Best Chemicals Tech Companies in England, United Kingdom
The 84 best Chemicals Tech companies in England, United Kingdom in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Plastic Energy.
Ranked: Best Chemicals Tech companies in England
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | 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 | Carlos Monreal Founder | WordPressPleskMySQL+25 | 94 patents Converting end-of-life plastics to pyrolysis oil and refining contaminants | 1 award |
| 2 | 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 | Allen Timpany Co-Founder & CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+14 | — | — |
| 3 | MoA Technology Developer of novel herbicides designed to combat resistant weeds in agriculture | $52M | 48 mo ago | 40 40 → 87 (+118%) | Virginia Corless CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+19 | — | — |
| 4 | Agrivert Designer, builder, and operator of anaerobic digestion facilities and solar PV | $52M | 130 mo ago | 20 | — | Craft CMSPleskPHP+13 | — | — |
| 5 | P2i Provider of ultra-thin barrier coatings for electronics, materials, and medical applications | $38M | 42 mo ago | 179 179 → 122 (-32%) | Stephen Coulson CTO & ex-Founder | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+22 | 345 patents Hydrophobic nano‑coatings for textiles, electronics, and surface protection | — |
| 6 | Colorifix Provider of microbial-based textile dying solutions | $31M | 11 mo ago | 51 51 → 75 (+47%) | Jim Ajioka Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer | WebflowApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+19 | 34 patents Sustainable microbial textile dyeing using engineered microbes and specialized bioreactor systems | 1 launch |
| 7 | Holiferm Manufacturer of biosurfactants | $26M | 30 mo ago | 29 29 → 68 (+134%) | Ben Dolman Founder & CIO | WordPressPleskMySQL+19 | 2 patents Biotechnological processes for lipid production and separation in microbial/fungal systems | 1 launch |
| 8 | PhaseCraft Provider of quantum simulation systems | $22M | 9 mo ago | 13 | John Morton Co-Founder | Prismicstyled-componentsReact+10 | 47 patents Quantum algorithms for condensed‑matter simulation and fermion‑to‑qubit mapping optimization. | 1 partnership · 1 award |
| 9 | Eden Research Sustainable biopesticides and plastic-free encapsulation technology for crop protection and animal health | $15M | 32 mo ago | 11 | — | Apple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365YouTube+11 | 134 patents Encapsulated high‑potency terpene agro‑chemicals for nematode control and crop protection | — |
| 10 | OXECO Manufacturer of surface treatments for composites and battery components | $10M | 48 mo ago | 17 | Vassilis Ragoussis CEO | — | — | — |
| 11 | Fa Bio Provider of microbes for farming | $10M | 29 mo ago | 7 | Kerry Weaver Co-Founder & COO | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | — | — |
| 12 | Sonichem Technology solution to convert low-value woody biomass into high-value biochemicals | $7M | 27 mo ago | 10 | Adrian Black CEO | — | — | — |
| 13 | Opus Materials Technologies Manufacturer of nanocoatings for solar panels | $5M | 102 mo ago | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 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 | Julian Melchiorri CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+19 | 40 patents Advanced photobioreactor and membrane gas transfer systems for microalgae cultivation | — |
| 15 | HydRegen Provider of bio-based catalysts for chemical synthesis | $4M | 37 mo ago | 7 | Sarah Cleary Co-Founder & CSO | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+16 | — | — |
| 16 | Bio‑Sep Provider of solutions to convert biomass into cellulose | $3M | 28 mo ago | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Sparxell Developer of sustainable pigments and effects using plant-based cellulose | $3M | 4 mo ago | 1 | Benjamin Droguet Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | 11 patents Biodegradable multilayer cellulose films and structural‑color pigments for packaging and optics | — |
| 18 | Barton Blakeley Developer of technology converting carbon emissions and waste into materials | $3M | 18 mo ago | — | Christopher Barton CEO | — | 8 patents Design and manufacture of specialized chemical reaction vessels with integrated energy/heat collection. | — |
| 19 | Hardide CVD tungsten carbide-based coatings | $2M | 28 mo ago | 46 46 → 27 (-41%) | Matt Hamblin CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | 49 patents Protective erosion‑resistant coatings for turbine blades, compressors, impellers, and cavitation‑prone components. | — |
| 20 | ReactWise AI powered platform for chemical reaction analysis | $2M | 15 mo ago | — | Bill Ireland Founder & CEO | WebflowD3Plotly+12 | — | — |
| 21 | 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 | — | Aaron Dickenson Founder - Head of Operations | — | — | — |
| 22 | DyeRecycle Developer of technology for recycling dyes and fibers from textile waste | $1M | 25 mo ago | — | Aida Rafat Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+12 | — | 1 job opening |
| 23 | Graphene Star Manufacturer of graphene and graphene products | $967K | 38 mo ago | 2 | Marina Yevgenyevna Starkova CEO | GoDaddy Website BuilderReactRequireJS+6 | 15 patents Graphene synthesis, graphene‑based materials, and advanced graphite processing technologies. | — |
| 24 | Lambda Energy Provider of coating solutions for solar panels | $621K | 36 mo ago | 8 | Monica Saavedra Co-Founder | WordPressPleskMySQL+20 | — | — |
| 25 | Smart Fabric Inks Developer of functional materials and platform technology for electronic textiles | $491K | 57 mo ago | 4 | Kai Yang Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 26 | Solaris Technology Provider of glass coating solutions | $283K | 86 mo ago | 2 | — | — | 18 patents Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics | — |
| 27 | Nuspec Oil Manufacturer of sustainable base oil | $212K | 48 mo ago | — | Natalia Stawniak Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 28 | Phase Biolabs Provider of biotechnology-based carbon recycling processes | $125K | 51 mo ago | 1 | David Ortega Founder | Squarespace CommerceSquarespaceVimeo+10 | 5 patents Engineered microbial carbon fixation bioreactor systems for synthetic biology production | — |
| 29 | Oxford nanoSystems Developer of nanotechnology based heat transfer coating | $109K | 73 mo ago | 7 | Jason Tyrrell Co-Founder | — | 14 patents Patents concentrated in mechanical & energy engineering | 1 partnership |
Top 12 Chemicals Tech companies in England
#1
Series B · Bristol, England · founded 2019 · 13 employees$22.4Mraised▾
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.
