Key dates
Clean Futures Accelerator Cohort Brochure
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events
The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum
A forum dedicated to unlocking investment and driving regeneration and development across the UK
Days hours mins secs
We’re delighted to partner with the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, a forum dedicated to unlocking investment and driving regeneration and development across the UK to accelerate economic growth.
This year’s event promises to attract over 16,000 delegates, over 2,500 fringe event attendees, 1,250 speakers and 150 exhibitors from the built environment representing every core UK city and region.
Connected Places Catapult will have its own Pavilion – a dedicated platform for partners and stakeholders from UK cities, regions and freeports to network, collaborate and discuss pressing challenges and solutions in the built environment, transport, data and digital, and international partnerships.
Meet us in Pavilion Square to collaborate, discuss and extend your network.
To find out how to arrange a business meeting with us, join the discussion in the pavilion or collaborate on projects contact us at events@cp.catapult.org.uk
Last year we attracted over 1,100 visitors and 50 speakers. View 2025 pavilion’s programme:
Creating innovative urban spaces with sustainable community investment.
09:50 – 10:00
Opening Address
Kick-start your visit to the Forum by learning how we help grow the UK economy by driving the commercialisation of emerging innovations and next technologies in transport and the built environment in our towns and cities.
- Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
10:00 – 10:45
Is Investing in Innovation Infrastructure a Priority for UK cities?
Hear about how UK cities and place leaders understand the role of innovation – and high-quality, purposeful innovation spaces – in driving economic growth, attracting talent, and supporting sustainable development across different regional contexts.
- Chair: Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
- Alisdair Gunn, Project Director, Glasgow City Innovation District
- Stephen Jones, Director, Core Cities UK
- Carolyn Dwyer, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
11:00 – 11:45
Strategic International Collaboration as a Driver for Local Growth
As UK places look to the exploitation of urban challenges as drivers for local growth and innovation, carefully crafted international partnerships have the potential to derive greater impact in response to common ambitions. The Innovation Twins programme participants, Birmingham and Swansea Bay, will share their insights from different points in their collaboration journey.
- Chair: Gareth Davies, Head of International Partnerships, Connected Places Catapult
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
13:00 – 13:45
Transforming Public Spaces: Driving Health, Investment & Sustainability in Real Estate
Join us for a panel discussion on how innovation in the public realm can drive economic growth, improve community health and well-being, and support sustainability in real estate development.
- Chair: Gavin Summerson, Head of Digital Construction and Infrastructure, Connected Places Catapult
- Daisy Narayanan MBE, Public Realm Director, The Crown Estate
- Matt Baker, Urban Regeneration Specialist, Rise Associates
- Lucy Musgrave, Founder, Publica
- Phoebe Mangoma-Dennis, Planning Lead, Social Value Portal
14:00 – 14:45
Building Bridges – Digital Twins Driving Regional Economic Growth
This session will look at the growing use of digital twins in regeneration to drive economic growth in the West Midlands.
- Chair: Iain Mansell, Head of Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
- Laura Collings, Head of Policy and Strategy, City of Wolverhampton Council
- Sarah Windrum, Head of Cluster Development at Horiba Mira and Deputy Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board
15:00 – 15:45
Innovation Districts: Catalysts for Economic Growth and Urban Transformation
This session will explore how Innovation Districts are reshaping urban economies and driving sustainable inclusive growth through strategic clustering of research institutions, enterprise, startups, and talent. Our expert panelists will examine successful Innovation District models, how to measure their impact on local economies, and the essential elements for driving the innovation economy.
- Chair: Carolyn Dwyer, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
- Alisdair Gunn, Project Director, Glasgow City Innovation District
- Emily Robson, Assistant Chief Executive, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool
- Dr Adrian Johnston, Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
16:00 – 16:45
Innovative Public and Private Partnerships Through Procurement
Despite the public sector spending over £400Bn on procurement in the public sector, we still have significant challenges in the built environment around affordable housing, Net Zero, creating liveable places, economic growth and much more. This panel will discuss the opportunities, challenges and recommendations on how public and private collaboration can help create new value.
