Turning a breakthrough in the lab into a real-world solution is no small feat—especially in deep tech chemistry. From cancer treatments and sustainable plastics to smart coatings and vaccine stability, scientific innovation is only the beginning. The real challenge often lies in scaling a business, securing investment, and navigating unfamiliar territory like IP, regulation, or even shipping classifications.
That’s where the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Change Makers initiative comes in. We support founders who are building chemistry-based start-ups with the potential to transform lives—and we’re also helping to raise awareness of the unique challenges they face.
Our new case study series spotlights four pioneering companies:
Albotherm : using colour-changing technology, they have created a glass coating that changes from clear to white in hot temperatures to selectively shield crops in greenhouses. This also has applications in cooling commercial buildings, which could reduce emissions and energy costs from air-conditioning.
Apeikon Therapeutics : their combination of nanoparticles and focussed ultrasound allows for cancer therapies to reach tumours in currently difficult to target areas. This has applications in treating brain tumours in children, but it could also be used in other difficult or untreatable cancers.
EnsiliTech® : using their novel ensilication® technique, they coat biomolecules with a silica network, which allows for the molecules to be stored at higher temperatures and enables transportation without refrigeration. This not only has applications in preventing wastage of vaccines, but it also allows for vaccines to reach areas in the developing world where it might be currently difficult to store and administer the vaccines at the right temperatures.
Interface Polymers : their Polarfin® additive can improve adhesion to polymers or increase the recyclability of polymers. The former has potential in allowing more parts in electric cars to be plastic, which can reduce weight and improve range, and the latter means that waste products from industrial processes can be reused instead of discarded.
These stories reveal the steep learning curve behind the science—like securing IP from universities, building labs in the right geographies, or spending millions on specialized equipment for clinical trials.
We’re sharing these stories to inspire, inform, and connect the ecosystem. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, researcher, or supporter of science-based ventures, we invite you to explore the case studies and help us build a more supportive environment for the next wave of chemical innovation.