Highly open porous polymer foams obtained via the polymerization of the continuous monomer phase of concentrated emulsions are very attractive materials for a wide range of applications due to their low density and interconnected pore structure. Emulsion templating has emerged as an effective route to prepare well-defined porous polymer foams having a morphology defined by the structure of the emulsion template at the gel-point of the polymerization; the most intensely studied emulsion templates are high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). HIPEs have been defined as highly concentrated emulsions in which the internal phase occupies more than 74% of the emulsion volume. Although there are a number of publications relating to oil in water (o/w) emulsion templates, most commonly, polyHIPEs are synthesized by polymerizing the continuous monomer phase of water in oil (w/o) systems. The aqueous phase of w/o HIPEs commonly contains low concentrations of an electrolyte, such as CaCl2 2H2O, to suppress Ostwald ripening. The organic, continuous phase consists of monomers and crosslinkers as well as either a nonionic surfactant, such as Span 80, or a particulate emulsifier, such as titania, to stabilize the droplets in a HIPE against coalescence. Depending on the type of the initiator used, it is either dissolved in the aqueous phase (potassium persulphate) or in the organic phase [a,a0-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN)]. Importantly, the HIPE templating route not only provides control over morphology and properties of the resulting polymer foams but a simple means to generate any given shape by molding the emulsion before polymerization. A variety of potential applications for polyHIPEs have been explored by academics, including filter modules, ion exchange resins, monolithic microbioreactors with immobilized bacteria or for the separation of protein mixtures, matrices for cell culture and scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, industrial applications of these materials, not only in harsh environments, have been limited particularly by the relatively poor mechanical performance of polyHIPEs. There are a number of routes to modifying the mechanical properties of polyHIPEs, although all have limitations. The choice of the monomers and crosslinker has a strong effect on the mechanical behavior; for example, the common polyHIPEs based on styrene and divinylbenzene (DVB) are brittle and chalky whereas replacing some of the styrene by 2-ethylhexylacrylate leads to elastomeric polyHIPEs. The use of a stress reducing crosslinker, such as polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, instead of DVB, results in Correspondence to: A. Bismarck (E-mail: a.bismarck@ imperial.ac.uk)