DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator
Applications close 31 August 2025
Are you a West Midlands-based innovator with a digital solution that could support the planning and optimisation of the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (BKQ) or Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor (GIC)? Join the DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator and help shape a smarter, more sustainable future for the region.
Running from October 2025 to March 2026, the accelerator programme has been designed to drive regional innovation, boost economic growth, and create jobs and opportunities across the West Midlands. Supporting up to 10 SMEs, the programme will provide tailored commercial and technical support to each SME. This support will be scoped through a thorough business needs assessment and could include market analysis, value proposition refinement, strategic pricing, financial forecasting, and developing compelling communication strategies.
At least 5 SMEs will be selected to trial their solutions and a total pot of £100k will be made available to develop and demonstrate their digital twin use case with the support of the programme partners. We expect projects to cost between £10k and £20k.
Funded by Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority, the accelerator programme is delivered by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Birmingham City Council, University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Aston University and in collaboration with Wolverhampton City Council and University of Wolverhampton. It supports SMEs developing digital solutions that can help improve how cities and places work.
The Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor is a major initiative in green construction, computing and engineering which connects key assets at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park. Designed to drive sustainable economic growth by attracting clean technology businesses, advancing green manufacturing, and boosting low-carbon innovation across the region.
The Birmingham Knowledge Quarter is a dynamic innovation district spanning over 210 hectares, anchored by leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions, and designed to drive economic growth through cutting-edge R&D, advanced manufacturing, and collaboration across health, life sciences, and digital technologies.
About the DIATOMIC Digital Twin Platform
The accelerator is part of the wider DIATOMIC Digital Twin project, which provides a real-time digital model of the city to support better decision-making in infrastructure planning, environmental management, and sustainable development. The platform’s open design means it can connect with a wide range of APIs, digital tools and systems. It uses shared data to produce outputs such as 3D visualisations. This gives SMEs the chance to bring in their own expertise and help shape the platform’s features and uses. We are looking for solutions that can be added to the DIATOMIC digital twin platform to help reimagine a smarter, more sustainable West Midlands.
During phase 1 (2023-25), three use cases were developed on the digital twin platform (air quality and traffic management, hydrogen fuel cells for electric vehicles and energy systems). These use cases operate on real-time data collected from existing sensors and datasets in the West Midlands.
Phase 2 (2025-26) introduces new challenge areas developed in collaboration with local partners in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. These exploratory initiatives will require innovative solutions that leverage datasets provided, curated, or aggregated by SMEs.
As part of this opportunity, SMEs can either select a challenge area which connects to one of the existing use cases , therefore working with already compiled data, or choose a challenge which would require you to gather and integrate new data to help develop and test your solution on the digital twin platform.
Developed as part of the 2023–2025 UKRI West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, the DIATOMIC Digital Twin Platform uses Azure Digital Twin technology to help cities make data-driven decisions. It has already supported pilot projects focused on:
- Traffic and air quality: Birmingham City University
- Hydrogen fuel cell lifespan extension: Aston University
- Energy systems optimisation: University of Birmingham
- An overview by Siemens of the Digital Twin Platform and three existing use cases
Application support webinar
On 29 July Connected Places Catapult will hold a webinar to give applicants to the DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator the opportunity to find out more about the programme offering, challenges, application process, scoring criteria, and the assessment process.
Programme Challenges
Mobility & Last Mile
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
Land Usage & Underground Infrastructure
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
Digital Connectivity
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
BKQ aims to offer connected green walkways and intuitive wayfinding for all. However, delivering this in an urban environment shared with multiple transport routes presents challenges. Digital twin technology can support this ambition by optimising current mobility and modelling future needs.
We seek innovative solutions for:
- Wayfinding
- Creating an identity and sense of place
- Transport planning
- Supporting delivery infrastructure
BKQ seeks to make more informed decisions when planning land usage and accelerating new developments.
We seek innovative solutions for:
- Mapping existing infrastructure
- Planning and utilising land more effectively
BKQ seeks to better understand how to model and deliver seamless digital connectivity across the BKQ area ensuring both futureproof wired and wireless infrastructure.
We seek innovative solutions for:
- Planning new connectivity assets
- Creating a seamless digital connection experience
- Tackling urban connectivity challenges
Building Optimisation
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
Planning
Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor
Renewable Energy
Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor
The Woodcock Building is a key building in Aston University’s campus at BKQ, an incubator space for life sciences and clean tech. The goal is to maximise its usage and impact as a multi-purpose building for now and in the future.
We seek innovative solutions for:
- Building modelling
- Net zero, efficiency and energy
- Climate resilience
- Optimising usage
- Future development
The UK is currently facing a significant housing shortage. In response, there is a national ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. As part of this effort, Wolverhampton has set a target of delivering 9,330 new homes, and the GIC is expected to play a key role in supporting this goal.
We seek innovative solutions for:
- Planning
- AI-enabled design
- Digital infrastructure
The Wolverhampton GIC has big ambitions to develop its renewable energy programme alongside the vast development in the area.
The three main areas it wants to focus on are:
- Renewable energy integration in the GIC
- Utilising renewable energy data optimisation
- Modelling and scenario testing for renewable energy risk
Why apply?
01
Funding opportunities
£100,000 total pot available to support trials
02
Technical and business support
Including mentoring, training, and expert advice
03
Connections
Introductions to partners, potential customers and investors
04
Demonstration day
Showcase your progress to a mix of public and private sector stakeholders
Am I eligible for this programme?
Required:
- you must be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
- you must be UK-registered.
- you must have a registered office or main operational base within the West Midlands region
- you must have a solution which is technical readiness level (TRL) 4+. This means that the solution has, at least, been tested or demonstrated in its intended environment and, at most, has been deployed as a first-of-a-kind commercial system.
- your solution must address one or more of the identified challenges.
- you must be willing to travel on occasion for face-to-face meetings (but most of the programme will be conducted virtually).
How to apply?
Interested SMEs should carefully review all supporting documentation before submitting their application.
Applications close 31 August 2025.
Supporting documents
Key dates
17 July
Applications open
29 July
Application support webinar
31 August
Applications close
16 September
Shortlisting
22-24 September
Interviews
25 September
Cohort selected
9 October
Programme begins
Point of contact
If you have any questions about the programme and the application process, please reach out to the team below:
Agathe Parois, Programme Manager, agathe.parois@cp.catapult.org.uk
