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SCGC-FIRST Third Round Now Open

The University of Oxford and SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC) are delighted to launch the third round of the SCGC Fund for Innovation and Research in Sustainability and Technology (SCGC-FIRST). SCGC-FIRST is an early-stage technology fund designed to support pump-priming ideas and proof-of-concept projects. The £1 million programme backs pioneering Oxford research that addresses urgent global challenges such as climate change, the energy transition, plastic waste, sustainable materials, and the application of AI/ML to sustainability.

Two researchers working in a lab

Round Three opens on 17 September 2025, with applications closing on 31 October 2025. Awards are expected to be in the range of £90K–100K for projects of up to 12 months, with the potential for follow-on funding from SCGC.

Full guidelines link is available here: 

The fund has already supported ground-breaking work across Oxford:

  • First Round (2023–2024): 4 projects were awarded, including ammonia synthesis over oxide catalysts, CO₂ reduction reactor design, plasma-enhanced catalysis, and AI-enabled hydrogen production.
  • Second Round (2024–2025): 3 projects were awarded, advancing research in turbomachinery reactors, solar perovskites, and biodegradable food packaging materials.

Now entering its third round, SCGC-FIRST continues to catalyse transformative research across Oxford’s divisions, driving innovations that will shape a sustainable future.

For questions or informal discussions, please contact SCG Alliance Manager, Gulcin Avul (gulcin.avul@chem.ox.ac.uk).

Download this guidance as a Word document

Find out more and apply here