Royce is pleased to join celebrations in congratulating James Robinson Specialty Ingredients (JRSI) on receiving the Chemicals Northwest Innovator Award 2025. This recognition highlights JRSI’s commitment to advancing material design through artificial intelligence (AI) and computational chemistry.
JRSI, a research-led business specialising in high-value organic materials, has integrated AI into its research processes to enhance efficiency and innovation. A key outcome of this work has been the development of an AI-driven model that predicts fade times for specific chemical structures, supporting more effective and resource-efficient product development.
“JRSI are always striving to be at the cutting edge in the field of photochromic dyes, and being given the CNW 2025 Innovation Award recognises this effort. As a small business, prioritising innovation allows JRSI to keep up with its competitors and continue growing our product range.”
Typically, it takes manufacturers several years to develop a new dye that possesses desired properties, meets regulatory approval and satisfies environmental considerations. Alongside this, each dye must undergo extensive research and testing to ensure colour fastness, stability and performance under different conditions. AI-driven models could enable manufacturers to reduce this lengthy development timeline, bringing high-quality dye products to market quicker.
“JRSI have been leaders in the field of photochromic chemistry for 30 years, but this work represents a step-change in the way that research is carried out in the business. By using computational chemistry to predict properties of molecules before they are made, JRSI can cut their product development time and increase their efficiency in the lab. This project is the first exciting step JRSI are taking to move their research into the AI era.”
A significant contribution to this project has been the collaboration between JRSI and the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS). This partnership enabled JRSI to access leading expertise at The University of Manchester and Royce to explore how computational chemistry could be used to refine dye development.
CEAMS provides innovation support to drive the adoption of sustainable materials through is consortium members by connecting industry with pioneering research and innovation assets to propel materials advancements crucial for a greener future. It is funded as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Innovation Accelerator programme.
Initially funded as a two-year pilot, CEAMS is led by a consortium of expert partners, including: Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Henry Royce Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) and its centres: Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), National Composites Centre (NCC), Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).
The Innovator Award acknowledges the role of innovation in the chemical sector and the benefits of industry-academia collaboration in advancing materials science. Royce looks forward to continuing to support and engage with partners driving progress in this field.
