Six innovative firms chosen for HS2 Accelerator as search begins for next cohort

HS2 Ltd has today unveiled the cohort of firms selected to join its latest Innovation Accelerator programme.

The firms will benefit from a bespoke 20-week programme of business support designed to help them develop innovative software solutions – technology ultimately intended to help streamline delivery of major infrastructure.

This includes automation of construction site handover, speeding up design, and strengthening the role of the circular economy during site decommissioning at a project’s end.

HS2’s Innovation Accelerator programme is a partnership with Connected Places Catapult.

SMEs BuildPrompt, Document Crunch and Morta will use their time in the accelerator to develop ‘handover’ technologies that efficiently and accurately verify as-built assets to approved designs. They will also automate the currently manual process of document review and approval by harnessing machine learning algorithms to capture and interpret diverse unstructured datasets, including drawings and handwritten documents.

Madaster is the only firm entering the Accelerator to develop technologies to enhance the ‘circular economy’ during site decommissioning through creation of a ‘material passport’ that captures the potential value of reuse elsewhere in a boost for sustainability.

Finally, Simalytica and Xinaps will specialise in speeding up design through, for example, harnessing artificial intelligence to optimise design, and automate design generation assessment.

Welcoming the six new firms to HS2’s latest Acceleration programme, HS2 Ltd’s senior innovation manager, Jon Kelly said:

“Through HS2’s Accelerator programme we are maintaining the flow of new ideas and technology into both delivering high speed rail in the UK as it transitions from civil engineering works to rail systems.

“Future application of technologies developed on HS2 have the potential to drive efficiencies across the construction and rail industries.”

After development inside the Accelerator, the firms’ solutions will be showcased and pitched to industry investors and HS2's supply chain, consisting of the thousands of companies ranging from the largest international engineers to specialist suppliers to the project.

Since its launch in September 2020, the HS2 Accelerator has supported 31 small businesses through earlier five cohorts that have collectively secured 24 pilot projects across HS2. These businesses have raised over £220 million in investment and funding, and more than doubled their team headcount since participating – creating over 430 new jobs for the UK.

Separately, applications have opened for the Accelerator’s seventh round. The new challenges include automating asset management, future-proofing operations and maximising site productivity.

Successful applicants will benefit from expert business support including project scoping workshops with challenge owners from HS2; business case development; investment readiness support and bespoke business coaching.

Innovators have until midnight on 13 October 2024 to apply here.