ELEMENTAL is the UK’s Engineering Biology Mission Hub for environmental processing and sustainable metal recovery.
Funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Engineering Biology programme, and led by the University of Kent, we bring together researchers, industry, policymakers and public-sector partners from eight leading institutions to develop biological solutions that recover valuable metals from waste, restore contaminated environments and support a circular economy.
As one of six UKRI Engineering Biology Mission Hubs, we are accelerating the translation of research into sustainable technologies with real-world environmental and economic impact.
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Our partners include:
Our Mission
Our mission is to harness engineering biology to make metal recovery cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable.
By applying advances in synthetic biology, microbiology and plant science, we develop innovative biological systems that can:
- recover valuable metals from waste
- remediate contaminated environments
- reduce reliance on energy-intensive extraction methods
- support a resilient and circular economy
