newsbottom 27% Marketbottom 25% Funding: Raised $81.5M across 9 rounds · 9 rounds over 2 yrs (4.5/yr) Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100 | $82M | 20 mo ago | 7 | 2009 | Allen Timpany Co-Founder & CEO | Top 10M | — | — |
| 4 | Polymateria Developer of biodegradable and compostable plastics 48Moat top 21%Patents top 33%Innovation top 39%Funding top 39% All 11 signals ▾Moattop 21% Patentstop 33% Innovationtop 39% Fundingtop 39% Growthtop 45% Producttop 49% Talentbottom 49% Techbottom 47% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 41% Newsbottom 27% Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 63 patents Patents: 63 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 22 filings since 2022 vs 41 in 2017-21 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 48/100 | $79M | 38 mo ago | 34 34 → 47 (+38%) · sector median +71% | 2015 | Lee Martin Co-Founder | Top 50M | 63 patents Biodegradable polymer production methods and compositions for sustainable packaging materials | 1 internship · 3 awards |
| 5 | VitroLabs Provider of artificial lab-grown leather materials 48Patents top 19%Moat top 21%Innovation top 29%Funding top 37% All 8 signals ▾Patentstop 19% Moattop 21% Innovationtop 29% Fundingtop 37% Globalbottom 44% Marketbottom 42% Techbottom 37% Newsbottom 21% Patents: 42 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 29 filings since 2022 vs 13 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 42 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 48/100 | $56M | 49 mo ago | 43 | 2016 | — | — | 29 patents Manufacturing engineered skin tissue constructs for biomedical and cosmetic applications | — |
| 6 | SmartKem Developer of application-specific organic materials for organic thin-film transistors | $55M | 17 mo ago | 52 | 2009 | Ian Jenks Chairman and CEO | Top 10M | 113 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | — |
| 7 | MoA Technology Developer of novel herbicides designed to combat resistant weeds in agriculture | $52M | 48 mo ago | 40 40 → 87 (+118%) · sector median +71% | 2017 | Virginia Corless CEO | Top 50M | — | — |
| 8 | Worn Again Circular recycling technology for textiles 35Patents top 30%Moat top 32%Innovation top 34%Talent top 39% All 9 signals ▾Patentstop 30% Moattop 32% Innovationtop 34% Talenttop 39% Fundingtop 42% Globalbottom 42% Techbottom 36% Marketbottom 27% Newsbottom 22% Patents: 45 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 17 filings since 2022 vs 18 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 4/10 · IP moat: 45 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100 | $48M | 44 mo ago | 13 13 → 21 (+62%) · sector median +71% | 2005 | Cyndi Rhoades Founder & CEO | Top 10M | 45 patents Recycling and upcycling cellulose-based textiles into regenerated fibers and fabrics | — |
| 9 | Econic Technologies Developer of technology that transforms carbon dioxide into valuable raw materials 32Funding top 29%Moat top 37%Talent top 38%Tech bottom 45% All 10 signals ▾Fundingtop 29% Moattop 37% Talenttop 38% Techbottom 45% Growthbottom 44% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 41% Patentsbottom 34% Innovationbottom 28% Newsbottom 18% Funding: Raised $43.2M across 8 rounds · 8 rounds over 14 yrs (0.6/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 6 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 32/100 | $43M | 20 mo ago | 31 31 → 53 (+71%) · sector median +71% | 2011 | Charlotte Williams Co-Founder | Top 10M | 6 patents Design of advanced heterogeneous catalysts for polymerization and chemical synthesis | 1 launch · 1 award |
| 10 | Notpla Manufacturer of seaweed-based bioplastics 55Patents top 24%Moat top 25%Innovation top 28%Funding top 31% All 10 signals ▾Patentstop 24% Moattop 25% Innovationtop 28% Fundingtop 31% Talenttop 38% Growthtop 45% Techbottom 47% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 38% Newsbottom 20% Patents: 26 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 24 filings since 2022 vs 2 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 26 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 55/100 | $41M | 26 mo ago | 43 43 → 105 (+144%) · sector median +71% | 2014 | Pierre Paslier Co-Founder & Co-CEO | Top 5M | 26 patents Seaweed-based biodegradable packaging films and extrusion manufacturing processes | 1 award |
