New funding for green transport innovators in the West Midlands

28.05.25, BIRMINGHAM, Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth, announced today that applications are open for the third cohort of the Clean Futures Accelerator.  

Businesses supported over the last two years of the accelerator have so far gone on to raise over £125m in co-investment and create more than 50 jobs.  

Previous participants include battery technology firm Global Nano Network, who developed a digital twin of their manufacturing process during the programme; 3D structure printing company ChangeMaker 3D, who focused on refining their printing technology; and freight specialists BoxTube, who developed a working prototype of their machine that rapidly loads boxes onto trains.  

Clean Futures is delivered by Connected Places Catapult and Coventry University. It is part of the wider West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, which is designed to bolster the region’s innovation and R&D capability and capacity to spark commercial growth and investment. The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator is delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

For this latest open call, the Clean Futures Accelerator is looking for innovative West Midlands-based small-to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovations in the following challenge areas:  

• Net zero manufacturing 

• Future fuels 

• Clean energy conversion  

• Circular economy 

Applicants must propose a trial and agree to provide a 100% in-kind match funding contribution. The complexity of the proposed trial will determine whether the application falls under the Standard Trial (funding between £10,000 and £25,000) or Comprehensive Trial (funding between £25,000 and £50,000) categories. A total funding pool of £300,000 is available between 10 SMEs. 

Alongside trial funding, the programme will also provide bespoke commercial support from specialists at the Catapult, and Coventry University will provide technical trial support with access to experts and facilities at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering. The Accelerator will also provide networking and showcasing opportunities, and access to the Clean Future’s Industry and Investor Board to help facilitate additional contracts and business growth. 

“The West Midlands has long been a powerhouse of industrial innovation, and with initiatives like Clean Futures, we're harnessing that strength to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our time — the decarbonisation of transport. This programme gives pioneering businesses the platform, funding, and expert support they need to develop and test cutting-edge green technologies and make industry connections that help secure future market opportunity.”

Sarah Windrum, Deputy Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board

“The West Midlands is one of the UK’s manufacturing heartlands and a vitally important region for developing the breakthrough innovations that can help us decarbonise transport.  
 
The Clean Futures Accelerator is supporting innovators with funding and expert support to trial their solutions in this area and bring them closer to market. If you have an idea that can make transport greener, I encourage you to apply.” 

Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult

“The Clean Futures Accelerator connects the region’s brightest low-carbon innovators with the real-world local production environment they need to test and scale. By opening up our sustainable, digital manufacturing, engineering and materials labs, we can help SMEs pilot their technologies. Our goal is to accelerate the West Midlands toward net-zero transport while creating skilled local jobs and economic growth.”

Professor Marcos Kauffman, Director for the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Coventry University

Prospective applicants have until 6 July to apply.