Second Innovate UK regulatory science initiative: £4.7 million for 11 projects
22 Feb 2025
Innovate UK has announced a second multimillion pound initiative in less than a month, to develop regulatory science and pioneering technologies.
A total of £4.7 million is to be invested in 11 projects named as the new Regulatory Science and innovation Networks (RSINs).
RSINs are charged with accelerating “regulation in pace with technological advancements to support innovation”.
Ailsa Kennedy-Ballard, Innovate UK deputy director of innovation programmes and partnerships commented:
“This investment marks a significant step forward in addressing the regulatory challenges that often hinder innovation.
“By establishing these Regulatory Science and Innovation Networks, we’re enabling collaboration between researchers, businesses, and policymakers to contribute to a regulatory landscape that can adapt to the pace of technological advancements.”
The 11 winning projects and their grants are:
- Regulations to Ensure Sustainable Circular Use at End-of-Life, led by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, to explore regulatory drivers and barriers to the development of a circular economy for end-of-life wind turbines in the UK: £432,326.
- Retrofit Net-Zero buildings - Regulatory Science and Innovation Network for unlocking Adoption of Innovation, led by Building Research Establishment Ltd, to advance regulatory science to help policymakers regulate housing retrofit technologies: £338,497.
- Biobased and Biodegradable Materials Regulatory Network, led by Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association, to advance regulation and create business growth opportunities for biobased and biodegradable materials: £474,135.
- Biofilm Alliance: A Network for Regulatory Sciences, Academic Research, and Industry Collaboration, led by University of Southampton, to address challenges in regulatory science which hinder advancements in biofilm control technologies: £401,730.
- A regulatory science network for the implementation of novel disease prevention technologies in aquaculture, led by Esox Biologics Ltd, to design a framework to link aquatic DNA with disease monitoring: £471,067.
- Agri-Robotics Regulatory Network, led by UK Agri-Tech Centre Ltd, to help optimise regulation and standards governing UK agri-robotics: £499,992.
- Novel Foods Expert Network for Regulatory Challenges, led by Reading Scientific Services Ltd, to look at Novel Food regulation, which could provide smoother pathways for swift market entry of new technologies and products: £472,574.
- Life Cycle Assessment Regulatory Science & Innovation Network, led by University of Sheffield, to strengthen Life Cycle Assessment, a method of evaluating environmental impacts of products and materials: £403,429.
- IBC-Net, led by UK Agri-Tech Centre Ltd, to overcome regulatory hurdles in insect bioconversion, the process of using insects to break down organic waste into protein for animal feed, oils or fertiliser: £326,610.
- Advanced Regulatory Innovation Eco System, led by Ideaonomy Ltd, to develop an AI-based digital platform to support regulators: £498,756.
- Digital Products Regulatory Innovation Network, led by Oxford Brookes University, to help strengthen the quality of products sold online: £443,311.
Said Ballard: “These networks will not only help unlock opportunities for investment and innovation but also ensure that the UK remains a competitive leader in creating safer, more sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions across diverse sectors.”
These latest awards follow Innovate UK’s announcement in late January of seven CERSIs – Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs).
Aimed at the creation of “safer, faster” pathways for healthcare, each CERSI will be eligible for receipt of up to £1 million in support.
