East Midlands Clean Growth & Infrastructure R&D Companies Directory

Rolls-Royce SMR is a specialised energy technology company focused on the design and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to provide low-carbon, baseload electricity. The company leverages advanced nuclear engineering to create scalable, factory-built power plants that support national decarbonisation targets. Their work centres on the industrialisation of nuclear power generation through modular manufacturing techniques.

Rolls-Royce Power Engineering is a large-scale engineering firm specialising in the development of advanced nuclear power solutions, specifically focusing on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Their work integrates digital modelling, modular factory production, and waste reduction strategies to deliver cost-competitive, low-carbon energy infrastructure. The company leads complex industrial consortia to advance the commercial viability of next-generation nuclear power stations.

Cadent Gas is the UK's largest gas distribution network operator, managing the infrastructure that delivers gas to millions of homes and businesses. Their R&D focus has evolved from traditional network maintenance to pioneering the transition to low-carbon energy, with a heavy emphasis on hydrogen storage, biomethane integration, and digital network modelling. They leverage extensive collaborative partnerships to solve complex infrastructure challenges and support the UK's Net Zero targets.

PurpleSector is a marine engineering and digital technology company that develops clean hybrid propulsion systems and smart software tools for maritime operations. They apply motorsport-derived optimisation methodologies to reduce emissions and improve efficiency in vessel scheduling and manufacturing.

Hubl Logistics is a micro enterprise specialising in zero-emission cold chain solutions for last-mile delivery and agricultural supply chains. Their technology centres on the CoolRun system, an insulated pod utilising phase change materials to eliminate diesel refrigeration, reducing emissions and energy consumption. They have evolved from conceptual delivery management to deploying solar-powered mobile refrigeration in off-grid settings, consistently leading Innovate UK projects.

RPC Containers is a large-scale manufacturer specialising in innovative plastic packaging solutions, with a strong focus on industrial energy efficiency and circular economy initiatives. Their work has evolved from optimising energy-intensive thermoplastic injection moulding processes to developing closed-loop recycling technologies for food-grade polypropylene. The company integrates advanced manufacturing techniques with sustainability standards to reduce carbon emissions across their production sites.

Loughborough University is a leading UK research institution that actively translates academic expertise into industrial applications through collaborative R&D and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Their work spans advanced manufacturing, energy systems, robotics, and human-centred design, focusing on solving complex engineering challenges and improving societal outcomes. The university serves as a vital bridge between fundamental materials science and commercial deployment, partnering with a wide range of industry leaders to drive innovation in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and clean energy.

Laing O'Rourke is a large-scale international engineering and construction firm that specialises in advanced offsite manufacturing and digital construction methodologies. The company focuses on integrating Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles, robotics, and digital twins to improve productivity and sustainability in the built environment. Their work has evolved from traditional construction to leading complex R&D initiatives in decarbonising concrete production, modular nuclear design, and high-performance building facades.

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is a major UK electricity distribution network operator responsible for delivering power to millions of homes and businesses across the Midlands, South West, and Wales. Their R&D activities focus on modernising grid infrastructure through digital transformation, whole-system integration, and the development of innovative flexibility services to support the transition to net zero. They frequently collaborate with academic institutions, local authorities, and technology partners to pilot solutions for decarbonising heat, transport, and industrial clusters.

Clean Air Power GT specialises in developing low-carbon and zero-emission internal combustion engines for heavy transport, using hydrogen and ammonia as fuels. Their work spans feasibility studies and pre-deployment trials for rail, light commercial vehicles, and maritime applications, often in consortium with major industry and academic partners. The company has evolved from hydrogen dual-fuel rail demonstrations to advanced ammonia combustion and cracking technologies for marine engines.

Hypermotive develops integration products and software for zero-emission propulsion systems, focusing on hydrogen fuel cell and battery technologies for transport applications. Their work has evolved from hybrid energy storage and battery balancing to full-scale integration platforms and AI-based data analytics for hydrogen fuel cell fleets, with a clear arc toward commercialisation of intelligent integration products.

Gelion Europe, formerly OXLiD Ltd, develops lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology, focusing on quasi-solid-state cells to improve cycle life, energy density, and operating temperature. The company has progressed from a proof-of-concept cell to a pouch cell prototype through UK government grants, targeting aerospace and automotive markets.

Peak NDT is a non-destructive testing (NDT) company specialising in advanced ultrasonic inspection systems. The company has evolved from developing high-speed phased array ultrasonic testing for nuclear assets to applying powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing for aerospace landing gear and aeroengine components. Their work focuses on improving inspection speed and manufacturing sustainability through collaborative R&D projects.

Dyson Farming is a large-scale agricultural enterprise that integrates advanced technology and research to improve the productivity and sustainability of UK farming. The company focuses on developing regenerative growing methods, precision nutrient management, and the valorisation of agricultural waste streams. Their work has evolved from early feasibility studies in autonomous sensing to leading large-scale, farmer-led trials that provide independent evidence for sustainable crop production.

Texture Jet is a spin-out from the University of Nottingham that has developed STAT (Surface Texture Adjustment Technology), a novel in-situ surface processing tool for modifying surface textures on large or complex components. The technology replaces dirty, dangerous legacy processes such as masking and thermal treatment, enabling cleaner, more efficient surface finishing, polishing, etching and structuring. Over their grant history, they have progressed from fundamental research through feasibility studies to a large SBRI Phase 2 project aimed at commercialising sustainable surface finishing for power generation and aerospace.

Porterbrook Leasing is a UK-based rolling stock asset manager that focuses on the decarbonisation of existing rail fleets through innovative retrofit technologies. By collaborating with specialist engineering partners, the company develops and deploys advanced exhaust after-treatment systems and emission-reduction solutions for diesel multiple units. Their work bridges the gap between automotive emissions technology and rail-specific operational requirements to improve environmental performance in the absence of full electrification.

Barratt Developments is a major UK housebuilder that focuses on industrialising construction processes to improve productivity and sustainability. Through collaborative R&D, they integrate offsite manufacturing, digital design, and energy-efficient technologies to address housing shortages and net zero targets. Their work bridges the gap between traditional masonry-based construction and advanced, digitally-led manufacturing methods.

Howell Enterprises is a micro/small enterprise based in the East Midlands, specialising in railway safety and condition monitoring technologies. The company has developed novel applications of thermal radiometry for remote temperature monitoring of moving trains and deployed 8K forward-facing CCTV to reduce disruption from fatalities. Their work has evolved from mechanical system monitoring to high-resolution video analytics for rail incident response.

Unitrove Innovation develops zero-emission refuelling infrastructure for small maritime craft, focusing on hydrogen and electric solutions to decarbonise coastal shipping. Their work has evolved from feasibility studies on multi-fuel stations to real-world demonstrations of hydrogen bunkering and hydrogen-powered vessels, in collaboration with maritime partners.

Grid AI develops an AI-controlled modular Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that repurposes end-of-life EV batteries for renewable energy storage. Their technology integrates solar and advanced AI to optimise utility, lifetime, and return on investment, initially targeting off-grid applications in Uganda to replace fossil fuel generators.