Innovation in the West Midlands Report
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Innovation in the west midlands: International Prospects and Place Partners
Connected Places Catapult has been instrumental in fostering innovation-driven growth in the West Midlands.
Our new report, shows how successful activity delivery has been under DIATOMIC, where Catapult and Business of Cities research identified international partners of value and developed innovation-driven value propositions for West Midlands local authorities. This bilateral, place-based, data-driven engagement approach, applied within our Innovation Twins Programmes, is founded on. By encouraging knowledge of this twinning model, Catapult and DIATOMIC are enriching the region’s innovation narrative.
These events are contributing to supporting the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) place-based, focused regional growth strategy. The findings assist in the development of an innovation-led international strategy for the West Midlands, positioning the region as a world leader in innovation. In addition, the West Midlands Combined Authority issued a report in February of this year comparing international regions to the West Midlands, and our research was a pivotal component. Their report was part of the West Midlands Futures initiative, a discussion initiated in autumn 2023 regarding the region’s future. The findings and suggestions given in the report are going to drive the development of the region, making the West Midlands the pace setter in innovation and development.
If you have any questions, please contact Luiz Fernando Hagemann BSc. MSc, Senior (consultant) Urbanist, Luiz.Hagemann@cp.catapult.org.uk
reports
Maritime Future Fuel Trial & Demonstration Plan
A transition from feasibility studies to live trials and demonstrations is key to accelerating the adoption of maritime future fuels.
Connected Places Catapult’s Maritime Flagship Programme aims to create a more connected Maritime Innovation Ecosystem, driving investment and collaboration across the sector. In year three of the programme (2024-2025), maritime future fuels were a key focus, to address priority challenge areas shared by industry, SMEs and academia.
There were two focus areas:
- Future Fuels Blueprint – a blueprint that outline key activities to enable future fuel adoption on the path to 2050.
- Future Fuel Trial & Demonstration Plan – this report, where the initial desk-based decarbonisation blueprint was translated into priority regional trials and demonstrations.
This programme worked in partnership with the Liverpool City Region to enable place-based future fuel innovation. The regional approach could be replicated in other areas of the UK through strategic engagement and gaining a comprehensive understanding of fuel infrastructure developments.
A shortlist of regional future fuel trials & demonstrations was developed, to accelerate adoption:
- Energy simulation model for electricity & alternative fuel demand
- Energy management system efficiency optimisation
- Small scale alternative fuel port asset or shipyard demonstration
- Trial methanol in tugboats to assess engines / systems
- Workboat alternative dual propulsion demonstration
Connected Places Catapult are actively seeking expressions of interest for consortium participation in the highlighted trial and demonstration areas. Please contact maritime@cp.catapult.org.uk for enquiries.
Future Fuel Trial and Demonstration Plan
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Centres of excellence playbook
The National Shipbuilding Office’s Centres of Excellence Task and Finish Group has launched a Centres of Excellence (CoE) Playbook, developed in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult.
The National Shipbuilding Office’s Centres of Excellence Task and Finish Group has launched a Centres of Excellence (CoE) Playbook, developed in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult.
The Centres of Excellence Task and Finish Group comprised of a breadth of Industry representatives across the Shipbuilding Enterprise; led by Industry – for Industry.
This cross-cutting work gives the UK Enterprise a greater understanding of the value and potential that Centres of Excellence can offer.
The CoE Task and Finish Group vision is to cultivate a strong community of practice between Centres of Excellence (CoE), Industry and Government to maximise opportunities across the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise. The aim is to encourage knowledge sharing, promote collaborative behaviours and connections.
The key focus objectives of the CoE Task and Finish Group were to:
- Create a CoE Playbook – provide best practice guidance to Industry, Centres of Excellence and Government on CoE engagement for those seeking to deepen their involvement with the Shipbuilding Enterprise.
- Conduct a CoE Gap Analysis – identify where the UK Industry and CoE initiatives already support the Shipbuilding Enterprise in particular strengths and to identify where gaps exist in provision by CoE initiatives.
- Make CoE Recommendations – develop options to enhance collaboration across the Shipbuilding Enterprise and make recommendations to identify new concepts and proposals for CoEs. Outputs were presented via a CoE Final Recommendations Report.
- Set up and curate a CoE Digital Directory – Provide Industry with a mechanism to increase visibility of what CoE capabilities exist which can support the development and signposting of collaboration opportunities across the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise. (The CoE Digital Directory is currently in development).
