Foundation industries are significant drivers in both the UK and Indian job market. Whilst metals, cement, paper, glass, ceramic and bulk chemicals are main manufacturing products in the UK, metals, cement and bulk chemicals, are important foundation industries to India, with many products, such as dye intermediaries and medicine, supplied to the UK every year.

Despite massive annual production, foundation industries are primarily oriented by conventional technology and business operations. They are energy and capital intensive, often taking decades to recoup their investment. The business, operation, and end products of the foundation industries are different from one to another, but common challenges exist among themselves to achieve clean growth. The foundation industries could be transformed by maximising the use of waste low-grade heat through the development of heat exchanger and recovery technology, thermal energy storage materials and new thermochemical cycles to exploit low-grade heat for power, heat and cooling applications. It is vital for the UK and India that the transformation of these foundation industries is strategically planned and implemented so that they remain internationally competitive (with optimal production performance and cost-competitive products), become sustainable (in terms of energy and materials consumption), and continue to grow and meet net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets.

Both Durham University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham have independently been exploring possible innovative thermal energy management and waste heat utilisation solutions to transform foundation industries. The UK-India FI-SusTEM Collaboration aims to understand and link the current research and laboratory capacities to create new collaborative research and business opportunities. The 5-month project will be led by Durham University and work collaboratively with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to focus on the optimisation, efficiency improvement, and energy cost reduction through the capture, storage and utilisation of waste heat. The UK India Business Council will also participate as a sub-contractor to primarily assist in growing the virtual network and developing a business case for the identified innovative solution for potential collaboration between the UK and India.