DROPFORM: Data-Reinforced Rapid Optimization Platform for Formulation Manufacturing (DROPFORM)

Recipient organisation

NATURAL NEGATIVE LTD

Project reference

10189566

Funder

Innovate UK

Programme

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst – Investor Partnerships Round 2

Award value

£249,900

Project dates

1 Jul 2026 – 31 Dec 2027

Imported sector

Advanced Manufacturing Lvl3

Postcode area

BN (BN2 4GL)

Project status

Live

Source data quality

Description present in snapshot

Official project description

Natural Negative is scaling DropForm(tm), an AI-powered platform designed to help manufacturers adopt sustainable bioplastic materials with confidence and at industrial scale. Across manufacturing industries, organisations are increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil-based plastics as part of long-term sustainability and materials innovation strategies. While a growing range of bioplastic materials is now commercially available, widespread adoption in real manufacturing environments remains limited. The primary barrier is manufacturing uncertainty. When manufacturers attempt to replace conventional plastics with bioplastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), they frequently encounter prolonged trial-and-error testing with no guarantee of success. Materials that appear promising in laboratory testing can behave unpredictably on production equipment, leading to processing instability, quality issues, and abandoned reformulation efforts. As a result, many initiatives fail to progress beyond early-stage trials. This uncertainty arises because material selection decisions are often based on generic datasheets and laboratory characterisation, which do not reflect the realities of industrial manufacturing. Differences in equipment design, processing conditions, and operational tolerances mean that material behaviour can vary significantly between sites. Without reliable, equipment-aware insight, manufacturers face high technical risk when introducing new materials into established production lines. DropForm(tm) addresses this challenge by using artificial intelligence to predict manufacturing performance and processing feasibility for bioplastic formulations. Rather than evaluating material properties in isolation, the platform integrates formulation behaviour with manufacturing context, enabling more informed decision-making earlier in development. This reduces uncertainty, shortens development cycles, and supports more reliable transitions from material selection to stable production. This 18-month project expands DropForm(tm) into a broader platform spanning multiple biopolymer systems and manufacturing processes. Through structured experimental validation across representative production routes, the project builds a manufacturing intelligence capability that supports confident, repeatable adoption of sustainable materials across different equipment configurations and supply chains. Natural Negative currently works with commercial manufacturing partners. Grant funding enables the development of shared manufacturing validation infrastructure that reduces duplication of effort across the industry. Rather than individual organizations independently absorbing the cost and risk of reformulation, the platform supports more efficient adoption by providing evidence-based confidence in both material performance and processing feasibility. By lowering technical barriers to adoption, the project supports faster and more reliable transitions to sustainable materials across manufacturing sectors. It strengthens UK advanced materials development, supports supply-chain resilience, and contributes to long-term industrial competitiveness. If successful, this project positions the UK as a hub for scalable, manufacturing-ready sustainable materials innovation with global relevance.