- Sep 2025Series B$34M
- Aug 2023Series A$16.5M
- Dec 2020Seed$5M
- May 2019Seed$950K
#2
Series B · Norwich, England · founded 2016 · 51 employees$31.4Mraised▾
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.
- Jun 2025Series B$18M
- Mar 2022Series B$28.4M
- Jan 2020Grant (prize money)$2.8M
- Dec 2018Series A$3M
#3
Seed · Cambridge, England · founded 2022 · 1 employees$3.2Mraised▾
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.
- Feb 2026Seed$5M
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$2.2M
- Apr 2024Seed$3.2M
#4
Series C · London, England · founded 2009 · 7 employees$81.5Mraised▾
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.
- Oct 2024Series C$17M
- May 2024Grant (prize money)$24.5M
- May 2024Series C$81.5M
- Jul 2022Series B$588.7K
#5
Series A · London, England · founded 2015 · 2 employees$4.3Mraised▾
Developer of technology producing protein and ingredients using carbon dioxide. The system cultivates microalgae biomass, emitting oxygen as a by-product. The technology does not rely on fertile land or agricultural feedstocks. It produces ingredients at scale on rooftops or co-located with infrastructures. The technology is modular, scalable, and climate-resilient. It develops ingredients that manufacturers can use to make sustainable food.
- Dec 2024Series A$5.2M
- Jan 2022Grant (prize money)$2.7M
- Jul 2021Seed$4.3M
- 2021Grant (prize money)$61.3K
#6
Seed · Liverpool, England · founded 2023$1.4Mraised▾
Provider of cold plasma systems for food processing equipment cleaning. The company offers systems designed to maintain hygiene standards and reduce downtime. The technology uses cold plasma to eliminate contaminants without harsh chemicals or high temperatures. The systems can be retrofitted into existing production lines for continuous, in-line cleaning. The company seeks investors and collaborators to further develop its technology.
- Jul 2025Seed$1.4M
#7
Seed · London, England · founded 2024$1.5Mraised▾
AI powered platform for chemical reaction analysis. It is a digital platform that utilizes AI for chemical process optimization, developing models to predict reactions and process conditions.
- Mar 2025Grant (prize money)—
- Mar 2025Seed$3.4M
- Sep 2024Seed$1.4M
- 2024Seed$500K
#8
Seed · Harpenden, England · founded 2016$3Mraised▾
Developer of technology converting carbon emissions and waste into materials. The technology converts waste streams into reusable products, preventing incineration and landfill disposal. The company focuses on applying technological innovation to improve industrial systems. It aims to make emissions useful in the manufacture of everyday products.
- Nov 2024Seed$3M
#9
Series B · Manchester, England · founded 2018 · 29 employees$25.7Mraised▾
Manufacturer of biosurfactants. It uses renewable feedstocks and yeast-based fermentation processes to develop sophorolipid-based high and low foaming surfactants. Its biodegradable surfactants have applications in industrial and consumer products.
- Dec 2023Series B$23.1M
- Jul 2023Seed$2.6M
- Nov 2021Seed—
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$474.9K
#10
Series A · London, England · founded 2011 · 200 employees$167.7Mraised▾
Operator of chemical recycling plants converting end-of-life plastics into recycled feedstock. The process heats plastics without oxygen to create hydrocarbon vapors. These vapors are then condensed into a recycled feedstock. This technology aims to create a circular economy for plastics by recycling previously unrecyclable plastic waste.
- Nov 2021Series A$167.7M
- Aug 2020Seed—
#11
Series A · Harpenden, England · founded 2015 · 7 employees$10Mraised▾
Provider of microbes for farming. It provides discovering and developing microbial active ingredients for various applications, including disease control, plant growth promotion, and fertilizer activities.
- Jan 2024Series A$6.7M
- May 2023Seed$445K
- Apr 2021Seed$1.4M
- Apr 2019Seed$547.7K
#12
Series E · Abingdon, England · founded 2004 · 179 employees$38.2Mraised▾
Provider of ultra-thin barrier coatings for electronics, materials, and medical applications. The company offers conformal coating solutions that deliver liquid and environmental protection. These coatings enhance solid surfaces and maximize protection, achieving a full range of liquid repellency and barrier properties. The company's technology works at the molecular level, providing robust liquid protection. The coatings are used to increase product life cycles, reduce costs, and enable reduce, reuse, recycle strategies.
- Nov 2022Conventional Debt$18.1M
- Dec 2021Series E$10.6M
- Apr 2018Series D—
- May 2017Series D$12.9M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Chemicals Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
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.
- University of Bristol26
- Imperial College London26
- University of Cambridge18
- Nottingham Trent University17
- University of Southampton14
- Actuator3→15
- Smart material5→17
- Composite material1→12
- Soft robotics1→7
- Elastomer3→9
- 3D printing2→9
- Composite material6→11
- Shape-memory polymer2→7
- Structural engineering1→4
- Composite number1→4
- Smart material3→8
- Nanotechnology1→4
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.
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.
- Johnson Matthey495
- Nanoco Technologies469
- Rolls Royce452
- Cambridge Entpr267
- Element SIX UK259
- Halliburton Energy SERV204
- BPB193
- IBM UK171
Common questions
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.