Programme

Connected Airport Living Labs

A network of collaborative partnerships between Connected Places Catapult and UK airports funded by Innovate UK, through which UK-based SMEs can test and demonstrate their late-stage innovative solution in a live airport environment.

Airports struggle to implement innovative solutions because testing and validation can be complex, difficult, expensive, and risky:

Testing new technology airside is a difficult live environment with operational and safety risks
It’s difficult to discover and engage with new technologies or products
New solutions can have weak business models and investment use cases
Unproven ROI impacts buyer confidence and internal sign off

Connected Airport Living Labs

16 SMEs supported

6 real-world trials

1 multi-airport contract secured by an SME

Funded by Innovate UK, the Connected Airport Living Labs is designed as a network of collaborative partnerships between Connected Places Catapult and UK airports, through which UK-based SMEs can test and demonstrate their late-stage innovative solution in a live airport environment.

Case study: Hello Lamp Post

Hello Lamp Post, which develops AI-enabled passenger assistance technology, was selected in both phases of our multi-phase programme across 23/24 and 25/26, which looked at how innovative technology could improve airport accessibility for deaf and neurodivergent travellers at Glasgow Airport.

. During the trial, use of the digital assistant led to:

a 50% reduction in queries received by customer service staff
an 86% satisfaction rate with the service among users
More than 12,300 customers supported each year

This year, the product was developed further as a digital assistant for all passengers and staff, and has landed a multi-year contract with Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports.

“Establishing this service enabled access for all to a single source
of truth, readily accessible to both customers and staff, ensuring accurate
airport and airline information is delivered consistently to the right
person at the right time”

Jamie Louden – Group Head of Operational Solutions, AGS Airports

Report

Automated Pavement Inspection and Monitoring trial: Connected Airport Living Lab

This project brought together a diverse group of collaborators, technologies, and methodologies to evaluate the impact that next-generation pavement monitoring solutions can create in a live airport environment.

Article

Multi-year contract for firm behind new airport digital assistant

Hello Lamp Post – an SME supported on four Connected Places Catapult programmes – has successfully expanded its focus from cities to railways and now aviation, by landing a multi-year contract with a trio of airports (Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton) owned and operated by AGS Airports.