Future Planet Capital

Background

Future Planet Capital is an impact-led venture capital firm built to back growth companies from the world’s top universities and research ecosystems. Founded in Britain, with global outlook and reach, we manage and advise on over $400M for public and private investors.  With 140 portfolio companies across geographies and stages our mission is to invest in high-growth companies solving global challenges. Mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, these include climate change, education, health, security, and sustainable growth.

Unilever

Background

On any given day, 2.5 billion people use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life – giving a unique opportunity to build a brighter future. We want our business to grow but we recognise that growth at the expense of people or the environment is both unacceptable and commercially unsustainable. Sustainable growth is the only acceptable model for our business. Our Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) is central to our business model. It sets out how we are growing our business, whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.

We believe that innovation will solve some of the greatest challenges facing our world. We are interested in transformational technologies that will help reduce the environmental impact of our products or improve health and well-being for our consumers. In particular we are interested in technologies that will help us to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of our products, with a real focus on sustainability, and in technologies that will help people to clean themselves and their homes in environments where there is a lack of water, or poor water quality.

bp

Background

bp’s purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. We have set out an ambition ‎to be a ‎net zero company by 2050 or sooner, to help the world get to net zero and have a ‎strategy for ‎delivering on that ambition.

We aim to dramatically reduce carbon in our operations and in our production, and grow new low carbon businesses, products, and services. We want to be an energy company with purpose; one that is trusted by society, valued by shareholders, and motivating for everyone who works at bp.

We believe we have the experience and expertise, the relationships and the reach, the skill and the will, to do this.

AstraZeneca

Background

AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company with a major UK presence. Our purpose is to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. The best way we can help patients is to be science-led and share this passion with the scientific, healthcare and business communities of the UK.

At AstraZeneca, health is our business and our contribution to society. How we operate supports sustainable ecosystems for healthcare that benefit people and our planet through science-based innovation. Our aspiration is for the future to be healthy and for us to be an active participant in a healthy society, planet, and business. Our pioneering medicines touch the lives of millions of people, so it is a business imperative that we are partners and advocates for solutions to global health. At the heart of our sustainability approach is access to healthcare and its connection to environmental protection and ethics and transparency

Xampla

Background

Xampla is a materials innovation company unlocking the power of natural plant polymers, creating materials that change the world. Based in Cambridge, UK, our team of world-class scientists, engineers and innovation experts are creating the materials of tomorrow for the brands of today. We share a combined ethos and mission to change the world for the better, and are proudly recognised as a BCorp company.

Croda

Background

Croda is a speciality chemical manufacturer supplying ingredients into a wide range of consumer markets. Through the imaginative and practical use of science, we create ingredients and technologies that improve people’s lives by enhancing the performance of everyday products. Croda is the name behind the high-performance ingredients in some of the biggest, most successful brands in the world, creating products that are relied on by industries and consumers worldwide.

Innovation and sustainability are at the heart of Croda. Through close collaborations we have an in-depth knowledge of customers’ needs, which enables us to focus Research and Development in areas that will allow customers to meet new market opportunities. We do this by creating, co-creating, acquiring or licensing new technology and taking a proactive, leading position on sustainability. This can be seen from the materials we use and the way they are used, to the ingredients we create and the way they are created.

Innospec

Background

Innospec is a global supplier of speciality chemicals with manufacturing plants, research centres and additional facilities across twenty-three countries. We provide high-performance chemicals, additives and formulations for markets including personal care, home care, fuel additives, agrochemicals, metal extraction, oil field and polymers and waxes.

Innospec's world-class Research & Technology and other business teams continually provide innovative products and solutions across all our business units; recognising that we have a responsibility to strive for ever-greater sustainability to reduce the environmental footprint of the products we make. We have collaborations in science and technology with several institutions and are always on the lookout for exciting new science and technology areas for potential collaboration.

Aqdot

Background

Aqdot is a Cambridge-based chemtech company commercialising AqFresh, a proprietary supramolecular chemistry that interacts and captures other materials. Its proprietary platform supports innovations in improving air quality, including odour and pollution management, fragrance delivery, and allergen inactivation. The company’s work spans home and pet care, hygiene, automotive, and textile sectors, helping partners enhance product performance and sustainability. With product development and scaled manufacturing operations, Aqdot combines scientific insight with practical, scalable implementation.

Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty

Background

Driven by passion and innovation, Givaudan Fragrance & Beauty aims to bring delightful and memorable sensorial experiences to consumers around the world. Currently present in all major markets, we strive to be the creative partner of choice for customers not only in personal, fabric, hygiene, and home care but also in fine fragrances and overall beauty. The Company is driven by its inspiring Purpose of creating fragrances and beauty products for “happier, healthier lives with love for nature.
In our quest to implement our Company Purpose, science and technology plays a leading role in advancing our mission and achieving our goals towards more sustainable fragrances. 

