This year’s British Science Week theme, Change and Adapt, reminds us that real innovation isn’t just about breakthroughs, it’s about creating the right environment for innovators to thrive. At UK Research and Innovation, we’re committed to doing just that.
Through the Innovate UK Young Innovators Award, we have supported over 250 aspiring innovators to make their groundbreaking ideas a reality. These awardees each received grant funding, living cost allowance, one-to-one business coaching, and a comprehensive package of training, networking and role-modelling opportunities.
The young innovators highlighted in this blog post are more than familiar with the need to change and adapt as they grow their businesses and lead us toward a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Tackling carbon emissions in construction
The construction industry is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, but Dalkai Nijar saw an opportunity to change that.
His company, Concrete4Change, is pioneering a revolutionary carbon-absorbing concrete, which can permanently capture carbon dioxide with no leakage, even after demolition. With multi-million-pound investments secured and a nomination for the Earthshot Prize, Dalkai’s breakthrough really could help build a net zero future, literally.
Revolutionising food sustainability
Matthew Isaacs is pioneering a carbon labelling platform for meals, enabling consumers to start making food choices based on sustainability as well as nutrition.
Having partnered with Just Eat, Arsenal FC and several major food businesses, Matthew is underscoring the growing demand for transparent, sustainable food systems.
Carbon labelled food menus at the Champions League final. Credit: Matthew Isaacs
Matthew recently partnered with the UEFA Champions League final, to carbon label all food menus at Wembley Stadium and associated fan zones.
Bolstered by a fresh £1.3 million seed round, My Emissions is demonstrating how data-driven insights can reshape consumer choices on a massive scale.
Fighting food waste with microorganisms
Abiel Ma is tackling another climate challenge: food waste.
Instead of letting tons of organic waste end up in landfills, he developed Vuala X1, a biotech-powered system that uses microorganisms to breakdown food waste and carbon emission.
What started as research for his master’s degree is now making a real-world impact by helping Heathrow Airport and businesses in London and Cambridge significantly reduce their environmental footprint.
Promoting repair and reuse with STEM education
Megan Hale is addressing sustainability from an educational angle.
Electronic waste isn’t just an environmental problem, it’s a lost learning opportunity. That’s why she co-founded Team Repair, developing repair kits and interactive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workshops that equip young people with transferable practical skills.
By empowering the next generation to fix their devices instead of discarding them, Megan is fostering a culture of sustainability while proving that STEM education can be engaging, hands-on, and impactful.
Team Repair providing hands-on STEM learning for a sustainable future. Credit: Megan Hale
Waste reducing tech solutions
Lisa Stafford is rethinking sustainability in the tech industry.
Electronic waste is a growing crisis, but her company, TAZAAR, is changing how high-value electronics are tracked and maintained. By developing digital product passports, she’s helping companies extend the life of their devices and reduce waste.
TAZAAR has achieved key milestones, including the National Security Review Award and Cyber Essentials certification.
Breaking barriers in medical education
When it comes to breaking barriers in STEM, Yusuf Ben-Tarifite is leading the way with The Aspiring Medics platform.
Many future doctors from underrepresented backgrounds struggle to access the resources they need to prepare for medical school. Yusuf’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven learning tools to provide free, high-quality medical education, making healthcare careers more inclusive and accessible.
His impact was recently recognised by HRH Prince William, who awarded him with the prestigious Diana Legacy Award.
Prince William presented Yusuf with a Diana Legacy Award. Credit: Yusuf Ben-Tarifite
Inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders
British Science Week’s #Smashing Stereotypes campaign, celebrated throughout British Science Week, features several Innovate UK Young Innovators. The campaign is a reminder that research and innovation isn’t for a select few but is for everyone.
Video credit: British Science Association
Video transcript and on-screen captions are available by watching on YouTube.
At Innovate UK, we share that belief. Our mission is to help businesses grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, easy to navigate and inclusive.
As we look back on British Science Week, it’s clear that much of the future of STEM is in the hands of bright, passionate young innovators like those listed in this blog post, who are leading us towards a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Find out more about our work supporting innovators of all ages.
Maxine is part of the Reach and Engagement team at Innovate UK, marketing programmes like Young Innovators, Women in Innovation and No Limits.
With expertise in digital marketing, content strategy, and community engagements, her job drives awareness of funding and opportunities, helping young innovators connect with resources to grow their ideas.
Richard joined Innovate UK with 15 years of engineering and scientific communications experience at spin-outs, scale-ups and billion-pound multinationals.
Richard manages Innovate UK’s inclusive innovation campaigns and is passionate about celebrating the achievements of the innovative UK-backed businesses.