Few young researchers are combining artificial intelligence, industrial decarbonisation, and social impact with the technical depth and entrepreneurial drive of Muhammad Hamza Tariq. An AI and Digital Optimisation Researcher specialising in machine learning, physics-informed digital twins, and industrial decarbonisation, Tariq has demonstrated exceptional innovation across product development and academic research. His nomination for Innovator of the Year at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026 recognises his groundbreaking work as the founder of ChainscopeAI, his peer-reviewed research on AI for Net Zero, and his commitment to bringing digital skills to underserved communities across the United Kingdom.
Based in Worcester, United Kingdom, Tariq holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, and an MSc in Supply Chain Management from the University of Worcester. This unique combination of engineering rigour and supply chain expertise has positioned him at the intersection of two critical fields: artificial intelligence and industrial decarbonisation. His peer-reviewed research focuses on applying AI and digital technology to advance Net Zero across UK industrial supply chains, including green hydrogen production optimisation and carbon emissions management.
As the founder of ChainscopeAI, Tariq has independently designed, built, and deployed a live AI-powered carbon management platform that is transforming how UK small and medium-sized enterprises approach their environmental obligations. The platform replaces carbon consultants who typically charge £5,000–£30,000 per year with intelligent, accessible technology that delivers the same insights at a fraction of the cost. ChainscopeAI calculates Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions using DEFRA 2024 factors, integrates live UK National Grid carbon intensity data updated every 30 minutes, maps carbon hotspots across supply chain networks, and auto-generates SECR and UK ETS compliant reports using GPT-4o AI. Perhaps most impressively, a RandomForest machine learning model forecasts emissions trends six to 24 months ahead, giving UK SMEs the same carbon intelligence that large corporations pay thousands for.
Tariq’s innovation is firmly grounded in peer-reviewed academic research. He has published and presented three papers at IEEE-affiliated international conferences on subjects including machine learning applications for green hydrogen production, digital optimisation of UK chemical supply chains, and catalytic steam gasification of UK food waste for hydrogen production. His work has been presented at the 8th International Conference on Education and Technology, partnered with Curtin University, Australia, the 2nd QAHE Global Connect Academic Research Conference, and the International Conference on AI Innovations and Industry. He is an active speaker at international conferences on AI, digital technology, and sustainability, sharing his findings with the global research community. What distinguishes Tariq is not merely his technical expertise but his commitment to social impact. He volunteers as an AI literacy facilitator with Global Innovation Hub (Registered Charity No. 1217201), delivering digital skills workshops to underserved communities across the United Kingdom. This volunteer work demonstrates that his innovation extends beyond product development and academic research into genuine community engagement. He is helping to ensure that the AI revolution does not leave behind those who need digital skills the most.
ChainscopeAI is currently engaged with UK chemical and logistics companies, proving that the platform has real-world commercial traction. The project has been submitted to ClimateLaunchpad , Europe’s largest green business ideas competition, and nominated for the IET Achievement Medals 2026 Sir Henry Royce Medal for early career engineers. These recognitions place Tariq among the most promising young innovators in the United Kingdom today.
With his AI-powered carbon management platform democratising access to emissions intelligence, his peer-reviewed research advancing the field of industrial decarbonisation, and his volunteer work bringing digital literacy to underserved communities, Muhammad Hamza Tariq stands as one of the most impactful young innovators of his generation. His nomination for Innovator of the Year at IMA 2026 celebrates not only his impressive technical achievements to date, but his extraordinary potential to help drive the United Kingdom toward its Net Zero targets while ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared equitably across society.