- Chair: Rikesh Shah, Head of Procurement Technical, Connected Places Catapult
- Graeme Craig, Chief Executive Officer, Places for London
- Johnny Hugill, Managing Director, Public
- Sophie Bloom, Marketing & Product Director, Bloom
16:50 – 17:00
Thank You and Wrap Up the Day
- Alan Welby, Build Environment and Local Growth Managing Director, Connected Places Catapult
Driving regional growth through investment, data and new technologies.
09:50 – 10:00
Opening Address
- Alan Welby, Build Environment and Local Growth Managing Director, Connected Places Catapult
10:00 – 10:45
Unlocking Opportunity – How Freeports are Driving Growth, Jobs and Prosperity
Hear how the UK Freeports are leading the charge on Place Based Growth, by attracting investment into parts of the country that have historically missed out. Freeports are becoming hotbeds of innovation and building new clusters in sectors of the future, creating thousands of long-term, high quality jobs for local people, join the conversation.
- Chair: Ibrahim Mohamed, Associate Director Freeports, Connected Places Catapult
- Philly Strahan, Freeport Innovation Network Manager, Connected Places Catapult
- Ben Russell, Deputy Head of Freeports and Investment Zones, Department for Business and Trade
- Chris Rowell, Head of Net Zero, Tees Valley Combined Authority
- Nora Senior, Chair, East Midlands Freeport, East Midlands Freeport
11:00 – 11:45
Investor Panel: Translating Public Sector Innovation into Private Sector Investment
Local Authorities in the UK have set ambitious Net Zero targets that require sector-wide collaboration to achieve. However, there’s still a conflict between the demand for Net Zero funding into the public sector and private investors’ risk appetite. This session explores the perspective of investors on the appeal of place-based investing, the risks it can carry and how financial institutions can overcome these risks to enable Net Zero funding at scale.
- Chair: Catherine McGuinness CBE, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
- James Close, Head of Climate Change, NatWest Group
- Kate Gilmartin, Non-Executive Director, Great British Energy
- Dom Boyle, Local Authority Advisory & Lending, National Wealth Fund
- Julian Batson, Head of Government & Local Authorities, Barclays
12:00 – 12:45
A Tale of Two Cities (Regions)
This session will explore the approaches taken by Belfast and Liverpool to drive growth through innovation and will also consider two city regions roles as major places within the Irish Sea Rim with its rich assets and talent pool.
- Chair: Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
- Dr Adrian Johnston, Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
- John Fogarty, Executive Director, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Professor Phil Leigh, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager, University of Cumbria
13:00 – 13:45
Dissert & Discuss with BSI Group –
Decarbonising the Built Environment Through Standardisation
Explore how trusted standards support credible, consistent net zero strategies in infrastructure—enabling whole-life carbon management, aligning global efforts, and empowering collaboration across the value chain to drive meaningful climate action.
Attend this session to gain practical insights into using trusted standards like PAS 2080 and the ISO Net Zero Guidelines to embed decarbonisation across infrastructure projects, align with climate targets, and future-proof your strategy.
- Chair: Rahul Shah, Global Director, Built Environment, BSI Group
- Arun Thaneja, Technical Services and Sustainability Director, Winvic Construction Ltd
- Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO & Co-founder, Low Carbon Materials
14:00 – 14:45
What’s Next for the Future of Planning?
Join us to hear from leading voices from organisations at the forefront of shaping the next chapter of digital planning in the UK. Our speakers will reflect on the successes and lessons learned from nearly a decade of digital transformation in the UK planning system, and look ahead to explore the emerging challenges and innovation opportunities in spatial planning.
- Chair: Alan Welby Managing Director, Built Environment and Local Growth, Connected Places Catapult
- Peter Kemp, Head of Change and Delivery, Planning, Greater London Authority
- Dr Wei Yang, CEO, Digital Task Force for Planning
- Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
- Stefan Webb, Principal Partner – Place and Infrastructure, TPX Impact
15:00 – 16:30
The launch of Historic England’s Heritage Investment Prospectus
We are delighted to partner with Historic England and Buttress Architects. Join the launch of Historic England’s first Heritage Investment Prospectus at UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds. Hear first-hand a curated collection of historic sites and buildings across England, many with planning permission or agreed development briefs with local authorities, which actively seeking partners or investors to help write their next chapter.
