Articles & Blogs

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Meet the academic powering change in the energy sector

West Midlands based researcher Dr Weiqi Hua is working with the Diatomic programme between the UK and South Korea to develop advanced digital systems to encourage the transition to cleaner energy.

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Birmingham accelerator leads software firm to contract win

Listening carefully to customers’ wants and tailoring a product suited to their needs helped software firm Novoville secure a major contract in the West Midlands.

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Meet the innovator promoting reuse in the built environment

One ambitious construction professional’s “belief in a better way” has led her to create a material reuse platform to reduce building waste and promote the circular economy.

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Tech trio celebrate advances for women in engineering

To mark International Women in Engineering Day this week, we speak to three technology founders involved in the HS2 Accelerator about their experiences, challenges and future hopes around making construction more inclusive.

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Geospatial data improves driverless car testing

Autonomous vehicle testing promises to become more focused and less costly with the use of a new geospatial database, featuring details of complex highway junctions .

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Highways tech investor says teamwork is key to standing out

Recognising the value of the people you are investing in matters just as much as the technology on offer, according to one venture capital firm.

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Projects and people celebrated in annual transport programme awards

Recipients of the Chief Scientific Adviser awards were honoured at a Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) showcase in Leeds.

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Transport innovators urged to better consider accessibility in their designs

Leading lights from recent cohorts of the Transport Research & Innovation Grants programme gathered in Leeds for a showcase event, which included a keynote address from accessibility champion James Lee.

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Spending Review 2025: Connected Places Catapult response

In recent weeks there have been a flurry of announcements leading up to last week’s Spending Review. We are also expecting announcements that will build on these plans, such as the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and the Industrial Strategy 2035.

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Inaugural Heritage Investment Prospectus launched with Catapult support

Historic England unveiled its first Heritage Investment Prospectus in the Connected Places Catapult pavilion at UKREiiF.

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Better Transport Week 2025: Driving Innovation to Connect Communities

Connected Places Catapult is proud to be an official supporter of this annual campaign.

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Meet the Academic backing hydrogen for a clean energy transition

Mechanical engineering specialist Dawei Wu has created a hydrogen innovation roadmap to help guide future investment in alternative fuels, with support from Connected Places Catapult.

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‘Who isn’t in the room?’ Public realm developers challenged to better understand communities

A panel of public realm experts underlined that better engagement is key to creating sustainable, flourishing places.

Andrew Barr speaking on the Connected Places podcast

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Using digital systems to better understand asset performance

Data can unlock so much for transport providers and help make the case for future investment decisions, Hitachi President for EMEA, Andrew Barr told the Connected Places Podcast.

Graeme Craig speaking on the Connected Places podcast

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Transport land helping to shape housing in London

Places for London chief executive Graeme Craig told the Connected Places Podcast why developing transport assets for housing is so important.

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Tale of two cities in boosting local growth through innovation

Delegates flocked to the Connected Places Catapult pavilion at UKREiiF in Leeds for three days of discussion around place and the built environment. Here we focus on highlights from a session focusing on Liverpool, Belfast and the ‘Irish Sea Rim’.