Connected Places Catapult - The UK's innovation accelerator for cities, transport & place leadership.

Podcasts / Connected Places Podcast

Episode: 71

In Conversation with Dan Labbad, CEO of the Crown Estate

Podcasts / Connected Places Podcast

Episode: 70

In Conversation with Andrew Barr, President of Hitachi Europe

Podcasts / Connected Places Podcast

Episode: 69

Highlights from the Connected Places Summit – 2025

Event

i3P Talks with Mott MacDonald

Join us as Mott MacDonald Fellow Clare Wildfire explores the future of urban development through emerging climate solutions and innovative infrastructure models

Article

Meet the innovator using AI to speed-up road incident response times

Michael Vardi has developed intelligent traffic sensing software that can alert highway authorities to accidents and safety concerns instantly.

Article / Airfield survey specialists trial systems at Glasgow Airport

Opportunity / HMGCC Co-Creation challenge: Synthetic environment tools to predict behaviour

Event / Smart City Expo World Congress

Article / Drone tech investor speaks up for honest feedback

Podcast / Reinventing the city of Liverpool

Event / Empowering Net Zero ambitions with the National Wealth Fund

Event / SME Excellence Series: Building Better Boards

Article / Green construction plans charge ahead for Lower Thames Crossing

News / Urban innovators sought for £100k digital transformation programme

Projects, opportunities

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Opportunity

HMGCC Co-Creation challenge: Synthetic environment tools to predict behaviour

Crisis contingency is about predicting people’s responses to threat or danger, to help keep them safe in the future. HMGCC Co-Creation’s latest challenge is seeking to evaluate tools that provide a synthetic environment to simulate how populations might respond to scenarios such as widespread disinformation or terrorism.

A peaceful canal scene in the West Midlands at dusk, featuring a narrow brick towpath leading between two canals. Modern red-brick apartment buildings line the water, with balconies overlooking the moored narrowboats. A footbridge crosses the canal, and soft lighting reflects on the water. The sky is clear with a warm evening glow.

Opportunity

DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator

Are you a West Midlands-based innovator with a digital solution? Join the Diatomic Digital Accelerator and help shape a smarter, more sustainable future for the region.

The historic facade of Bristol Temple Meads railway station, featuring a large central clock tower with four pointed spires and a mix of Gothic-style stonework and arched windows. A canopy supported by decorative ironwork extends across the station entrance, and the sky is partly cloudy with patches of blue.

Opportunity

Station Innovation Zone – Innovation Funding Programme – Year Four

The Station Innovation Zone programme supports SMEs to develop and trial new ways of improving various aspects of the passenger experience, with Bristol Temple Meads as the testbed site.

Opportunity

HMGCC Co-Creation challenge: Compact, low-cost GNSS simulator

HMGCC Co-Creation is seeking Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) simulators to support testing of multiple communication systems at the same time.