| 11 | Cambridge Mechatronics Shape memory alloy-based actuators for optical image stabilization | $40M | 28 mo ago | 100 | 1995 | Tony Hooley Founder | Top 10M | 1,070 patents Patents concentrated in mechanical & energy engineering | 1 job opening |
| 12 | P2i Provider of ultra-thin barrier coatings for electronics, materials, and medical applications | $38M | 42 mo ago | 179 179 → 122 (-32%) · sector median +71% | 2004 | Stephen Coulson CTO & ex-Founder | Top 10M | 345 patents Hydrophobic nano‑coatings for textiles, electronics, and surface protection | 2 launchs |
| 13 | Colorifix Provider of microbial-based textile dying solutions | $31M | 11 mo ago | 51 51 → 75 (+47%) · sector median +71% | 2016 | Jim Ajioka Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer | Top 10M | 34 patents Sustainable microbial textile dyeing using engineered microbes and specialized bioreactor systems | 1 launch |
| 14 | Puraffinity Provider of water treatment solution 55Funding top 27%Talent top 28%Patents top 32%Moat top 32% All 8 signals ▾Fundingtop 27% Talenttop 28% Patentstop 32% Moattop 32% Innovationtop 33% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 35% Newsbottom 18% Funding: Raised $25.8M across 11 rounds · 11 rounds over 9 yrs (1.2/yr) Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 55/100 | $26M | 21 mo ago | 16 16 → 40 (+150%) · sector median +71% | 2015 | Despoina Paschou ex-Co-Founder | — | 30 patents Functionalized sorbent materials for contaminant removal in water treatment processes | — |
| 15 | Holiferm Manufacturer of biosurfactants | $26M | 30 mo ago | 29 29 → 68 (+134%) · sector median +71% | 2018 | Ben Dolman Founder & CIO | Top 10M | 2 patents Biotechnological processes for lipid production and separation in microbial/fungal systems | 1 launch |
| 16 | Haydale Developer of functionalised graphene and nanomaterial additives for various applications 45News top 16%Funding top 21%Product top 24%Patents top 32% All 11 signals ▾Newstop 16% Fundingtop 21% Producttop 24% Patentstop 32% Partnerstop 42% Moattop 42% Growthtop 45% Globalbottom 49% Marketbottom 48% Innovationbottom 48% Techbottom 32% News: 7 BI events in 12 mo (of 21 tracked, 9 types) · +133% YoY Funding: Raised $23.8M across 10 rounds · 10 rounds over 11 yrs (0.9/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 45/100 | $24M | 5 mo ago | 54 54 → 30 (-44%) · sector median +71% | 2010 | — | Top 10M | 18 patents Advanced polymer nanocomposite manufacturing and plasma-enabled waste material recycling | — |
| 17 | PhaseCraft Provider of quantum simulation systems | $22M | 9 mo ago | 13 | 2019 | John Morton Co-Founder | Top 50M | 47 patents Quantum algorithms for condensed‑matter simulation and fermion‑to‑qubit mapping optimization. | 1 partnership · 1 award |
| 18 | Immaterial Manufacturer of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks 40Patents top 30%News top 32%Growth top 35%Funding top 36% All 11 signals ▾Patentstop 30% Newstop 32% Growthtop 35% Fundingtop 36% Innovationtop 37% Moattop 38% Talenttop 38% Partnerstop 45% Globalbottom 43% Marketbottom 23% Techbottom 23% Patents: 21 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 20 filings since 2022 vs 1 in 2017-21 News: 4 BI events in 12 mo (of 5 tracked, 2 types) · Top themes: Funding, Capital raise rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 40/100 | $18M | 4 mo ago | 14 | 2015 | David Fairen-Jimenez Co-Founder & CSO | Top 10M | 21 patents Patents concentrated in transport & manufacturing processes | — |
| 19 | Xampla Manufacturer of plant based bio-degradable packaging products 50Patents top 29%Moat top 32%Funding top 33%Innovation top 35% All 10 signals ▾Patentstop 29% Moattop 32% Fundingtop 33% Innovationtop 35% Growthtop 35% Techtop 36% Talenttop 38% Newsbottom 42% Globalbottom 39% Marketbottom 20% Patents: 55 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 55 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 55 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 50/100 | $18M | 9 mo ago | 1 | 2018 | Marc Garcia Co-Founder & CTO | Top 10M | 55 patents Biodegradable plant‑protein biopolymers for packaging, coatings, and microencapsulation. | — |
| 20 | Eden Research Sustainable biopesticides and plastic-free encapsulation technology for crop protection and animal health | $15M | 32 mo ago | 11 | 2003 | — | Top 10M | 134 patents Encapsulated high‑potency terpene agro‑chemicals for nematode control and crop protection | — |
