HS2 launches Innovation Accelerator Initiative to Drive New Ideas
Today, the new HS2 Accelerator, a programme for start ups with entrepreneurial ideas to drive project efficiencies, and create wider long-term economic benefits, has gone live and is taking applications.
The HS2 Accelerator is a partnership between Connected Places Catapult, HS2 Ltd, the company building Britain’s new high-speed railway and Innovation Birmingham, the leading location for Birmingham’s digital and tech community.
Focused around HS2’s three innovation challenges: productivity; the environment; and the circular economy, today’s launch of the Innovation Accelerator is a call-to-arms for individuals or firms with bright ideas to drive efficiencies across Europe’s largest infrastructure project.
Launching the Accelerator, HS2 Head of Innovation Howard Mitchell said:
“Today sees the launch of HS2’s Innovation Accelerator programme. I encourage entrepreneurial small and medium-sized businesses, as well as start-up and university spin-out companies to go online to tell us about their idea.
Applications will be open until 17th July, after which time we will chose five of the registered ideas to take forward on the Innovation Accelerator.
“The Accelerator will provide the five winning firms with commercial and technical support and rent-free working space to develop their proposal. After six months we’ll showcase and pitch the solutions to industry investors and our supply chain, which is made up of the thousands of suppliers helping build HS2.
“We hope that the Accelerator programme, which is an innovation itself, will both offer new ways of delivering HS2 but also generate new jobs, technology and opportunities.”
Products already delivered by HS2’s wider innovation programme have included devices for protecting site workers’ hearing and a device to ensure maintenance of distanced working while Covid-19 restrictions remain in place.
For more details on the challenges and to register your interest by Friday 17th July click below. (REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.)
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