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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L016354/1
Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies
Principal Investigator: Davidson, Professor MG
Other Investigators:
Scott, Professor JL Mays, Professor T
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Airbus Group Limited Biocleave Limited BioSyntha Technology Limited
CatScI Ltd Centre for Process Innovation Limited GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK)
Institution of Chemical Engineers ISIS Johnson Matthey
Kerry Ingredients Europe UK Ltd LanzaTech NZ Ltd Mast Carbon Ltd
Monash University National Non-Food Crops Centre NNFCC Ohio University (USA)
RWTH Aachen University Sasol Technology Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd
SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Ctr Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK) TMO Renewables Ltd
Unilever Wessex Water Ltd Yonsei University
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Bath
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 October 2014 Ends: 31 March 2023 Value (£): 4,703,927
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Chemical Synthetic Methodology
Design of Process systems Materials Synthesis & Growth
Synthetic biology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Food and Drink Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
23 Oct 2013 EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel M Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Sustainability is defined as "the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Achieving sustainable development is the key global challenge of the 21st Century. It can only be met with the adoption of a range of new sustainable technologies. Sustainable chemical technologies are those involving chemistry as the central science. They span a wide range of areas, many of which make major impacts on society. Key sustainable chemical technologies include: use of renewable resources and biotechnology (e.g., making fuels, chemicals and products from biomass rather than petrochemicals); clean energy conversion and storage (e.g., solar energy, the hydrogen economy and advanced battery technologies); sustainable use of water (e.g., membrane technologies for water purification and upcycling of nutrients in waste water); developing sustainable processes and manufacturing (e.g., making production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics more energy-efficient and less wasteful through developing sustainable supply chains as well as through technological advances); and developing advanced healthcare technologies (e.g., developing new drugs, medical treatments and devices).

To address these needs, we propose a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Chemical Technologies. The £5.08m requested from the EPSRC will be supplemented by £2.0m from the University and a £4.13m industrial contribution. The CDT will place fundamental concepts of sustainability at the core of a broad spectrum of research and training at the interfaces of chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology and manufacturing. This will respond to a national and global need for highly skilled and talented scientists and engineers in the area as well as training tomorrow's leaders as advocates for sustainable innovation.

All students will receive foundation training to supplement their undergraduate knowledge, in addition to training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies. Broader training and practice in public engagement and creativity will encourage responsible innovation and attention to ethical, societal, and business aspects of research. They will all conduct high quality and challenging research directed by supervisory teams comprising joint supervisors from at least two of the disciplines of chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology and management as well as an industrial and/or international advisor. The broad research themes encompass the areas of: Renewable Resources and Biotechnology, Energy and Water, Processes and Manufacturing and Healthcare Technologies. Participation from key industry partners will address stakeholder needs, and partner institutions in the USA, Germany, Australia, and South Korea will provide world-leading international input, along with exciting opportunities for student placements and internships.

The CDT will utilize dedicated physical and virtual space for the students as well as a supervisory base of more than fifty academics. Building on the success of the current Doctoral Training Centre and evolving to keep pace with the growing importance of biotechnology and manufacturing to UK industry, the centre will provide a dynamic and truly multidisciplinary environment for innovative PhD research and training.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Organisation Website: http://www.bath.ac.uk