Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to pitch their solution to Taner's Sons Design Studio. The winning applicant, as selected by the company, will then be eligible to apply for £25,000 grant funding to kickstart the development of the proposed solution through a 3-month project. The selected solution will be trialled during a 3-month pilot study with Taner's Sons Design Studio, with the possibility of further co-development if the trials are successful.
The selected solution will have the opportunity to enter into a new material and product range. 


<div>
Taner's Sons Design Studio are a design practice with offices in London (UK) and Nicosia (Cyprus) &ndash; has developed a new bio-composite material for the construction sector called <a href="https://pit-to-table.com/">Pit-Board</a>. Designed for use as sustainable interior panelling and in furniture products, Pit-Board is made from discarded olive pits and was launched to the market over the past two years.
While the product has received strong interest, a key challenge has emerged around its end-of life treatment. Taner's Sons Design Studio is now looking to enhance the circularity of the material by making it fully recyclable without compromising the mechanical, aesthetic, and performance qualities it currently offers.
</div>

Background

The challenge is to identify and test a binder system (or alternative bio-resin or natural resin solution) that enables the product to be recycled or reprocessed at the end of its life.
This may be, but is not exclusive to, custom-developed binders.
Technical expertise and testing facilities are required to validate this and set up a viable system for collection, reprocessing, and reuse through a co-developed and closed-loop recycling process.
The chosen solution will likely be at TRL 7 or above.
Be at production capacity to be ready to manufacture product within 12-18months.
This iX is in the Foundation Industries and supply chain challenges group, therefore, the solution provider will be eligible to apply for &pound;25,000 to develop the proposed solution towards meeting this challenge. The funding will cover a 3-month project, the details of which will need to be refined with Taner&rsquo;s Sons Design Studio.

The Challenge

The current production methods produce its largest size panels at 2000mm x 1000m x 18mm.&nbsp;A panel of this size uses 19.2kg of resin
Panels are also produced at:
<ul>
<li class="Normal1">1000mm x 1000mm x 18mm</li>
<li class="Normal1">900mm dia x 18mm</li>
</ul>
It is envisioned that a successful solution will be ordered in quantities of 150-300 litres once a month.
The current manufacturing facilities are based in Cyprus &ndash; where the raw material of olive pits are.
There is an export opportunity for the chosen solution provider, with the potential in the future to bring manufacturing to the UK.

Functional Requirements

The solution must be compatible with existing HDPE and chrome moulds.&nbsp;
The following table demonstrates mechanical properties that must be adhered to:
&nbsp;

Technical Requirements

b833094e-4c24-4ef9-8698-b44c46a9c1fb/Table1.png

Table 1 - Mechanical properties that must be adhered to

<ul>
<li>The solutions intended use is for furniture items for indoor use only.</li>
<li>The solution must be capable of being CNC machined.</li>
</ul>

Operating Conditions

The solution:
<ul>
<li>Should not have any VOC or formaldehyde emissions.</li>
<li>Should not include any red list metals.</li>
<li>Should not increase damage to people and Environment.</li>
</ul>

Out of Scope

The solution should be in the price range of &pound;8-10 per kg or less.&nbsp;

Cost Requirement

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to pitch their solution to Taner's Sons Design Studio. The winning applicant, as selected by the company, will then be eligible to apply for &pound;25,000 grant funding to kickstart the development of the proposed solution through a 3-month project. The selected solution may be trialled by Taner's Sons Design Studio with potential for further adoption if trials are successful.
The solution has potential to be deployed globally with existing and potential customers.
It is envisaged that the solution will initially be procured in 150-300 litres once a month.
Taner's Sons Design Studio will provide support during the development of a solution, sharing existing knowledge and materials. They will supply existing moulds and raw materials for testing purposes.
The chosen solution will be introduced to the existing supply chain, once all tests have been completed and approved.
The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:
<ul>
<li class="Normal1">Support from Innovate UK Business Connect.</li>
<li class="Normal1">Support in the development of a prototype or pilot.</li>
<li class="Normal1">Technical support.</li>
<li class="Normal1">Invitation to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events.</li>
<li class="Normal1">A potential business collaboration.</li>
<li class="Normal1">Investor introductions (if investment is required).</li>
<li>Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.</li>
</ul>

