Cranfield University has announced six successful applicants to its Green Future Investments Ltd (GFIL) Technology Accelerator Fund.

The programme, now in its second year, supports technical and prototype developments of innovative technologies that will help address climate change challenges.

The funding is made possible as a result of a donation from Green Future Investments Ltd, an organisation established to drive climate change initiatives by promoting technological innovation. Cranfield has already supported six companies in the first year of the programme.

Professor Chris Fogwill, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the School of Water, Energy and Environment at Cranfield University, said: "We all want to protect our world against the huge challenge of climate change. I’m really proud that we can support these groundbreaking initiatives aimed at achieving net-zero goals and driving positive change. The GFIL Technology Accelerator Fund supports our focus on a sustainable future, enabling us to give financial and expert support to some really exciting ventures."

The six successful projects were:

  • Bravely Cultured: analysing new biosurfactants from marine microorganisms using advanced methods. These biosurfactants are eco-friendly and offer natural alternatives to petroleum-based surfactants in cosmetics and cleaning products.
  • Cetogenix:developing a new waste conversion technology that unlocks the hidden potential of organic wastes, by adapting a process known as hydrothermal oxidation to deconstruct materials into useful components. The technology has the potential to integrate with wastewater treatment systems, minimising emissions.

  • Flux Aviation: developing ultra safe batteries to enable electric flight, through an early warning system that can reliably detect an impending thermal runaway event.
  • HyWaves: installing a novel technology 50kW solar array and providing a solar to hydrogen test facility, with HyWaves optimised power management and control architecture connecting electrolysers to renewable power sources. This project will link into Cranfield’s wider hydrogen research activities.
  • Radiant Matter: developing plant-derived and biodegradable sparkling-effect materials to meet requirements in a variety of markets.
  • SugarOx: testing a novel biostimulant on oats to improve yield and resilience in cereals.

The funding provides access to multi-disciplinary academic and design engineering expertise from across the University, as well as the unique laboratory and near industrial scale test facilities.

You can find out more information about GFIL or apply for other funds, including the Future Frontiers Fund, on our GFIL web pages.