The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division, in collaboration with SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC), is delighted to announce the successful projects awarded funding through the SCGC Fund for Innovation and Research in Sustainability and Technology (SCGC-FIRST) 2025–2026 (Third Round).
SCGC-FIRST is a University-administered fund designed to support visionary and transformative research tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges in sustainability, energy, materials and advanced technologies. Now in its third round, the scheme continues to enable ambitious, outcomes-driven projects with strong potential for real-world impact, while further strengthening the long-standing strategic partnership between the University of Oxford and SCGC.
Following a highly competitive selection process, three outstanding projects have been awarded funding this year. The successful proposals demonstrate exceptional scientific excellence, originality and a strong alignment with the core aims of SCGC-FIRST.
Advancing sustainable plastics through AI
Professor Reece Oosterbeek, Department of Engineering Science
Professor Reece Oosterbeek, Associate Professor of Engineering Science and a member of the Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Group, will lead AIM-HIGH: AI-enabled Modification of HIGH-performance recycled polymer formulations.
Addressing a critical challenge in plastics sustainability, the project focuses on improving the inconsistent performance and low recycling rates of polypropylene. By combining artificial intelligence with advanced materials testing and additive manufacturing, AIM-HIGH aims to develop scalable workflows for recycled polymers with predictable, high-performance properties. The research has the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste while enabling recycled materials to be used in demanding industrial applications.
Sustainable catalysis for energy and carbon reduction
Professor Meera Mehta, Department of Chemistry
Professor Meera Mehta, Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Tutorial Fellow at Trinity College, will lead Bridging the Gap: From Pnictogen Clusters to Heterogeneous Red Phosphorus.
This project explores phosphorus-based catalysts as a sustainable alternative in chemical synthesis, with the aim of delivering the first examples of heterogeneous, transition metal-free hydrogenation catalysis. Closely aligned with SCGC-FIRST priorities in energy efficiency and carbon reduction, the work opens up new directions in sustainable catalytic science.
Energy-efficient materials for next-generation AI
Professor Paul McGonigal, Department of Chemistry
Professor Paul McGonigal, Professor of Organic Chemistry and Courtenay Phillips Fellow of Merton College, will lead Organic ionic materials for energy-efficient machine learning devices.
As machine learning and artificial intelligence place increasing demands on global energy systems, this project focuses on developing novel materials for low-energy computing. By advancing organic ionic and magnetic electrolyte materials for reservoir computing, the research aims to support next-generation AI technologies with significantly reduced energy consumption, aligning closely with SCGC-FIRST priorities in energy efficiency and sustainable technologies.
The SCGC-FIRST Prioritisation Panel thanks all applicants for the exceptional quality of submissions and acknowledges the panel members for their careful and considered assessments. The selected projects exemplify the breadth, ambition and interdisciplinary strength of research across the MPLS Division and are expected to deliver meaningful scientific and societal impact over the coming year.
Further details on future SCGC-FIRST funding calls will be announced in due course.