- Chair: Erika Lewis Chief Executive Officer Connected Places Catapult
- Councillor Jane Ashworth OBE, Leader of the Council Stoke on Trent
- Emma Squire CBE, Director of Regions, Historic England
- Stephen Anderson, Director, Buttress Architects
- Richard Upton, Commissioner, Historic England
Fringe event at the Connected Places Catapult Pavilion
17:00 – 18:30
Commercial Property Investor, Developer and Occupier Mixer
Meet place senior decision makers from investors, developers, occupiers and operators within commercial property. This is a closed event organised in our pavilion together with the UKREiiF team, express your interest to attend by contacting Kevin Smith at kevin.smith@ukreiif.com.
Bridging the gap between discovery and the market to spark innovation across the country.
08:30 – 09:30
The UK Innovation Districts Group Business Breakfast
We know it’s the third day of UKREiiF and you may well be exhausted so we have got you! Join us light breakfast and connect with other members and those within the wider ecosystem. It will be informal but will give you the chance to catch up with all those working within or alongside Innovation Districts.
Please feel free to extend to colleagues, but please do get in touch with us at events@cp.catapult.org.uk so we know the number.
10:30 – 11:00
The Art of the Possible: Unlocking the Potential of Community-Based Finance in the UK
Following the launch of our recent The Art of the Possible report, this session explores why community-based finance matters, what the research reveals, and what needs to happen next to unlock local investment and drive economic growth.
- Chair: James Cushing, Head of Regional and Local Growth Technical, Connected Places Catapult
- Ipsa Agnani, Programme Coordinator, Impact Investing Institute
11:00 – 11:30
Meet the Innovator: City Science
Join City Science to explore the need to act quickly and efficiently to progress your net zero plans. With the need for meaningful outcomes with current budget constraints, how do we get to net zero at pace? How do we fast track local plans, economic strategies and infrastructure and create better communities? Join us to hear more.
- Suzanne Conn, Net Zero Partnership Lead, City Science
articles
Gearing up for a push on last mile eco-logistics
Climate technology firm Kale AI is on a mission to accelerate the growth of sustainable deliveries in cities carried out by light electric vehicles, and is developing software to optimise route planning with financial support and networking provided by Connected Places Catapult.
Britain’s e-commerce boom shows no signs of slowing; but as the volume of deliveries continues to rise, so too are the number of journeys completed by vans – adding to air pollution and increasing road danger.
One way of making city deliveries greener and safer is through the greater use of sustainable last mile mobility, such as electric cargo bicycles that carry goods in a platform up front, or quadracycles or trikes with freight carried in a larger box at the back.
Among the champions of these emerging forms of transport logistics is Kale AI, a start-up firm supported by Connected Places Catapult. It received £30,000 through the Transport Research & Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme’s Future of Freight challenge in 2021, and is now part of a growing community of logistics firms gathered in the Freight Innovation Cluster. It has also recently raised around £250,000 of pre-seed investment with a private capital firm.
“Our mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable logistics in cities through a switch from vans to cargo bikes, and the impact of doing so cannot be emphasised enough,” says the company’s co-founder Nicolas Collignon.
Research conducted during his time at cargo bike delivery company Pedal Me – in collaboration with academic researchers from Westminster University – found that light electric vehicles, such as cargo bikes, can be up to 60% more efficient than vans for deliveries in cities.
This efficiency gain is attributed to three main factors. “The first is that cycles are affected much less by congestion: the average car speed in London is less than 10mph, whereas on a bicycle you can go faster,” he says.
“Secondly, finding a parking space can be very difficult for motor vehicles in cities: delivery staff can spend half their day walking to complete a delivery, whereas cargo cycles can pull up right next to a door.” Nicolas also says that sustainable last mile vehicles have access to a wide range of infrastructure such as bike lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods, so their journeys can be up to a third shorter.
“Put all of that together, and you can see a significant advantage to using cargo cycles.”