| 21 | Promethean Particles Manufacturer of metal-organic frameworks for industrial applications like carbon capture | $13M | 22 mo ago | 11 | 2007 | — | Top 50M | 9 patents Advanced mixing reactors for scalable synthesis of MOFs and hydroxyapatite materials | 1 award |
| 22 | Nuada Provider of carbon capture technology solutions 24Funding top 33%Talent top 38%Moat top 47%Patents bottom 45% All 10 signals ▾Fundingtop 33% Talenttop 38% Moattop 47% Patentsbottom 45% Globalbottom 42% Innovationbottom 39% Partnersbottom 35% Marketbottom 31% Techbottom 30% Newsbottom 20% Funding: Raised $12.8M across 11 rounds · 11 rounds over 14 yrs (0.8/yr) Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 24/100 | $13M | 14 mo ago | 19 | 2012 | Conor Hamill Co-CEO | Top 50M | 9 patents Novel heterocyclic boronic acid compounds for therapeutic applications | — |
| 23 | Phase Focus Provider of virtual lens that generates High definition images without high-quality lenses | $12M | 33 mo ago | 10 | 2006 | Martin Humphry Chief Executive Officer | Top 50M | 135 patents Object tracking and temporal behavior analysis in 3D imaging systems. | — |
| 24 | PACT Developer of sustainable biomaterials from organic materials | $12M | 7 mo ago | 2 | 2019 | Yudi Ding Co-Founder & CEO | Top 50M | — | — |
| 25 | Milvus Advanced Developer of nanoscale materials for catalysis in green fuel production | $10M | 9 mo ago | — | 2021 | Assia Kasdi Founder & CEO | — | — | 1 job opening |
| 26 | Fa Bio Provider of microbes for farming | $10M | 29 mo ago | 7 | 2015 | Kerry Weaver Co-Founder & COO | Top 10M | — | — |
| 27 | Kelpi Manufacturer of bioplastics using seaweed | $10M | 24 mo ago | 3 | 2020 | Neil Morris Co-Founder & CEO | Top 10M | — | 1 partnership · 2 awards |
| 28 | Albotherm Developer of temperature-responsive coatings for temperature regulation in buildings and greenhouses | $9M | 19 mo ago | 4 | 2020 | — | Top 50M | 6 patents Encapsulation of phase‑change materials for thermal energy storage | 1 partnership · 1 expansion |
| 29 | Sonichem Technology solution to convert low-value woody biomass into high-value biochemicals | $7M | 27 mo ago | 10 | 2007 | Adrian Black CEO | — | — | — |
| 30 | TG0 Developer of touch-sensitive technology for automotive, consumer, and medical products | $7M | 18 mo ago | 21 21 → 40 (+90%) · sector median +71% | 2015 | Ming Kong Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | 3 job openings · 1 partnership · 1 award |
| 31 | Shellworks Biotech startup Shellworks is focused on creating sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging by turning… 32Funding top 37%Talent top 38%Moat top 41%Growth top 45% All 9 signals ▾Fundingtop 37% Talenttop 38% Moattop 41% Growthtop 45% Techbottom 49% Globalbottom 42% Patentsbottom 41% Marketbottom 33% Innovationbottom 30% Funding: Raised $6.2M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 4 yrs (1.0/yr) Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 32/100 | $6M | 8 mo ago | 21 | 2018 | Insiya Jafferjee Co-Founder & CEO | Top 5M | 2 patents Sterile primary packaging solutions for injectable medical devices and drug delivery systems. | — |
| 32 | Plastometrex Manufacturer of mechanical testing metals | $6M | 20 mo ago | 10 | 2018 | James Dean Co-Founder & CEO | Top 5M | 13 patents Measuring material hardness and elastic modulus using indentation-based plastometry techniques. | — |
| 33 | 4D Medicine Company specializes in research, development, and commercialization of transformative gene therapeutic… | $4M | 22 mo ago | — | 2018 | Andrew Dove Founder | Top 50M | 16 patents Biodegradable polymer drug‑delivery resins and tunable biocompatible materials for medical applications | — |
| 34 | Arborea Developer of technology producing protein and ingredients using carbon dioxide 45Moat top 25%Growth top 28%Patents top 29%Innovation top 33% All 11 signals ▾Moattop 25% Growthtop 28% Patentstop 29% Innovationtop 33% Fundingtop 43% Techtop 47% Talentbottom 49% Productbottom 48% Globalbottom 42% Newsbottom 18% Marketbottom 17% Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 6/10 · IP moat: 40 patents Growth: Web rank 50,000,000 → 10,000,000 YoY · Fresh capital in last 24 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 45/100 | $4M | 17 mo ago | 2 | 2015 | Julian Melchiorri CEO | Top 10M | 40 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | — |
| 35 | Modern Synthesis Developer of biomaterials using microbial fermentation for various applications 32Patents top 36%Talent top 38%Innovation top 41%Funding top 43% All 7 signals ▾Patentstop 36% Talenttop 38% Innovationtop 41% Fundingtop 43% Moatbottom 49% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 24% Patents: 9 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 7 filings since 2022 vs 2 in 2017-21 Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 32/100 | $4M | 12 mo ago | 9 | 2019 | Ben Reeve Co-Founder & CTO | — | 9 patents Sustainable nanocellulose‑based composites for high‑strength, bio‑derived materials | — |
| 36 | Solena Materials Developer of sustainable, non-oil derived, biodegradable fibres for the apparel industry 24Talent top 38%AI top 45%Tech bottom 46%Funding bottom 44% All 7 signals ▾Talenttop 38% AItop 45% Techbottom 46% Fundingbottom 44% Globalbottom 37% Marketbottom 23% Newsbottom 18% Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated AI: Product described with: deep learning rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 24/100 | $4M | 13 mo ago | — | 2021 | James Macdonald Co-Founder & CEO | Top 50M | — | 1 job opening |
| 37 | Sparxell Developer of sustainable pigments and effects using plant-based cellulose | $3M | 4 mo ago | 1 | 2022 | Benjamin Droguet Co-Founder & CEO | Top 10M | 11 patents Biodegradable multilayer cellulose films and structural‑color pigments for packaging and optics | — |
| 38 | Barton Blakeley Developer of technology converting carbon emissions and waste into materials | $3M | 18 mo ago | — | 2016 | Christopher Barton CEO | — | 8 patents Design and manufacture of specialized chemical reaction vessels with integrated energy/heat collection. | — |
| 39 | Ascension Provider of sustainable critical materials recovery technologies | $2M | 2 mo ago | — | 2024 | Motoaki Sumi Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | 2 partnerships |
| 40 | Zentraxa Provider of design, production, and testing of peptides | $2M | 14 mo ago | 8 | 2017 | Paul Race Co-Founder & Director | Top 50M | 4 patents Peptide-based adhesive materials for biomedical and industrial bonding applications | — |
| 41 | Axenic Developer of gallium arsenide based electro-optic modulator device | $2M | 8 mo ago | 7 | 2015 | Steve Clements Founder & CEO | — | 20 patents High‑speed electro‑optic modulators and integrated photonic waveguide components | — |
| 42 | HTMS Developer of high temperature composite material systems for various applications | $2M | 8 mo ago | 3 | 2021 | Richard Grainger Co-Founder & CTO | Top 50M | — | 1 award |
| 43 | ReactWise AI powered platform for chemical reaction analysis | $2M | 15 mo ago | — | 2024 | Bill Ireland Founder & CEO | Top 10M | — | — |
| 44 | Arda Biomaterials Developer of biomaterials 21Patents top 38%Moat top 38%Talent top 38%Partners top 45% All 11 signals ▾Patentstop 38% Moattop 38% Talenttop 38% Partnerstop 45% Fundingtop 47% Innovationtop 48% Growthbottom 47% Globalbottom 42% Techbottom 22% Newsbottom 18% Marketbottom 16% Patents: 4 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 4 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 4 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 21/100 | $1M | 13 mo ago | 4 | 2022 | Tj Mitchell Co-Founder & CTO | Top 50M | 4 patents Sustainable bio-leather and protein-based electrospun textile materials. | — |
| 45 | Nanomox Developer of advanced materials for widespread applications and waste stream recovery 22Patents top 34%Talent top 38%Innovation top 43%Funding top 49% All 7 signals ▾Patentstop 34% Talenttop 38% Innovationtop 43% Fundingtop 49% Moatbottom 49% Globalbottom 42% Marketbottom 16% Patents: 12 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 9 filings since 2022 vs 3 in 2017-21 Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 22/100 | $1M | 4 mo ago | 2 | 2020 | Jason Hallett Co-Founder | — | 12 patents Ionic-liquid-based metal recovery and synthesis of metal/metalloid compounds | — |
| 46 | Plasma Fresh Provider of cold plasma systems for food processing equipment cleaning 21Talent bottom 49%Funding bottom 46%Global bottom 33% All 3 signals ▾Talentbottom 49% Fundingbottom 46% Globalbottom 33% Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated Funding: Raised $1.4M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 21/100 | $1M | 11 mo ago | — | 2023 | Aaron Dickenson Founder - Head of Operations | — | — | — |