At Givaudan, we believe in the power of possibility by continuously researching new sustainable innovative molecules to be used for fragrance creation and developing emerging scent technologies that make a difference. Our renowned team of scientists is the core of our ground-breaking research, working together to bring innovative fragrant solutions to our customers that also enhance the lives of their consumers around the world.

Johnson Matthey

Background

Johnson Matthey (JM) is a global leader in sustainable technologies. We take our unrivalled expertise in chemistry and materials and use it to solve complex problems for our customers, whether that is scaling up, manufacturing or developing new and next generation products.

With over 200 years of sustained innovation and technological breakthroughs, our technologies have enabled cleaner air, improved health and the more efficient use of our planet's natural resources. And now, as the world faces the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, JM is accelerating the big transitions needed, driving down transport emissions, decarbonising the energy and chemical industries and creating a circular economy.

Innovation is at the heart of JM. From our earliest origins as a gold assayer to our market-leading inventions in catalytic science and metal chemistry, our scientists have long been at the forefront of innovation. We are committed to creating an environment where innovation can flourish, encouraging creativity within our business and engaging with organisations outside of JM in a spirit of partnership and collaboration.

JM is full of incredibly talented people with a real passion for science and sustainability and a commitment to innovation. We take pride in the fact that we are catalysing the net zero transition for our customers, and for society.

PETRONAS

Background

Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is a global energy and solutions company, ranked amongst the largest corporations on Fortune Global 500®. We seek opportunities in energy investments both in hydrocarbon and renewables across the globe and maximise value through our integrated business model. Our portfolio includes conventional and unconventional resources as well as a diverse range of fuel lubricant, and petrochemical products. This is further strengthened with a successful product delivery track record. Our customers are at the heart of everything that we do, and our businesses are anchored on meeting their needs.

Our technology is our differentiator and the key to ensuring excellence in all that we offer – energy, products, and solutions, as well as unlocking new business frontiers. Sustainability is at the core of everything that we do, as we believe in harnessing the good in energy to add quality to everyday lives. People are our strength and partners for growth. We believe in progressing with our partners in addressing the evolving needs in today’s changing energy landscape.

Cargill

Background

Cargill, Incorporated is an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products and services with 155,000 employees in 70 countries. Founded as a grain warehousing and merchandising company, Cargill is one of the largest privately owned companies in the world. The company provides distinctive customer solutions in supply chain management, food applications, and health and nutrition. Cargill currently has 60+ business units that operate in 4 geographies, and approximately 50% of the company’s assets are located outside North America.

The Energy Technologies business in Cargill Bio industrial creates, makes, and sells speciality chemicals and additives for the global energy market. Working in close collaboration with our customers, we apply sustainable concepts and deep scientific expertise so that together we can efficiently power the world of tomorrow. At our core, we are experts in synthetic ester and polyalkylene glycol chemistries, taking products from lab scale through to full manufacturing. Investing in the development of new chemistries allows us to support our customers in meeting new industry challenges. For those who dare to imagine a brighter future, we establish long-lasting relationships and create bespoke industry solutions through our integrated research & development and global manufacturing capabilities. Being both global and local, you have direct access to our network of technical experts. We look forward to talking to you.

RSSL

Background

Reading Scientific Services Limited (RSSL) is a global leader at the forefront of scientific analysis, consultancy, product development and training, serving the food, drink, and consumer goods industries as well pharmaceutical and healthcare providers. For over 30 years we have been helping world leading companies and SMEs to develop and supply products that are safe, innovative, of the highest quality and meet the demands of legislation and consumers.

We are looking for innovative solutions which support our strategic growth needs and to create partnerships where everyone involved succeeds. We are interested in emerging technologies which in can radically improve our analysis offering or give new avenues for our product innovation, especially in the realms of healthy living, for example in helping us develop new vegan or low sugar products for our customers. Other areas of interest include novel or natural stabilisers for either texture enhancement or microbiological preservation applications.

Carbometrics

Background

Carbometrics Ltd. was founded in 2018 following the acquisition of Ziylo Ltd by Novo Nordisk. Our core competency is the design, synthesis, and derivatisation of highly selective and robust synthetic Glucose Binding Molecules. Ziylo was acquired to support Novo Nordisk’s strategic goal to develop the world’s first glucose-responsive insulins and transform the treatment of diabetes.

Ziylo’s synthetic glucose binding molecules (GBMs) were initially discovered by Professor Anthony Davis, a world-leader in the field of molecularly engineered sugar receptors based at the University of Bristol. Carbometrics negotiated an exclusive license to the non-therapeutic applications of the GBMs for uses such as CGM.

GSK

Background

GSK are a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.  We aim to positively impact the health of more than 2.5 billion individuals by 2031, with ambitious plans for growth and continuing to make GSK a company where everyone can thrive.  We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines.  We focus on science of the immune system and advanced technologies, investing in 4 core therapeutic areas (Infectious Diseases, HIV, Respiratory/ Immunology and Oncology) to impact health at scale. We operate responsibly for all our stakeholders by prioritising Innovation, Performance and Trust.