Putting science into action
After completing his PhD in computational cognitive science and AI, Nicolas joined Pedal Me, a cargo-bike delivery company, as a data scientist. There, he worked on improving delivery efficiency while also making deliveries himself in London using cargo bikes. This experience proved valuable when he started Kale AI with his two co-founders.
“It was just as the pandemic began, and I was keen to apply my knowledge from AI research into an area with climate impact, such as cities, and see how the science worked on the ground,” he explains.
He used data to monitor the performance and efficiency that cargo bike deliveries were having, and explored the potential of the sector as he saw it. “One thing that was obvious was the tools could be improved to make deliveries more efficient.” He started building technology along with two former student friends, and the trio formed Kale AI.
In 2021, they won a smart mobility innovation grant from the London Mayor alongside the Better Bankside business improvement district and King’s College to develop an app to help businesses make smarter use of delivery vehicles, and encourage a switch to electric cargo bikes and electric vans.
The following year, the company applied to Connected Places Catapult for the TRIG competition’s Future of Freight call. It developed technology that predicted where light electric vehicles would be more efficient when planning last mile delivery routes.
Meeting growing expectations
One issue the team looked to address was how to help speed up deliveries in cities to meet customers’ growing expectations.
“Urban logistics used to involve a depot outside of cities: you loaded your van at the beginning of the day, and did your deliveries throughout the day.
“But the new trend among urban operators is to have micro-hubs in the middle of cities, and demand is more dynamic. Customers expect faster turnarounds, but operators have so many different kinds of customer: businesses, consumers and those who want next day deliveries, same day, even same hour deliveries.”
Because of this complexity, operators don’t always have the correct business insights, or even know if the choices they are taking are making or losing them money, Nicolas adds. “This means they are being guided by their intuitions, which becomes very difficult if you want to scale, and especially when margins are tight.
“So the software we are developing captures data and brings insights to the surface which operators need, such as which routes are profitable, how to make optimum use of deliveries, and anticipate when uncertain levels of demand may come.”
Longer term, the insights generated may allow operators to better understand what their delivery fleet should look like: how large their cycles should be and the number of wheels they should have, or which sized electric vans are most suitable.
Sustainable last mile transport is growing in popularity, but still has a long way to go. “Eighteen months ago, the UK hosted a cargo bike logistics summit and I remember people kept repeating that ‘We are not a niche market’. But to me, if you are saying it, there’s still an issue.
“But now it feels we are at the start of something; when you cycle in London, you notice just how many more cargo bikes there are today compared to a few years ago.
“What is critical is how you can reach a tipping point, and continue this momentum,” Nicolas adds. “There are strong signs this could happen; with companies like Amazon focusing on transitioning to using cargo bikes and setting ambitious targets.”
Investment and business support
Kale’s focus now is on creating a version of its software product that can be sold to the market, growing the team, and raising further funding at the end of the year.
“Securing our TRIG grant in 2022 allowed us to test out an idea and build our network, and we have attended several Freight Innovation Cluster meetings which have helped us to understand funding options and the world of transport. I’m excited to be part of the Cluster and seeing what may come of it.”
The firm has also been supported in joining Innovate UK’s ‘Bridge AI’ initiative which aims to close the gap between technology innovation and implementation.
Nicolas is optimistic for the future of last mile deliveries, and says his firm’s software can help operators to make better informed decisions. “Operators are currently struggling to be profitable, and are suffering from a lack of data-driven business insights. Our AI driven software is fully focused on their pain points, and could radically help their businesses.
“It might even persuade more delivery companies who had previously not considered them to try out cargo bikes.”
Apply to attend our upcoming TRIG Showcase and Networking event in Birmingham (23 October).
Find out more about the Transport Research & Innovation Grants programme, and sign up to join the Freight Innovation Cluster.
Watch a short film about cargo bikes featuring Nicolas Collignon Bullitt Cargo Bikes vs Vans – the Last Mile Delivery Study – YouTube
events
Innovation Zero 2024
The UK's largest net-zero congress
Event finished: 1st May 2024
We are delighted to once again participate in Innovation Zero, and we’re contributing to a number of sessions, including:
Andrew Chadwick, Ecosystem Director, Air Mobility & Airports, joining the Fuelling Flight: Hydrogen session on 1 May at 11:45.