| 47 | Lineat Provider of carbon fibre reinforced composite materials | $1M | 20 mo ago | 12 | 2020 | Lourens Blok Co-Founder & CTO | — | — | — |
| 48 | GraphEnergyTech Developer of graphene-based electrodes for solar cells, replacing precious metals 21Talent bottom 49%Funding bottom 44%Market bottom 37%Global bottom 37% All 4 signals ▾Talentbottom 49% Fundingbottom 44% Marketbottom 37% Globalbottom 37% Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated Funding: Raised $1.3M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 2 yrs (0.5/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 21/100 | $1M | 22 mo ago | — | 2022 | Thomas Baumeler Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 49 | Planet Smart Developer of bio-based, home compostable superabsorbent polymers for various applications | $1M | 7 mo ago | — | 2023 | Gerald Marin Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 50 | Infinitesima Developer of atomic precision 3D metrology technology for semiconductor manufacturing | $218K | 4 mo ago | 29 | 2001 | Andrew Humphris Founder & CTO | Top 10M | 162 patents Advanced scanning probe microscopy with AI-driven imaging and measurement technologies | 2 job openings |
Top 12 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom
#1
Public · Swansea, Wales · founded 2010 · 54 employees$23.8Mraised▾
Public · Swansea, Wales · founded 2010 · 54 employees
Developer of functionalised graphene and nanomaterial additives for various applications. They offer functionalisation processes that enhance material properties. These materials improve strength, durability, thermal conductivity, and electrical performance. The company's products are used in elastomers, rubber technology, graphene inks, and heating systems.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 45how this company ranks against its industry peers
News
top 16%Funding
top 21%Product
top 24%Patents
top 32%Partners
top 42%Moat
top 42%News: 7 BI events in 12 mo (of 21 tracked, 9 types) · +133% YoY · 6 high-value events (IPO/M&A/funding/contracts) in 12 mo
Funding: Raised $23.8M across 10 rounds · 10 rounds over 11 yrs (0.9/yr) · Last round Post IPO (Jan 2026)
Product: 1 product launch event in 12 mo · 5 distinct product lines · Company stage: Public
Audience (LinkedIn): 3k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
- Jan 2026Post IPO$7.7M
- Dec 2023Grant (prize money)—
- Feb 2023Grant (prize money)$312.5K
- Aug 2022Post IPO$5.9M
Investors
Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, Gov, Gov Wales, Octopus Investments, Ukri, Europa
Tech stack
Apache Http ServerAutoptimizeBeaver BuilderCookieyesGodaddyGoogle Analytics
#2
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2015 · 14 employees$18.2Mraised▾
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2015 · 14 employees
Manufacturer of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 40how this company ranks against its industry peers
Patents
top 30%News
top 32%Growth
top 35%Funding
top 36%Innovation
top 37%Moat
top 38%Patents: 21 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 20 filings since 2022 vs 1 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
News: 4 BI events in 12 mo (of 5 tracked, 2 types) · Top themes: Funding, Capital raise
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding rounds
- Feb 2026Series A—
- Oct 2025Series A$18.2M
- Sep 2023Series A—
- Mar 2020Grant (prize money)$16.8K
Founders & team
Investors
SLB, AP Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, ERV, JERA, Trirec
Tech stack
Apache Http ServerComplianzGodaddyGoogle Font ApiGsapJquery
#3
Series B · Bristol, England · founded 2019 · 13 employees$22.4Mraised▾
Series B · Bristol, England · founded 2019 · 13 employees
Provider of quantum simulation systems. The company is providing quantum theory and software that will enable quantum computers to investigate novel quantum materials to simulate chemical reactions and to solve hard constraint satisfaction problems. It also provides users with a platform that offers proprietary material simulation approaches for encoding and compiling materials on quantum hardware.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 10k LinkedIn followers — 3.3% of this cohort's audience