Further information document
For further information, a summary overview presentation of the CoE Task and Finish Group aims and activities can be found here.
Any other enquiries relating to the CoE Task and Finish Group should be directed via email to:
nso-communications@mod.gov.uk.
The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) drives transformative change to empower a globally successful, innovative and sustainable shipbuilding enterprise that works for all parts of the UK. The NSO oversees all of the Government’s interests in UK shipbuilding, supports growth in the sector, and works with industry to improve productivity and competitiveness.
reports
The art of the possible: Unlocking the potential of community-based finance
Connected Places Catapult commissioned the Impact Investing
Institute to undertake a short research project to explore opportunities for expanding community-based finance in the UK.
Institute to undertake a short research project to explore opportunities for expanding community-based finance in the UK.
Listen to an AI-generated deep-dive podcast on this report, here.
The project aims to identify new or underutilised mechanisms that enable local public bodies, businesses, and citizens to take a financial stake in the success of their communities, with a particular focus on delivering place-based initiatives and driving innovation. It presents a series of case studies showcasing current practices and opportunities for further development, alongside recommendations for these approaches to evolve and contribute further to thriving local economies.
Although substantial work has been undertaken by the Institute and others to scale up institutional investment from sources such as pension funds, banks and asset managers for place-based impact, comparatively little attention has been paid to expanding community-based finance models.
This report seeks to address this gap by identifying effective, replicable and scalable approaches, and facilitating cross-place learning in community-based finance.
To achieve these objectives, the Institute led a focused research initiative, including desk-based research, interviews with key stakeholders, and a roundtable discussion with organisations driving and pioneering positive change through community-based finance models.
By examining these local financing mechanisms, the project aims to enhance the ability of public bodies, local citizens and organisations to invest in their area’s development, and raise awareness of the positive role these organisations play in community development – ultimately contributing to more resilient and prosperous communities.
Unlocking the Potential of Community Based Finance
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Listen to an AI-generated deep-dive podcast on this report, here.
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Beyond sight behind barriers report
Adjusting the flightpath of UK drone traffic management to propel the industry skywards.
The UK drone market “…stands at a critical inflection point, where it could either contract or quickly accelerate, dependent on the implementation of regulatory frameworks and technological advancements.”
This key reflection, from the Connected Places Catapult’s ‘Beyond sight, Behind barriers’ paper, explores the readiness of the UK’s drone sector to exploit new opportunities for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights and services.
There are immense opportunities available to the UK, however without positive action now, they will not be achieved, and we will lose the economic growth potential of the sector. We call on the industry, regulators, and the Government to reset the current ineffective approach and seize these possibilities.
The paper covers several issues affecting new drone traffic management technologies and the systems that enable them. Fundamental to solving these issues is the development and co-design of a UK-wide vision for drone traffic management and its iterative testing with industry.
The paper also investigates prevailing thoughts on configuring the future market in the UK, including the level of federation and resulting competition. It highlights some potential challenges stalling progress, which were identified from regulatory engagement and development during the UKRI Future Flight Challenge Skyway Project. The paper also signposts work and a current consultation being undertaken by the Law Commission, covering future regulatory and legislative options for drone traffic management – and calls for the drone industry to actively participate.
Finally, the paper concludes with four urgent recommendations for decision takers and policy makers in Government and the Aviation Regulator to drive forward action now and unlock the current persistent barriers.
We hope you enjoy the paper and that it empowers you to take action to adjust the current flightpath of UK drone traffic management, so that it realises its full growth potential and propels the industry forward.
Beyond sight behind barriers report
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CReDo: Data Sharing Principles, Framework, and Architecture
CReDo (The Climate Resilience Demonstrator) has potential to realise benefits across the infrastructure network.
The project’s use of infrastructure asset data from multiple networks poses complex legal and technological requirements. A report, published in December, outlines how the legal framework and technical architecture respond to these requirements.
Engagement with project partners and legal experts highlighted that some administrative load will be necessary in a CReDo-type context, as the process ensures data and asset security. The challenge is identifying the right level of administrative load for each partner.
The CReDo team recommends trust frameworks as a solution to these governance challenges. However, trust frameworks are still in development in the UK. Future discussions should focus on how CReDo can develop in tandem with emerging trust frameworks.