Alison Young, Head of Global Investment, joining the session on Funding the Automotive Transformation, on 1 May at 12:25 in the Transport & Mobility Forum.
events
Connected North 2024
Delivering the North's Connected Future
Event finished: 23rd April 2024
We are hosting a Digital Twin Hub session on Day 1, 22 April at 2pm, titled ‘Digital twins driving innovation in the North – Explore innovative projects that look to catapult the North of the UK into a bright digital future’. Join Nury Moreira, Community Manager of Digital Twin Hub, and other speakers for an inspiring conversation.
events
UKREiiF 2024
The UK's Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum
Event finished: 23rd May 2024
This year, we are proud to host our own Pavilion, a place designed to showcase real innovation, and provide opportunities to connect with thought leaders, and UK and global peers.
To review our full Agenda of sessions and activities taking place over the three days and plan your visit, please head to the UKREiiF website > Programme tab > Download Programme or > Click on the Connected Places Catapult Pavilion dot to browse online.
Make sure to visit our Pavilion in Pavilion Square, we look forward to connecting with you in Leeds!
events
Interchange 2024
Be the Change
Event finished: 28th February 2024
Paul Wilson, our Chief Business Officer, is participating in the keynote panel titled ‘Transport as the key to people-centric, accessible, and sustainable urban spaces’ on 27 Feb, from 13:10 on the Keynote Stage.
Justin Anderson, Director of Digital Twin Hub, is delivering a presentation on connected digital twins as part of Interchange partner event Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) Live, also on 27 Feb.
Come find us on the show floor and connect!
Register using code CPC24.
events
Open and Agile Smart Cities (OASC) Conference 2024
Become better connected
Event finished: 17th January 2024
We’re delighted to participate in the Open & Agile Smart Cities Conference. Make sure to visit our Connected Places Catapult stand on the show floor and to join the sessions our experts are participating in over the course of the two days.
news
Clean tech innovators in the West Midlands to tackle transport challenges
Companies delivering greener transport technologies will take part in trials and receive funding and business support as part of the Clean Futures accelerator programme.
Twenty firms at the leading edge of efforts to reduce the transport sector’s reliance on fossil fuels have been announced as participants on the Clean Futures accelerator programme in the West Midlands.
Clean Futures is led by Connected Places Catapult alongside programme partners the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, Coventry University and CU Services Limited.
Companies chosen for the programme will each receive up to £50,000 to trial their solutions over the next six months, and address one of five challenge areas associated with the rail and automotive manufacturing sectors. The challenges cover greener electric vehicle components; the circular economy of transport; road freight alternatives; greener transport infrastructure; and future fuels.
The accelerator will also provide bespoke technical and commercial support as well as networking and showcasing events to connect the SMEs with industry and financial partners.
“Working with our excellent partners, the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, Coventry University and CU Services Limited, the Clean Futures accelerator programme aims to really move the needle in the West Midlands by supporting the most exciting clean tech innovators.
Connected Places Catapult is delighted to be supporting the 20 small to medium sized companies in this first cohort of the programme, and we look forward to seeing their ideas develop.”Alex Weedon, Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult, SME Development and Academic Engagement
Meet the 20 companies and their innovations:
AceOn Group (trading as AceOn Battery Solar Technology) has developed a portable energy storage system using second-life electric car batteries, as an alternative to diesel powered generators.
Adelan will demonstrate its solid oxide fuel cell (hydrogen technology power generator) as a cleantech solution for applications including boats, trucks, planes, trains and cars to enable energy systems to decarbonise.
Box Tube has developed a rapid vehicle loading solution for tote boxes, which promises to reduce emissions by enabling efficient and convenient transfer between road and rail.
ChangeMaker 3D is developing a concrete printing technology for the UK rail sector. It is printing and installing a 3D printed toilet pod, which can integrate rainwater harvesting and solar power.
