Enterprise Day showcases entrepreneurial talent and innovation

The annual event celebrated the Department of Chemical Engineering's thriving entrepreneurial culture.

Now into its third year, ChemEng Enterprise Day 2025 welcomed researchers, alumni, early stage investors and industry guests to an action packed day featuring 17 early-stage spinouts recently launched and in the pipeline, with their teams sharing technologies, business ideas and enterprise journeys with early-stage investors.

The afternoon opened with a welcome from Professor Jonathan Jeffers (Associate Dean Enterprise, Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering) followed by Professor Omar Matar, Head of Department, Chemical Engineering.

Professor Sandro Macchietto, Director of ChemEng Enterprise, outlined the department’s strategy and achievements on innovation and enterprise in his talk 'Chem Eng:Turbocharging Enterprise.'

Showcasing success and new ventures

A key highlight was the ‘Spinoffs Update – where are they now?’ session, where six recent Chemical Engineering spinouts presented their impressive progress and impact since launching, a highlight being the recently announced 21.5 million euro funding for Lixea, a ChemEng spinout producing materials for the energy, biochemical, biomaterials and food industries from green wastes.

Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with a further selection of ventures during a lively and poster session over lunch. With four spinouts launched in 2024 alone, the breadth and depth of entrepreneurial vigour in the department is amongst the highest at Imperial.

Prof Sandro Macchietto, Director of ChemEng Enterprise, kicking off proceedings.

The programme continued with a panel discussion on ‘Fast-Tracking DeepTech’, bringing together Imperial alumni, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss the specific challenges and opportunities for deep technology ventures.

The ‘Pipeline’ session spotlighted eight emerging teams at advanced stages of preparing to launch their ventures, each presenting highly innovative technologies and business plans addressing global challenges in areas ranging from biotech for new therapeutics, critical materials recovery, batteries and energy storage, to plastic recycling for a circular economy.  

I cannot cease to be surprised by the sheer entrepreneurial enthusiasm, capability and grit shown by our academics in taking their ideas to market. Prof Sandro Macchietto Director of Enterprise, Department of Chemical Engineering

Professor Sandro Macchietto, Director of ChemEng Enterprise said: “One would expect a range of quality ideas emerging from our academic research, but I cannot cease to be surprised by the sheer entrepreneurial enthusiasm, capability and grit shown by our academics in taking their ideas to market. With a little support, the extent and depth of spinouts launched in the last few years positions the department on a world-class by many metrics”.

Fostering an entrepreneurial community

The event closed with a summary and next steps from Victor Dillard (Chair of ChemEng Strategy Advisory Board and a serial entrepreneur) followed by a networking reception. ChemEng Enterprise Day continues to play a key role in building a thriving entrepreneurial community within Chemical Engineering, connecting researchers and students with mentors, investors and industry partners.

We are a community that actively push and engage with entrepreneurial initiatives. Prof Omar Matar Head of Department, Chemical Engineering

Professor Omar Matar, Head of Department, Chemical Engineering, stated: "I am delighted to see ChemEng Enterprise Day enter it’s third year. We are a community that actively push and engage with entrepreneurial initiatives and I am pleased to see Chemical Engineering lead the way on commercialising research."

Reflections from delegates

Attendees summarised the event in a positive way. The researchers found themselves in a thriving space with entrepreneurial inspiration and guidance, the early-stage investors getting to know people and technologies throughout the day’s proceedings.

"Our underlying principle is to be useful, and that is exactly what we are trying to do at Imperial and ChemEng." - Professor Jonathan Jeffers, Associate Dean, Enterprise, Faculty of Engineering

ChemEng Enterprise-a rich history, an exciting present, a bright future

This is the latest exciting development from the highly successful decentralised Enterprise support programme launched by the Department of Chemical Engineering - unique within Imperial.

The scheme includes early scouting, a pre-seed funding scheme, extensive advice and mentoring, support of interactions with Imperial and funders, “how-to” workshops and a yearly ChemEng Enterprise Day.

Find out more about ChemEng Enterprise.

Interested in participating in ChemEng Enterprise Day 2026? Get in touch with Geetanjali Bathina.