project

HS2 Accelerator Programme

The HS2 Accelerator brings innovators and infrastructure together, to de-risk innovation and solve real challenges.

See the progress of our participants

Innovation support for large-scale infrastructure projects

Working with Connected Places Catapult in partnership with the Department for Transport, the accelerator gives innovators access to a large-scale infrastructure project, enabling them to refine their technologies while addressing real-world challenges for HS2.

Since launching in 2020, the HS2 Accelerator has supported over 40 small tech firms who have collectively secured over 30 pilot projects across HS2, realising more than £30M in cost-savings across the HS2 baseline with another £300M in estimated savings.

More than 40% of the alumni firms are now working on other projects and contracts across the supply chain. They have subsequently raised over £240 million of investment & funding. They have also more than doubled their team headcounts, creating over 580 new jobs.

I’m massively proud to deliver this programme alongside Connected Places Catapult. The purpose of which is not only to support key challenges across HS2 but across the wider infrastructure industry.

The support SMEs gain is second to none and that’s proven in the statistics across both external investment gained and contracts won within HS2 and its supply chain. For me this makes the HS2 Accelerator the best public sector accelerator in the UK.

Jon Kelly, Senior Innovation Manager at HS2

Over 40 SMEs supported

£30M + actualised cost-savings for HS2

£240M + Investment & funding

580 new jobs created

How the HS2 Accelerator delivers impact

Demonstrated cost savings and efficiency gains for HS2

Proven viability of innovative solutions in real-world environments

SME business growth and pipeline acceleration

For infrastructure clients, like HS2, the Catapult offers tailored programmes that derisk the process of engaging with innovative small businesses. Programmes like the HS2 Accelerator have huge potential to support innovative businesses to grow and succeed here in the UK.

Stories from the HS2 Accelerator

Article

“Every entrepreneur should be thinking about exit”, serial innovator advises

Company founder Shweta Saxena successfully exited her first venture Machine Max and went on to build a second business, AI Gizmo – both supported by Connected Places Catapult-led programmes. Here she explains what a successful exit meant for her.

An artist impression of a HS2 train at a platform

News

HS2 launches new Innovation Accelerator to support the railway’s reset

HS2 Ltd is turning to some of the country’s most innovative tech specialists to bolster the ongoing work to get HS2 back on track.

Article

Cutting-edge tech championed by rail award participants

Four alumni of the HS2 Accelerator – a showcase of new rail systems delivered by Connected Places Catapult – were shortlisted at this summer’s Digital Construction Awards . We speak to representatives from each company about the programme, and the importance of innovating in rail.

Article

Tech trio celebrate advances for women in engineering

To mark International Women in Engineering Day this week, we speak to three technology founders involved in the HS2 Accelerator about their experiences, challenges and future hopes around making construction more inclusive.

Article

Meet the innovator enabling material reuse in construction

Andrea Charlson is developing software that provides a detailed digital record of the materials and products stored in buildings and infrastructure assets; helping their owners monitor their sustainability performance and consider the reuse of materials.

Article

Meet the innovator helping construction projects use data better

Paul Duddy from Glasgow has developed digital twin technology to improve works efficiencies on large engineering schemes.

Innovation support for large-scale infrastructure projects

Embedding innovation into capital delivery projects and their supply chains to deliver performance improvements and savings

De-risk adoption of new technology by providing neutral testbeds and structured pilots that give asset owners confidence to procure and scale innovation

Unlock high‑value solutions through challenge-led innovation, convening SMEs, industry, and government to co-develop targeted interventions that address real operational issues

Accelerate investment and delivery by shaping robust business cases, innovation pathways, and procurement strategies that convert promising concepts into deployable, commercially viable solutions

Contact

To find out more, please contact: rebecca.goulding@cp.catapult.org.uk