Coexlion has created a Smart Utility Case to fit to the Verdemoto food delivery vehicle to reduce last mile carbon emissions, and reduce short car journeys. It uses IoT connectivity to link orders with the vehicle.
Composite Braiding will demonstrate the net zero benefits of using lightweight advanced composites to manufacture sustainable and lower cost structural components.
Duck Tours (trading as Seahorse Amphibious Vehicles) is using second-life electric vehicle components to electrify amphibious passenger vehicles, to promote resource efficiency.
Gaussion designs magnetic systems that improve battery performance, and aims to significantly reduce charging times and increase the lifespan of batteries for use in automotive applications.
Global Nano Network has developed a high performance current collector, designed to dramatically improve the cycle life and discharge rate of li-ion and next generation batteries.
Harry Needle Railroad Company and Advanced Hydrogen Technologies are installing a hydrogen injection system and a carbon capture unit on to a test locomotive to improve the environmental and fuel efficiency of diesel locomotives.
Hixal has developed a high power, high voltage Power Distribution Unit (PDU) and Control System for its mobile, off-grid, ultra-fast chargers with zero emissions.
Hy-Met has created a rapid and non-contact battery inspection solution to evaluate battery cell quality, that offers data crucial for new regulatory procedures such as a ‘battery passport’.
Intelligent Power Generation (trading as IPG Energy) is delivering a clean, fuel-agnostic generator to help businesses accelerate their transition to renewable fuels for distributed power.
Nedra is developing a lightweight electric vehicle using natural fibre composites, to significantly cut carbon emissions over its lifetime compared to other urban delivery and taxi electric vehicles.
Newreg (trading as car.co.uk) is pioneering a digital platform using AI to perform vehicle inspections at the point of collection, while a dynamic pricing model evaluates a vehicle’s market value.
PowerUp Off-Grid Services is pioneering sustainable ‘Energy as a Service’ solutions, starting with the replacement of fossil fuel generators with its AI-driven battery ‘PowerStations’.
TaiSan Energy develops sustainable and low-cost battery packs for the automotive sector and has built sodium-ion battery packs, designed for micromobility vehicles.
Universal Signalling has developed a novel signalling architecture to create a step-change in the simplicity, cost and flexibility of railway signalling and train control systems.
Varamis Rail is working on a fully-electric express rail logistics business using existing 100mph former passenger trains repurposed to carry parcels, to allow freight to move between train and last-mile sustainable delivery solutions.
White Motorcycle Concepts is developing a first/last mile hybrid motorcycle with enhanced battery capacity, with a view to producing a commercially available vehicle by the middle of 2024.
Clean Futures is being led by Connected Places Catapult in collaboration with the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, Coventry University and CU Services Limited. It is part of the wider West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, which is designed to bolster the region’s innovation and R&D capability and spark commercial growth and investment. The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator is delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
opportunities
Shaping the Future, Today
Applications are now closed
Future Focused Solutions for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation – Open Call and Investment Forum for UK and UAE Businesses
The COP28 – Net Zero Mitigation & Resilience Solutions for the UAE programme is seeking to develop long-term, business led research and innovation collaborations between UAE based investors and SMEs and the UK to address pivotal climate change mitigation and resilience challenges.
Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Gulf Strategy Fund, this programme is responding to three opportunities outlined in the 2023 iteration of Dubai Future Foundation’s The Global 50 future opportunities report. The challenges have been chosen to create collaborations that merge local and UK expertise.
We will work with Dubai Future Foundation and Expo City Dubai to offer UK and UAE SMEs the opportunity to connect and collaborate on solutions to three challenges focusing on minimising environmental risks, harnessing nature’s capacity to restore itself and radically changing ways of life by replacing the models that countries, communities and individuals live by.
For each challenge, we will select 4 SMEs, two based in the UK and two based in UAE to showcase their solution to the challenge in Dubai at the end of March 2024. The selected companies will also present their business to a selected group of UAE– based investors at an Investor Pitch Evening. Where appropriate and viable, the showcase presentations may be selected to be installed at Expo City Dubai, or other suitable venues, for a period of 3 months.
Application Support Webinar
We will host an application support webinar on 23 January.
