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iX Challenge: Developing cost-effective polyols from UK waste-carbon for digital mass manufacturing

The iX Challenge is a competition for UK-based innovators, including start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses, to develop cost-effective polyols from UK waste carbon for 3D printing resins. Open, closes 11 December 2026.

Run by Innovate UK

Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 21 Oct 2026.

Innovate UK's iX challenge set by Photocentric seeks innovators who can develop cost-effective polyols from UK waste-carbon sources for resins used in its JENI 3D printing system. Successful applicants work directly with Photocentric to evaluate, test and develop solutions.

Apply or find out more Official page

These details are gathered from public web pages and are not financial advice. Check them with Innovate UK before you apply.

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Status and deadline

Status

Open

Confirmed on the official page

Deadline

Closes 11 December 2026 at 5pm

As stated: Opens: 20/10/2026 Closes: 11/12/2026 5:00pm

Confirmed on the official page

How much

Not stated

We could not find how much it offers

Who can apply

Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs that are UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base can enter.

Confirmed on the official page

Business size

Start-ups, Micro (under 10 staff), Small (10 to 49 staff), Medium (50 to 249 staff)

Not confirmed on the official page

Sectors

biotechnology, chemistry, sustainability

Could your business apply?

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How to apply

Complete the application form via the Find out more and apply link (KTN Innovation Exchange), which asks for company information and three 300-word answers.

Not confirmed on the official page

Where it is open: UK-wide

United Kingdom

Confirmed on the official page

HartlepoolMiddlesbroughRedcar and ClevelandStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonHaltonWarringtonBlackburn with DarwenBlackpoolKingston upon Hull, City ofEast Riding of YorkshireNorth East LincolnshireNorth LincolnshireYorkCounty DurhamCheshire EastCheshire West and ChesterNorthumberlandCumberlandWestmorland and FurnessNorth YorkshireBurnleyChorleyFyldeHyndburnLancasterPendlePrestonRibble ValleyRossendaleSouth RibbleWest LancashireWyreBoltonBuryManchesterOldhamRochdaleSalfordStockportTamesideTraffordWiganKnowsleyLiverpoolSt. HelensSeftonWirralDoncasterRotherhamNewcastle upon TyneNorth TynesideSouth TynesideSunderlandBradfordCalderdaleKirkleesLeedsWakefieldGatesheadBarnsleySheffield

Open across United Kingdom, so every council area in the North of England is shaded.

Drawn from the areas the funder names. If a scheme is only for part of a council area, check its own page. Boundaries from the Office for National Statistics.

Things we could not confirm

  • Opening date is shown as 20/10/2026, so it may not yet be open on the page status.
  • Application is run through KTN Innovation Exchange link; its own rules may apply.
  • Dates for finalist selection (27 January 2027) and Pitch Day (10 February 2027) may change.
  • Funding amount for successful applicants not stated; the award is collaboration and support.

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Source and last checked

Local Landscape gathers this information automatically from the pages below, then checks the key details against the official page. Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 21 Oct 2026. Its details have not changed since it was listed on 21 Oct 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with Innovate UK before you apply.

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