Applications are now open for our PGM Horizons programme — a major funding opportunity supporting academic institutions to develop new, high‑impact applications for platinum group metals (PGMs).
Our PGM Horizons programme aims to stimulate long‑term, sustainable demand for PGMs — particularly palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) — by supporting early‑stage research with strong potential for commercial impact. Projects should begin at technology readiness level (TRL) 1–3 and conclude at TRL 3–4.
Through our recently announced PGM market development collaboration, Johnson Matthey and our PGM industry partners are offering up to £350,000 per PhD cluster to accelerate research in catalysis, materials, and next‑generation electronics. Alongside the funding, JM will provide full support through insights, industrial based co-supervisors for each cluster, incorporation into the JM academic network including training, access to our talent partners and participation in our academic conference.
This funding supports linked clusters of PhDs centralized around a common theme, encouraging collaboration between academics, departments or universities to accelerate the invention and evaluation of new PGM products to help balance the PGM supply‑demand landscape.
Eligibility
Who can apply:
- UK Higher Education Providers
- UKRI research institutes
We welcome collaborative proposals between research organisations, especially those that unlock specialised facilities or infrastructure needed to advance proof of principle work.
Who cannot apply:
- Commercial organisations
- Non‑UK universities (unless directly invited to apply)
- Individuals not affiliated with UK Higher Education/UKRI research institutes
Research themes
Projects must place PGMs at the heart of the innovation and have potential to provide significant demand, especially for Pd and Rh, in the next 10-15 years. They must align with one of the following areas:
1. Advanced PGM materials and alloys, including:
- Extreme environments (including nuclear)
- Biomedical materials
- Telecommunications
- Optics, photonics and plasmonics
- Sensors
2. Breakout PGM catalysis, including:
- Novel, sustainable and selective bond formation or breaking (enabling new feedstocks, simplifying process routes)
- Pollutant control and upcycling, e.g. PFAS degradation, plastics recycling
3. PGM materials for next-generation electronics, including:
- Thermal materials for heat management
- New semiconductor materials
- Novel memory and data‑storage technologies
- Flexible electronics
Projects can investigate substitution of a base metal, such as copper (Cu) or nickel (Ni), or other precious metal, such as gold (Ag) or silver (Au). However, projects that would lead to substitution of one PGM for another will not be considered.
Projects in which the PGM is not central to the final application will not be funded, e.g. where a traditional PGM catalyst is being considered for a new compound or molecule.
The funding intends to find opportunities outside of the current JM portfolio, therefore projects closely related to existing JM R&D will not be funded. These areas include:
- Auto catalyst emissions abatement
- Pt based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, and Pt and Ir based PEM water electrolysers
- Syngas, biomass conversion & routes to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
- PGM recovery and recycling
- Existing or incremental advances to fine chemicals, pharmaceutical or agrochemical catalysts
Application deadline: 17 April 2026
For more information and to apply visit https://matthey.com/pgm-horizons-phd-funding?utm_source=Johnson%20Matthey%20Plc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15401232_PGM%20Horizons%20-%20PhDs%20for%20new%20PGM%20applications&dm_i=XIK,963O0,DRFIY6,12FGYZ,1,0,0,0