Activity: 1 partnerships · 1 awards (incl. Atmos Computing) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Series B$34M
- Aug 2023Series A$16.5M
- Dec 2020Seed$5M
- May 2019Seed$950K
Founders & team
Investors
UCL Technology Fund, Parkwalk, London Co-Investment Fund, Gov, LocalGlobe, Episode 1 Ventures
Tech stack
Framer SitesGoogle Font ApiGoogle WorkspaceHstsHttp/3Open Graph
#4
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2018 · 1 employees$17.9Mraised▾
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2018 · 1 employees
Manufacturer of plant based bio-degradable packaging products. It provides users with bio-based vegan material made from plant protein, enabling companies to produce packaging products. The catalog includes polymer stretch film, wrapping papers, microcapsules, and more. Its product ranges from microplastics within homecare products to edible packaging for the food and beverage industry.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 50how this company ranks against its industry peers
Patents
top 29%Moat
top 32%Funding
top 33%Innovation
top 35%Growth
top 35%Tech
top 36%Patents: 55 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 55 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 55 patents · 9 curated direct competitors tracked
Funding: Raised $17.9M across 5 rounds · 5 rounds over 6 yrs (0.8/yr) · Last round Series A (Sep 2025)
Audience (LinkedIn): 12k LinkedIn followers — 3.9% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Series A$14M
- Jan 2024Seed$7M
- Jan 2024Grant (prize money)—
- Aug 2021Grant (prize money)$222.6K
Founders & team
Investors
Amadeus Capital, Cambridge Enterprise, Sky Ocean Rescue, Martlet Capital, Parkwalk, Europa
Tech stack
AlbacrossCdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyesCore-Js
#5
Seed · Oxford, England · founded 2024$2.3Mraised▾
Seed · Oxford, England · founded 2024
Provider of sustainable critical materials recovery technologies. These technologies leverage the unique metal endowment and geothermal energy of volcanic systems. The recovered materials are vital for various applications, including renewable energy (wind turbines and solar panels), aerospace (jet engines and navigation systems), electronics (batteries and displays), and medical devices (MRI and targeted therapies). The company's approach focuses on responsible and sustainable extraction methods.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 784 LinkedIn followers
Activity: 2 partnerships (incl. Kenya's Geothermal Development Company) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Apr 2026Grant (prize money)$908.4K
- Apr 2026Seed$1.4M
Founders & team
Investors
UK Innovation Science & Seed Fund, Oxford Science Enterprises, Eastx, Ukri
#6
Series B · Norwich, England · founded 2016 · 51 employees$31.4Mraised▾
Series B · Norwich, England · founded 2016 · 51 employees
Provider of microbial-based textile dying solutions. It identifies living organisms that produce specific colored pigments, sequences the genes responsible for their production, creates recombinant DNA incorporating these pigment-producing genes, and then transfers them into host microbes that multiply and produce the required pigment in bulk when cultured in a fermenter. The dyes and pigments are then used to color synthetic and natural textile fibers, avoiding the need for harsh chemicals.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 16k LinkedIn followers — 5.0% of this cohort's audience · 50 engagements/post (2.1× cohort median)
Activity: 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Jun 2025Series B$18M
- Mar 2022Series B$28.4M
- Jan 2020Grant (prize money)$2.8M
- Dec 2018Series A$3M
Founders & team
Investors
Europa, SAGANA, Cambridge Enterprise, Primera Capital, H&M Group Ventures, Regeneration.VC
Tech stack
ActivecampaignApache Http ServerApple Icloud MailCdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot Management
#7
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2019 · 2 employees$12Mraised▾
Series A · Cambridge, England · founded 2019 · 2 employees
Developer of sustainable biomaterials from organic materials. It provides users with an organisation dedicated to creating sustainable, transformative biomaterials from earthly resources like collagen, oils, minerals, and herbal extracts. They also provide a selection of things manufactured using organic cotton, such as apparel and housewares.
