Royce is pleased to announce a new partnership with Conception X, via the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator (RHA) programme, to support and create the next generation of PhD founders building companies based on new materials technologies essential to the UK hydrogen economy and sustainable energy.
RHA utilises its unrivalled access to the extensive UK research base to identify world-leading materials solutions, and determine if these solutions are internationally competitive, viable, and scalable. These solutions can tackle the materials challenges which are constraining the hydrogen supply chain.
The Accelerator connects the R&D landscape with industry, end-users and investors. The partnership with Conception X, which offers the UK’s leading cross-university deeptech venture programme for PhD students, aims to help unlock the UK’s world-leading hydrogen capabilities.
Dr Robert Sorrell, CEO of the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator, says of the new partnership:
“We are delighted to partner with Conception X, facilitating PhD students with entrepreneurial ambitions into the hydrogen space. This underpins our ambitions to address vital materials challenges in the sector, driving excellence in materials research and innovation in the UK.”
Prof. David Knowles, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, commented:
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to work with Conception X, through the RHA, to support translation of next generation material innovation against national priorities to address our energy transition. We’re especially keen to support a new cohort of researchers developing the skills required to translate science into investable, high-impact commercial propositions.”
Riam Kanso, founder and CEO of Conception X, says:
“At Conception X, we are committed to discovering and supporting the next generation of PhD founders building transformative technologies that could permanently solve critical challenges impacting humanity, including accelerating decarbonisation. We’re excited to partner with the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator to identify and prepare top technical founders who can drive this transition”.
About the programme
Conception X Cohort 8 launches in March 2025, with applications now open. The programme is mostly virtual, designed to fit the intensive research schedules of PhD students, and lasts 9 months, from March to November. It offers the following:
- Deeptech entrepreneurial training
- One-to-one and group coaching
- Access to expert network (industry, investors, academia) and legal support
- Showcases and other community events
- The opportunity to take part in a Demo Day, attended by potential investors and industry
Royce’s funding will support up to 10 teams led by PhD founders, with research at the idea stage and ambitions to commercialise these ideas into viable technologies in the hydrogen supply chain including production (e.g. catalysts and membranes), storage (e.g. compressors and pumps), distribution (e.g. vessels and pipelines) and end-use (e.g. purification and compression).
Thanks to the RHA support and connections, PhD founders will benefit from the guidance of hydrogen industry specific experts, technical advisors and specialist investors. This will help them identify the key risks to be navigated, access resources to accelerate their development and position their technologies for investment.
Eligibility
To be considered for the programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be registered as PhD candidates at a university at the time of application
- Be working on an innovative technology based on their research that aligns with the RHA challenge areas: hydrogen production, transport/distribution, storage, sensing/monitoring and end use.
- Be able to commit to the full length of the programme, from March-November 2025
How to Apply
Applications are NOW OPEN via the Conception X website.
We advise interested PhD students to attend a Cohort 8 Discovery Session to learn more about the programme, meet successful PhD founders from previous cohorts, and ask any questions.
About Conception X
Conception X helps PhD students launch deeptech startups based on their research, connect with industry experts and become eligible for innovation grants, awards and venture capital funding. Since being established in University College London’s Faculty of Engineering in 2018, it has supported 450 teams, from 60 universities, that have gone on to raise £87m of equity.
Its established links with over 40 of the UK’s leading universities has allowed Conception X to recruit PhD students from across the deeptech portfolio, and advanced materials research has featured during each cohort in cutting-edge startups.
Why Innovation in Hydrogen is Needed
1: Vital for Net-Zero
Hydrogen offers a genuine pathway towards decarbonisation, particularly for energy-intensive industries which are difficult to abate through solar, wind or nuclear alone. Hydrogen supply chains will be key to the future energy system, given hydrogen’s ability to act as both an energy source and storage mechanism. These innovations are particularly relevant to the transport, aerospace, marine, steel, glass and ceramics sectors, among others.
2: Vital for Supply Chain Growth
The current limits of materials capabilities are creating barriers to growth across the hydrogen supply chain, from production and storage to distribution, use, and operational monitoring. The UK needs to scale its hydrogen capabilities, and we work with industry and academia to identify the major materials technology challenges that are preventing this.
3: Vital for UK’s Competitive Advantage on the Global Stage
Additionally, there is an urgent need for the UK to take action now to match the investments of other countries and maintain its globally competitive position. We have a wealth of research capability and innovation in the UK – it’s key to grow this for a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure and a centre of excellence in the UK, with the best available resources, knowledge and skills in this space.
Read more on why the RHA’s work is vital here.
