This marks the first in our Tenant Spotlight series, a new feature celebrating the people and ideas shaping Begbroke’s community. We begin with Dr Bryan Ng, Founder and CEO of Repolywise, a start-up developing cutting-edge chemistry to turn waste plastics into sustainable materials. Bryan shares his journey from researcher to entrepreneur, what drives his work, and what it’s like to be based at Begbroke.
Tell us about your career journey. What inspired you to start Repolywise?
“My background is in Chemistry. I completed my undergraduate, master’s, and DPhil at the University of Oxford, where I became fascinated by the implication of catalysis and how chemical reactions are accelerated. It became clear to me that research often stays within the academic laboratory with limited impact in the real world. That inspired me to start Repolywise, to bridge the gap and come up with a catalytic technology to turn plastics back into their starting materials. It is about combining science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to make a tangible difference.”
Can you tell us more about Repolywise and what excites you most about your current projects?
“At Repolywise, we’ve developed a breakthrough technology called Atomic Scissors, which can recycle plastics that were previously considered unrecyclable, such as films, flexibles and multimaterials. It works by breaking them down into their original building blocks, so they can be turned into new, high-quality materials again. What excites me most is seeing this move from concept to reality — testing real waste from our commercial partners, including waste managers and consumer goods producers. It’s incredibly rewarding to see science transforming into something that could genuinely change how we deal with plastic waste.”
What keeps you motivated in your work?
“I’m motivated by impact, knowing that our work can help close the loop on plastic use and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Every successful experiment or partnership that brings us closer to a circular economy reminds me why I started this journey. I also find huge motivation in working with passionate people — from our small but dedicated team to the wider network of researchers, industry partners, and innovators who all share the same goal of making sustainability achievable at scale.”
What is it like being based at the AgileLab and Begbroke Science Park, and how does it support Repolywise?
“Begbroke Science Park has been a fantastic base for Repolywise. The facilities at AgileLab give us the flexibility to innovate quickly, and being surrounded by other ambitious, science-driven businesses creates a real sense of community. There’s also great access to expertise and collaboration opportunities with researchers from Oxford and beyond. It’s the kind of environment that nurtures innovation; you’re constantly inspired by what others are building, while having the space and support to grow your own venture.”
Thank you to Dr Bryan Ng for sharing his experience and for being the first to feature in our Tenant Spotlight. Find out more about Repolywise here.
