Firms with fresh ideas to improve shipping and ports are invited to put themselves forward for the Maritime Accelerator powered by Connected Places Catapult.
Up to ten small to medium sized UK businesses will be supported during a four-month programme to help take innovations forward toward commercial readiness. In addition to the business support on offer, a total funding pot of up to £80,000 is available to support a selected number of organisations to trial their solutions.
Now in its second year, this year’s Maritime Accelerator focuses on three challenge areas: decarbonisation, future skills and automation. Partners offering their support to the programme include DP World, engineering consultant Houlder, the National Shipbuilding Office, Port of Tyne, Serco and the University of Plymouth. More partners may be confirmed in due course.
Firms have until midnight on 3 July to submit their application. A webinar will be held on 15 June to share more details about the programme, how to progress an application and to answer questions.
Connected Places Catapult’s Executive Director, Alex Weedon says: “Innovation in maritime is critical if we are to meet some of the sector’s biggest challenges. We are keen to foster more innovation within the maritime sector, as well as bring across technologies from other sectors. You do not necessarily have to be a maritime-focussed SME to come on board.
