TransFIRe (Transforming Foundation Industries Research and Innovation hub) was developed in response to the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund call to transform the Foundation Industries, namely: Chemicals, Cement, Ceramics, Glass, Metals and Paper. These industries produce 75% of all materials in the UK economy and are vital for the UK’s manufacturing and construction industries. Together, the Foundation Industries are worth £52 Bn to the UK economy and produce 28 M tonnes of materials per year, accounting for about 10% of the UK total CO2 emissions.

The UK government wants to make these industries more internationally competitive, to secure jobs in these industries and help them grow. UKRI through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) has allocated £4.7 M for three years to work with universities, research organisations and industry to assist with technology development and transfer, new business developments and new opportunities in materials and technologies to help to achieve the Net Zero 2050 target.

TransFIRe is a consortium of 20 academics from 12 universities, 49 companies and 14 non-governmental organisations related to the sectors, with expertise across the foundation industries as well as energy mapping, life cycle and sustainability, industrial symbiosis, computer science, AI and digital manufacturing, management and business, social sciences and technology transfer.