Funding rounds
- Oct 2025Series A$20M
- Sep 2024Seed$12M
Founders & team
Investors
Hoxton Ventures, ReGen Ventures, Polytechnique Ventures, Celsius Industries, Forbion, HV Capital
Tech stack
Apple Icloud MailGsapHstsLenisMicrosoft 365Next.Js
#8
Seed · Cambridge, England · founded 2022 · 1 employees$3.2Mraised▾
Seed · Cambridge, England · founded 2022 · 1 employees
Developer of sustainable pigments and effects using plant-based cellulose. It offers pigments including glitter, sequins, and films using plant-based cellulose as the main material. They are focused on creating the next generation of colors and effects for various applications.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 5k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
- Feb 2026Seed$5M
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$2.2M
- Apr 2024Seed$3.2M
Founders & team
Investors
Circular Innovation Fund, L'Oréal, PDS, Future Communities, Katapult, Joyance Partners
Tech stack
All In One SeoCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyesCore-JsElementor
#9
Public · Manchester, England · founded 2009 · 52 employees$55Mraised▾
Public · Manchester, England · founded 2009 · 52 employees
Developer of application-specific organic materials for organic thin-film transistors. It develops organic semiconductor materials for the manufacture of flexible displays and electronics. It has applications in smartwatch displays and transistor backplanes. It also provides links and coatings for use in electronic devices.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 2k LinkedIn followers
Activity: 3 partnerships · 1 expansions (incl. Jericho Energy Ventures) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Dec 2024Post IPO$7.6M
- Dec 2024Grant (prize money)$1.1M
- Sep 2024Post IPO$152.4K
- Mar 2024Post IPO$347.5K
Founders & team
Investors
EIC Fund, Porton Group, Development Bank of Wales, Entrepreneurs Fund, Octopus Ventures, BASF
Tech stack
Animate.CssApache Http ServerBootstrapCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementContact Form 7
#10
Series C · London, England · founded 2009 · 7 employees$81.5Mraised▾
Series C · London, England · founded 2009 · 7 employees
Producer of sustainable fuels and circular chemicals from end-of-life tyres. The company refines and produces sustainable fuels and liquid chemicals. It uses technologies and chemistry to contribute to a cleaner world. The company’s process focuses on energy efficiency and emissions control. It substitutes fossil fuel use with sustainable fuel products and circular chemicals.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 35how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 21%Talent
top 38%Growth
top 43%Moat
bottom 48%Global
bottom 39%Tech
bottom 35%Funding: Raised $81.5M across 9 rounds · 9 rounds over 2 yrs (4.5/yr) · Last round Series C (Oct 2024)
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Growth: Web rank 10,000,000 → 50,000,000 YoY · 1 acquisition/expansion move in 24 mo · Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Audience (LinkedIn): 2k LinkedIn followers
Activity (LinkedIn): 2 expansions announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Oct 2024Series C$17M
- May 2024Grant (prize money)$24.5M
- May 2024Series C$81.5M
- Jul 2022Series B$588.7K
Founders & team
Investors
Novo Holdings, A P Moller Holding, Government of the Netherlands, British Business Bank, North Sol Invest, M-Invest
Tech stack
GodaddyGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font ApiHttp/3JqueryJquery Migrate
#11
Series A · London, England · founded 2018 · 21 employees$6.2Mraised▾
Series A · London, England · founded 2018 · 21 employees
Shellworks is a biotech startup that aims to eliminate plastic waste by creating sustainable bio-polymer products. They use waste crustacean shells to develop biodegradable and compostable alternatives to plastic packaging.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 32how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 37%Talent
top 38%Moat
top 41%Growth
top 45%Tech
bottom 49%Global
bottom 42%Funding: Raised $6.2M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 4 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Series A (Oct 2025)
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 2 patents · 9 curated direct competitors tracked
Funding rounds
- Oct 2025Series A$15M
- May 2022Seed$6.2M
- Jun 2021Seed$229K
- Jul 2020Seed$710K
Founders & team
Investors
LocalGlobe, Alter Equity, JamJar Investments, Founder Collective, Third Sphere, True Global
Tech stack
Framer SitesGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font ApiGoogle WorkspaceHstsHttp/3
#12
Seed · Oxford, England · founded 2021$10.3Mraised▾
Seed · Oxford, England · founded 2021
Developer of nanoscale materials for catalysis in green fuel production. The company transforms common metals into high-performing nanomaterials. These materials serve as substitutes for platinum-group metals. The company's nanocatalysts are intended for use in clean energy solutions.
LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 3k LinkedIn followers
Hiring: 4 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum -2 · hiring: Founder Associate, Laboratory Technician
Activity: 1 awards announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Seed$10.3M
Founders & team
Investors
Hoxton Ventures, LQD VC, Übermorgen Ventures, MD One Ventures, EQT, Lowercarbon
Funding & investor landscape
$1.5Btotal disclosed funding
131companies funded
425disclosed rounds
1rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
Gov18 rounds
Notable founders
David Fairen-Jimenez
Co-Founder & CSO · Immaterial
Mohammed Khan
Chief Executive Officer · Immaterial
John Morton
Co-Founder · PhaseCraft
Ashley Montanaro
Co-Founder & CEO · PhaseCraft
Marc Garcia
Co-Founder & CTO · Xampla
Tuomas Knowles
Co-Founder · Xampla
Motoaki Sumi
Co-Founder & CEO · Ascension
Jim Ajioka
Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer · Colorifix
Orr Yarkoni
Co-Founder & CEO · Colorifix
Yudi Ding
Co-Founder & CEO · PACT
Benjamin Droguet
Co-Founder & CEO · Sparxell
Ian Jenks
Chairman and CEO · SmartKem
Prism market signals · United Kingdom · country-scoped Prism corpus, 4,993,262 docs
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Chemicals and Materials Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time flat
Funding & growth over time
funding flat · growth flat
RESEARCH SIGNALS · United Kingdom
How research on Advanced Materials is moving in the United Kingdom
A read on the academic research around Advanced Materials — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 352 United Kingdom-affiliated papers.