This webinar will cover the background to the programme, the challenges it is aiming to address, how the programme will benefit SMEs, guidance on how to apply and information on the application process.
Programme Challenges
Learn more about the challenges here
The Dubai Future Foundation is at the forefront of creating innovation platforms that allow for ideas to take shape through strategic collaboration locally in Dubai and globally, shaping a better future.
Among the organisation’s initiatives, The Global 50 shares Dubai Future Foundation’s view of the future and outlines 50 opportunities for growth, prosperity and well-being. Some of these opportunities may be in their early days of exploration, some require reflection and some feel very far away.
Connected Places Catapult’s technology experts have chosen three specific challenges from the 2023 edition of The Global 50 which link to accelerating innovation in our cities and will allow us to explore specific ideas and initiatives that can bring positive long-term financial, environmental and societal outcomes.
1: What if the next wave of car technology innovation was in the wheels?
A series of technological innovations in the wheels redefine the future of car transport – from maglev (magnetic levitation) solutions and drone-like technologies to the replacement of rubber in tyres and new ways of conceptualising the function of wheels on a car.
We are particularly interested in sensor / AI driven solutions to optimising tyre and brake wear and reducing pollutants for EVs.
Why it matters today: Tyres and brake systems produce large amounts of microplastics as by-products. Up to 100,000 tonnes of microplastics from tyres end up in the ocean each year and a further 40,000 tonnes of microplastics come from wear and tear on car brakes. With the average scrapped car tyre weighing 9 kg, the amount of microplastics discharged into the ocean is equivalent to 11 million tyres each year. Research suggests that nanoparticles generated from road traffic can cause harm, and increased road traffic is a major cause of high particle concentrations in polluted urban areas. Atmospheric particulate matter was recognised as the leading cause of 43,000 premature deaths in Europe by the European Environment Agency in 2015.
The opportunity: The transport landscape is changing. Imaginative new applications of drone or maglev (magnetic levitation) technology could be the future. For example, in one scenario, there could be hybrid vehicles that are capable of running on electricity or alternative fuels but that switch over to maglev mode when the infrastructure is available. This would prevent the release of nanoparticles of dust, plastic and minerals into the atmosphere, as well as reducing noise levels. Such solutions would make the roads cleaner, improving ecosystems and human health.
Replacing rubber tyres with new materials and new wheel and brake technologies can minimise wear and tear on both vehicles and road surfaces. When used safely, lower-friction – or even frictionless solutions, augmented by advanced machine intelligence and autonomous systems – can cut energy consumption, enabling electric vehicles to travel further.
Wheels could become multifunctional. Rethinking the functionality of wheels and tyres beyond simply transportation and carrying the load of the car could lead to the development of wheels that can generate energy, filter nanoparticles and absorb emissions, among other applications.
2: What if we could absorb greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter on demand anywhere in the world?
Enabled by materials science, automation and advanced machine intelligence, emissions and particulate matter are absorbed on an as-needed basis, anywhere in the world, independent of technological capabilities available on hand.
Why it matters today: On average, those living in the largest urban cities in the MENA region breathe in 10 times the level of pollutants in the air that the World Health Organization considers safe.
The opportunity: Clean air will one day be a critical need if climate change persists. Materials science, automation and advanced machine intelligence could contribute to the invention of a mobile emissions and particulate matter (PM) scrubber that could absorb carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases and PM anywhere in the world. If this idea were scaled, scrubbers could be positioned at sea as offshore platforms to absorb emissions and PM.
Mobile emissions and PM scrubbers could be standalone solutions powered by renewable sources of energy. Using advanced materials, they could efficiently absorb greenhouse gases and PM and either store them for later use or convert them into fuel and other non-harmful, possibly useful chemicals.
3: What if deliveries went underground?
An AI-powered pneumatic tube system for city-wide delivery on demand that offers a completely integrated OnDemand delivery model reviving an old approach with the technological advances needed.
The opportunity: The idea of a city-wide pneumatic tube system is not new – no longer operational because of high operational costs, the New York postal service was connected in 1897 through pipes that delivered letters and parcels around the city.
