Eighteen out of 20 companies participating in year one of the Clean Futures Accelerator have entered into serious discussions with new customers about their innovations, with contracts under consideration.
What’s more, £2.6 million has been secured for SMEs through contracts or research and development funding; with a further £43 million in the commercial pipeline. So far, £1.3 million has been raised in private investment, with a further £27 million in pipeline for companies involved in the Clean Futures programme; designed to encourage new technology aimed at reducing the transport sector’s reliance on fossil fuels.
In addition, 38 new jobs have been created for SMEs on the programme, and over 2000 networking introductions have been seen as a result of regional events.
One SME involved in the programme’s first year – which culminated in two demonstration showcases in the West Midlands this spring – is the AceOn Group, which has developed a portable energy storage system using second-life electric car batteries. It is pursuing two business opportunities within the rail sector after taking part in the programme.
Another firm is Box Tube, which had come up with a rapid means of transferring freight in ‘tote boxes’ onto lorries and trains. It has entered into discussions with a pair of fellow participants on the cohort about moving goods in a more sustainable way, and is collaborating with a third.
Both companies have high hopes for the next few years.
“Clean Futures linked us up with one of the largest rail procurement companies in the UK which works with Network Rail,” says AceOn’s managing director Mark Thompson. “We also spoke with a tram operator; providing a quote to supply a battery system for a tram.”
The company’s battery packs are currently used in several market sectors including construction, defence and medical, and for e-mobility applications; and were supplied to the maritime sector for use on ships serving wind farms. Participation in the Clean Futures accelerator represented a chance for the company to expand its transport offer into rail.