research sentiment over time
200920192026
enthusiastic · positive · guarded tone
Tone is overwhelmingly optimistic and intensifying — the enthusiastic (strongly-positive) share moved 56% → 89% across 2009–2026.
top research entities
- University of Bristol26
- Imperial College London26
- University of Cambridge18
- Nottingham Trent University17
- University of Southampton14
leading researchers
Mahdi Bodaghi · Jonathan Rossiter · Fabrizio Scarpa · Mokarram Hossain · Ali Zolfagharian · Eugene M. Terentjev · Kai Cheng · Luquan Ren
▲
Breakthroughs120 · 34%
▲ 22%→39% share
▲1.8× share momentum8 median citations62% since 2021mostly methods-led
Smart-material and actuator research is surging — UK papers rose from 5→17 and 3→15 respectively, with composite materials jumping 1→12.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Actuator3→15
- Smart material5→17
- Composite material1→12
- Soft robotics1→7
- Elastomer3→9
Newly emergingStiffness 0→5
Landmark Multiresponsive Graphene‐Aerogel‐Directed Phase‐Change Smart Fibers · 457 cites
◆
Advancements137 · 39%
▼ 47%→35% share
▼0.7× share momentum6 median citations49% since 2021mostly methods-led
3D-printing research is intensifying — UK papers quadrupled from 2→9, alongside shape-memory polymers doubling 2→7.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- 3D printing2→9
- Composite material6→11
- Shape-memory polymer2→7
- Structural engineering1→4
- Composite number1→4
Newly emergingPolymer 0→5 · Soft materials 0→5 · Sustainability 0→5
Landmark Applying low-molecular weight supramolecular gelators in an environmental setting – self-assembled gels as smart materia · 737 cites
▼
Concerns29 · 8%
▲ 4%→9% share
▲2.2× share momentum12 median citations62% since 2021mostly reviews
Smart-material concern papers nearly tripled 3→8, while nanotechnology concerns quadrupled 1→4 as field-share doubled to 9%.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Smart material3→8
- Nanotechnology1→4
Landmark Smart Sensing Technologies for Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Engineering Structures · 149 cites
RESEARCH HOTSPOTS · United Kingdom
Where advanced materials is researched across United Kingdom
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
London66 · +0.57
Bristol28 · +0.48
Cambridge18 · +0.68
Glasgow15 · +0.63
Manchester11 · +0.52
Oxford10 · +0.21
Edinburgh10 · +0.44
Birmingham6 · +0.68
PATENT SIGNAL · United Kingdom
Who's filing advanced materials patents in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom advanced materials patent filing is cooling — 6,927 filings from 5,682 assignees (2016–2025), led by Johnson Matthey, Nanoco Technologies, Rolls Royce; annual filings 741→538.
6,927 filings5,682 assigneespeak 795/yr2016–2025
filing momentum (YoY 2016–2025)
top patent filers
- Johnson Matthey495
- Nanoco Technologies469
- Rolls Royce452
- Cambridge Entpr267
- Element SIX UK259
- Halliburton Energy SERV204
- BPB194
- IBM UK171
Common questions
How many Chemicals and Materials Tech companies are there in United Kingdom?
Radar tracks 297 indexable Chemicals and Materials Tech companies headquartered in United Kingdom that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom?
The Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom on this list have raised a combined $1.5B in disclosed equity funding across 131 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Chemicals and Materials Tech company in United Kingdom?
Plastic Energy is the highest-funded Chemicals and Materials Tech company in United Kingdom, with $167.7M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom are funded?
131 of the 297 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Chemicals and Materials Tech unicorns are there in United Kingdom?
None of the Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in United Kingdom on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in United Kingdom Chemicals and Materials Tech companies?
The most active investors in United Kingdom Chemicals and Materials Tech companies on this list include Europa, Undaunted, Gov, EIC Fund, Ukri.
Riya SenguptaFinancials
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.