Work with us

We help SMEs take innovative solutions
from idea to market.

Our SME programme will help you secure funding, run a test bed, find delivery partners & new customers. This is suitable for SMEs of all sizes.
Two people in motion in front of a wall displaying various images and designs arranged in a grid. One person is pointing at the wall. The background is slightly blurred due to their movement.
image 1
image 2
image 3

The SME programme.

We provide networking, business and innovation support for companies at all stages of their evolution.

  • Join the SME network to unlock collaboration & innovation opportunities
  • Benefit from innovation communities that accelerate the use of technology and drive regional growth
  • Connect with other SMEs through our unique engagement & development programme
  • Drive economic growth by connecting with innovative SMEs to solve current industry challenges
  • De-risk innovation through collaboration partnerships within our SME network

Join our SME network,
a catalyst for innovation.

Every year we facilitate hundreds of interactions between SMEs and the markets we operate in through our proven Innovation Ecosystem.

01

Investor days

To showcase your innovative solutions to a network of VCs and angel investors, for a chance to raise seed and Series A money.

02

SME Masterclass

A series of masterclasses to overcome barriers to growth by addressing specific business needs, and helping businesses to develop new concepts, prototypes, products and services.

03

Business Needs Assessment

Work with our expert team to identify areas for growth & improvement, develop an action plan, and find resources to help take your business to the next level.

04

Connections Café

Business support and networking events that bring together our SME Community and key representatives of industry, government and funders to discuss cross-industry topics.

05

Industry days

Networking events to convene with the marketplace, and meet industry players who are potential buyers for your solutions.

JOIN OUR SME NETWORK, A CATALYST FOR INNOVATION.

Accelerators

SME Accelerators provide intensive support for cohorts of startups, aiming to get them ready for investment quickly. Our programmes work with high potential SMEs in transport and urban innovation spaces.

Funding & Grants

We help secure early stage, proof-of-concept funding. Providing investment to de-risk emerging solutions and speeding up their route to market.

Opportunities & Case Studies

Opportunity

West Midlands Logistics & Distribution Cluster – Board Member opportunity

Connected Places Catapult and West Midlands Combined Authority are launching the West Midlands Distribution & Logistics Cluster, designed to drive innovation and growth in the region’s logistics and distribution sectors.
Opportunity

Call for Expressions of Interest: Airport Perimeter Monitoring

Connected Places Catapult, in collaboration with Glasgow Airport’s Living Lab, is inviting organisations and innovators to express their interest in demonstrating novel security technologies for perimeter monitoring and patrolling.
Opportunity

Call for Expressions of Interest: Airside Automated Pavement Inspection

Connected Places Catapult and Glasgow Airport have collaborated to create the Connected Airport Living Lab, based at the airport, which is designed to be a collaborative R&D asset used to showcase UK-developed innovations, attract investment, and act as an innovation catalyst for the aviation sector.
Opportunity

Enhancing Passenger Experience – AI in Transport Competition

Unlock the Potential of AI in Transforming the UK Transport Sector The Department for Transport (DfT), in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult, recognises the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of the UK’s transport system.
Opportunity

HMGCC Challenge: Rapidly deployed tech to track intruders

The UK government requires temporary use spaces to be secured ensuring they haven’t been entered and compromised whilst left physically unattended. Intruder monitoring systems that can be easily and quickly deployed by non-technical staff are being sought in the latest challenge released by HMGCC Co-Creation.
Opportunity

HADeS Competition 2024

The Department for Transport (DfT), supported by Connected Places Catapult has launched the HADeS (High Assurance Detection Systems) competition 2024 to find new technologies, products, and services to enhance UK airports’ checkpoint security screening capability.