New materials, new building techniques and automated, AI-powered distribution centres could offer completely integrated on-demand delivery models giving traction in reviving the former approach. Pneumatic tunnels (also called vacuum tunnels) embedded into the urban infrastructure to connect buildings and distribution nodes could offer ‘beyond-the-doorstep’ delivery solutions to hospitals and other critical services. With development costs integrated into zoning and real estate plans, the tunnel system could be run on a pay-per-use basis.
Integrating small robotic distribution centres around cities would mean that packages could be electronically tagged for delivery to an address and loaded into a sealed pipe for instant dispatch. Buildings would be equipped with hatches where goods could be sent and received. Perfect traceability of goods from dispatch to delivery would be guaranteed, as the system would automatically track tagged goods via distributed ledger technology databases.
Whats’ on offer to SMEs?
6 UK and 6 UAE companies will be selected to participate in this programme and benefit from tailored support from Connected Places Catapult experts, and funding leading up to the presentation of their solutions and investor pitches.
UK Based SMEs will be provided with financial assistance up to £10k in total value to develop their showcase presentations and cover the travel and accommodation for the trip to Dubai in March 2024.
UK SMEs will receive:
- Workshops to prepare their showcase presentations.
- Funding to create a showcase.
- Bespoke support from Connected Places Catapult to prepare for investment pitches
- A trip to Dubai which will include:
- An Investment Summit
- A Showcase Event
- In-country networking and introductions
UAE SMEs will receive:
- Bespoke support from the Connected Places Catapult to prepare for investment pitches.
- A trip to Dubai which will include:
- An Investment Summit
- A Showcase Event
- In-country networking and introductions
- Excursions
Am I eligible for this programme?
UK SME eligibility criteria for UK organisations:
- You must be a registered UK company.
- You are ready and willing to collaborate and showcase your solution in the UAE.
- You need to be export-ready, but no previous export experience is required.
- The technology on which your solution (product or service) will be based should be TRL 3-4 and above, e.g., at proof of concept stage or above.
- Desire to expand internationally.
UAE SME eligibility criteria:
- You must be a registered organisation according to your national legislation.
- You are ready and willing to collaborate and showcase your solution.
- You need to be export-ready, but no previous export experience is required.
- The technology on which your solution (product or service) will be based should be TRL 3-4 and above.
- Desire to expand internationally.
How to apply
Please register through the link below. Applications close midnight 28 January 2024
Supporting documents
Point of contact
If you have any questions about the programme and application, please contact:
Megan Ford, SME Ecosystem Support Officer, megan.ford@cp.catapult.org.uk
Application Support Webinar
We will host an application support webinar, with a date to be confirmed shortly.
This webinar will cover the background to the programme, the challenges it is aiming to address, how the programme will benefit SMEs, guidance on how to apply and information on the application process.
Meet the innovators
In this episode we meet two companies that have had to navigate the innovation rollercoaster to get to where they are.
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Innovating isn’t easy. It’s risky, it’s fraught with failure, and there’s no guarantees of success. In this episode we meet two companies that have had to navigate the innovation rollercoaster to get to where they are. Both companies have been supported by the Connected Places Catapult at various points in their journey. They have each developed two ground-breaking products and collected some great stories to tell along the way. Our in-house journalist, Mike Walter, spoke to Eugene Bari, the CEO and Managing Director of Ecomar Propulsion and Dr Victoria Kroll, CEO & co-founder of Esitu Solutions. Ecomar Propulsion builds zero emission propulsion systems for the maritime industry, whilst Esitu Solutions is on a mission to improve road safety and reduce the number of driving accidents using virtual reality technology. Theme music on this episode is by Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com)
Show notes
To read the full article on Ecomar Propulsion or Esitu Solutions, click on the link. To read more articles in our ‘Meet the Innovator’ series, click here. To register for our inaugural Connected Places Summit, being held in London on 20-21 March 2024, click here. To find out more about what we do at the Connected Places Catapult and to hear about the latest news, events and announcements, visit cp.catapult.org.uk and do sign up to our newsletter!
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Transcript
Full transcript is available here.