CReDo: Data Sharing Principles Framework and Architecture
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Opportunities for UK SMEs in the Indian Electric Two- And Three-Wheel Micromobility Market
This report supports Connected Places Catapult’s knowledge-sharing programme for UK SMEs looking to enter the Indian E2/3W vehicle ecosystem by partnering with Indian companies.
The report is the culmination of in-depth research with Indian stakeholders into the current state of play in the Indian E2/3W vehicle market. In particular, it includes the findings from two workshops conducted in September 2024 where preliminary research findings were validated with a diverse group of stakeholders in Chennai and Kolkata.
Opportunities for UK SMEs in the Indian Electric Two- And Three-Wheel Micromobility Market
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Zero emission Airports (ZEA)
Decarbonising airport operations and developing the infrastructure to support zero-emission flight.
Connected Places Catapult’s Zero Emission Airports (ZEA) Project, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), was a continuation of our previous work on Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure (ZEFI), and it set out to tackle three critical areas on the path to Jet Zero:
- Solutions to decarbonise airport operations
- Infrastructure requirements to support zero-emission flight
- The standards priorities for Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure
This work involved drawing together industry and academic insights for alignment on government targets; identifying opportunities to resolve research challenges preventing the decarbonisation of airports and infrastructure to support Zero Emission Flight, plus the barriers to achieving these; and the creation of a draft transition plan that airports and airfields can use to determine priority next steps.
Zero Emission Airports 2040 ZEFI Draft Transition Plan
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Innovation Gaps and Barriers to Zero Emission Airports
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Both independent reports were funded by the Department for Transport in the 2023-2024 financial year under the Sunak Conservative Government. The analysis and findings of the report represent the views of the researchers and should not be considered to be UK Government policy.
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Maritime Innovation Flagship Programme: Future Fuels Blueprint
The maritime sector faces several challenges in transitioning to net zero fuel use. Joined up decarbonisation planning across key stakeholder groups is needed to enable the successful adoption of future fuels.
Connected Places Catapult has responded to areas of future fuel uncertainty highlighted by maritime partners, industry experts and academics. This future fuel blueprint aims to accelerate the transition to future fuel adoption by producing a pathway to 2050 for UK ports and harbours, as well as the vessel owners and operators that call there. This is a generic case intended to foster collaboration between key actors and decision makers across different groups, by providing greater visibility of wider activities needed. The next step would be to tailor this blueprint to a specific port/harbour, and relevant vessel owners and operators, to support bespoke planning and cross-collaboration.
This interactive future fuels blueprint includes a description of considered fuels, changes in regulation, and a timeline to 2050 for three different operation complexity levels. This outlines fuel related activities needed to enable net zero, including quick wins, enabling studies, enabling technologies and fuel adoption.
Future Fuels Blueprint
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UK-Taiwan Innovation Twins for Net Zero
The Innovation Twins Programme is an initiative designed to foster strategic collaborations between cities across international borders. It facilitates the exchange of innovations, investments, and technology trials, enabling partner cities to tackle shared challenges and promote sustainable urban development.
This latest report from the UK-Taiwan Innovation Twins Programme highlights the promising collaboration between Edinburgh in the UK and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Both cities are coastal hubs with significant ports and have demonstrated strong commitments to achieving net zero emissions. Edinburgh is known for its expertise in renewable energy, data science, and financial services, supported by leading universities and research institutions. Meanwhile, Kaohsiung is recognised for its industrial base and growing focus on green technologies and sustainable urban initiatives.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the collaboration’s potential, beginning with an analysis of the strategic importance of the UK-Taiwan relationship within the Innovation Twins framework. It then delves into the context and specific strengths of Edinburgh and Kaohsiung, focusing on their innovation ecosystems and net zero initiatives – to understand how they can leverage their individual assets for mutual benefit.
To ensure effective collaboration, the report outlines key areas for synergy, including renewable energy, circular economy, low-carbon transport, smart city and digital infrastructure, energy efficiency and building retrofits, green finance and investment, port regeneration, AgriTech, and life sciences. The proposed phased approach emphasises the importance of introducing local leadership, identifying initial focus areas, securing stakeholder commitments, universities playing a leading role, and then exploring the next phase for Innovation Twins.
The collaboration between Edinburgh and Kaohsiung presents a significant opportunity to advance shared sustainability goals while fostering innovation and economic growth. The report establishes a foundation for a robust collaboration that positions both cities as leaders in the global transition to a low-carbon future.
UK-Taiwan Innovation Twins for Net Zero report
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