Rewards & Market Opportunity

<ul>
<li>Challenge launch: 20th August 2025</li>
<li>Deadline for applications: 17th September 2025</li>
<li>Selection and notification of finalists: 10th October 2025</li>
<li>Pitch Day: 14th October 2025</li>
<li>Confirm selected solution provider: 22nd October 2025</li>
<li>Submission to Innovation Funding Service (IFS): 5th November 2025</li>
<li>Project length: 3 months, completion by 31st March 2026</li>
</ul>

Timescales

This iX is in the Foundation Industries and supply chains challenges. Due to the nature of this challenge and the funding support available, there are the following eligibility criteria:
<ul>
<li class="Normal1">Entrants to this competition must be a UK registered business.</li>
<li class="Normal1">Entrants can only apply to one of the Foundation Industries and supply chains challenges.</li>
</ul>

Eligibility

The application form for this challenge will require applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions - Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property &ndash; each with a limit of 300 words.
Additionally, the following documents must be attached for your application to be considered: 
<ul>
<li>Project plan</li>
<li>Project costings &ndash; only eligible costs will be funded, please read the Innovate UK Costs guidance for further information</li>
</ul>
Your project must:
<ul>
<li>Have a grant funding request up to &pound;25,000 (eligible costs only, see above)</li>
<li>Start on 1st January 2026 and complete by 31st March 2026</li>
<li>Carry out its project work in the UK</li>
<li>Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK</li>
</ul>
Applications will be assessed on:
<ul>
<li class="Normal1">Relevance to the defined challenge</li>
<li class="Normal1">Benefit of implementation</li>
<li class="Normal1">Feasibility/economic viability</li>
<li class="Normal1">Innovative nature</li>
<li class="Normal1">Ability to launch in line with expected timescales</li>
<li class="Normal1">Credibility of applicant company</li>
<li class="Normal1">Coherence of the proposed business model</li>
<li class="Normal1">Development potential</li>
<li class="Normal1">Maturity of the solution</li>
<li class="Normal1">Suitability for the intended geographic market</li>
</ul>
If selected through this competition, you will be invited to apply for &pound;25,000 grant funding through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Applicants will need to to upload the following documents to IFS once notified:
<ul>
<li>Project plan</li>
<li>Project costing</li>
<li>Minimal Financial Assistance (and de minimis where applicable) declaration (details can be found <a href="https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/general-guidance/funding-rules/">here</a>)</li>
</ul>
Minimal Financial Assistance:
Grant funding in this competition is awarded as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to &pound;315,000 to an enterprise in a 3-year rolling financial period. If your application is successful and you are invited to apply for grant funding you will be asked to declare previous funding received by you. This will form part of the financial checks ahead of Innovate UK making a formal grant offer.

Assessment Criteria

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP be not disclosed, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed).
Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.

IP & Potential Commercial Route

We recommend that you complete the application form in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application form does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle &ldquo;Stage Complete&rdquo; for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your application once you have clicked &ldquo;Submit Idea&rdquo; at the bottom of the Summary page.

Application & Technical Guidance

By submitting an application to this Innovation Exchange (iX) challenge, you acknowledge and agree that the information you provide will be shared with Innovate UK Business Connect and the challenge holder for the purposes of assessment and selection. All information submitted will be handled in confidence and shared only with those involved in the assessment and selection process under appropriate confidentiality expectations.
Please consider the level of detail you share in your submission to ensure it aligns with your own internal confidentiality or disclosure policies.
A selected panel of assessors will review and score your application. The panel of assessors will meet and agree a consensus score. Successful solutions will be selected by the challenge holder. Success will be based upon total consensus scores, a portfolio approach and capacity within the challenge holder&rsquo;s organisation to carry out the projects.
For more information on how Innovate UK Business Connect handles personal data, please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/privacy-policy/" target="_new">Privacy Policy</a>.

Terms & Conditions

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Binders or resins for recyclable biocomposite panels

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

This challenge is brought to you by:

Binders or resins for recyclable biocomposite panelsCopy Link

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

This challenge is brought to you by:

Binders or resins for recyclable biocomposite panels