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Dr Siân Fussell, CTO and co-founder of Bristol-based Albotherm, has been named one of the 50 winners of the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards 2025. Recognised for her pioneering work developing smart additives that improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability, Siân’s achievement highlights her leadership in material science innovation.

Albotherm’s technology has been shown to help farmers achieve up to 34% higher crop yields while reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems. Their smart additives enable passive cooling by transitioning from transparent to reflective-white as temperatures rise, improving crop productivity and cutting energy usage in controlled environments such as glasshouses.

With the support of the Women in Innovation Award, Sian and her team will be advancing the next phase of Albotherm’s innovation: making their smart additives fully biodegradable. This step aligns with the company’s mission to decarbonise cooling technologies and further enhance their environmental sustainability. The project will explore bio-based, biodegradable materials while maintaining Albotherm’s commitment to high performance and sustainability.

Dr Siân Fussell said:

“Winning this award is not just a personal milestone but also a recognition of the hard work and vision of our entire team at Albotherm. This funding will enable us to take a critical step forward in our journey to creating environmentally responsible products, and it’s an exciting opportunity to contribute even more to building a sustainable future.”

About Albotherm: Albotherm is a leading greenhouse technology company dedicated to transforming the horticulture industry with innovative, sustainable solutions. Their patent-protected smart additives enable passive cooling by transitioning from transparent to reflective-white as temperatures rise, helping growers achieve up to 34% higher crop yields and 18% greater light levels while reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems. By creating optimal growing conditions, Albotherm supports local food production, reducing the UK’s dependence on food imports and enhancing food security. Designed for seamless integration with existing infrastructure, their technology also delivers significant energy savings, cutting greenhouse cooling costs significantly. With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, Albotherm is pioneering the future of climate-responsive agriculture.

About the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards: Run by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, the Women in Innovation Awards celebrate 50 outstanding female entrepreneurs tackling major social, environmental, and economic challenges. Winners receive funding, business coaching, and access to networking and training opportunities to scale their businesses and drive change. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has invested over £11 million in 200 women innovators, building a community of over 10,500 women business leaders. This year, a record 1,452 applications were received – a 52% increase from last year, demonstrating the growing momentum of women-led innovation in the UK.

Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK, said:

“Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards spotlight the UK’s most groundbreaking women entrepreneurs. This year’s winners have shown incredible leadership and creativity. We’re thrilled to support them in scaling their businesses and inspiring the next wave of women innovators. Their success stories will undoubtedly pave the way for more women to enter and thrive in the world of innovation.”

Sian’s success in the Women in Innovation Awards underscores the vital role of women-led innovation in tackling global challenges. As she continues to push the boundaries of sustainable material science, her work at Albotherm has the potential to transform agricultural practices worldwide. With this award, Sian is not only advancing cutting-edge technology but also paving the way for more women in STEM to drive meaningful change

Explore all 50 of the remarkable award winners and discover how you could benefit from the programme by searching ‘Innovate UK Women in Innovation’ or visiting: bit.ly/IUKWomenInnovate