Opening the Innovation Economy: The case for inclusive innovation in the UK
In February 2022, the UK Government’s Levelling Up White Paper set out a mission to increase expenditure on public research and development outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030. It also outlined plans for new Innovation Accelerators in Glasgow, the West Midlands, and Greater Manchester.
To understand how, as part of the levelling-up agenda, places right across the UK can deliver truly inclusive innovation, the UK Innovation Districts Group and Connected Places Catapult commissioned research. A team, led by Metro Dynamics and Professor Neil Lee, explored the dynamics of innovation in local economies through interviews with people leading and working in innovation districts across the UK. The conversations covered how districts are delivering inclusive innovation on the ground, from involving local communities in setting their strategies to employment and training opportunities.
From this research, the report:
- identifies ten levers that leaders in the private and public sectors can pull to make the process and outputs of innovation more inclusive;
- highlights a number of successful projects and programmes demonstrating elements of successful inclusive innovation up and down the country; and
- provides recommendations for key delivery partners including innovation districts, national Government, and local governments.
“Against a backdrop of environmental crisis, post-COVID uncertainty and a rising cost of living, it is more important than ever to widen the funnel of who participates in innovation economies in the UK. This is the only way that we will achieve the additionality and growth that UK communities and economies need.”
‘This research, jointly commissioned by the UK Innovation Districts Group and Connected Places Catapult, has examined where places are successfully doing just that. It is critical that we, as innovation districts leaders and policymakers, understand the building blocks that create thriving, inclusive, and sustainable local innovation economies and how these can be delivered at scale.”
Emma Frost, Chair, UK Innovation Districts Group
“Innovation does not happen in a vacuum; it happens in places and is shaped by people. Inclusive innovation is about making sure that the innovation economy creates opportunities people and communities from all corners of the country – not just in London and the South East.
“We know that innovation currently represents just a fraction of the UK’s economic activity but it has a profound influence on increasing prosperity and future-proofing economic structures. For too many people the prospect of working in innovation is remote, and the benefits of new discoveries are disconnected from their own lives. We need a more inclusive innovation economy to activate the UK’s latent potential.”
Sam Markey, Ecosystem Director – Place Leadership, Connected Places Catapult
Sixth Cohort for Intelligent Mobility Accelerator announced
The Intelligent Mobility (IM) Accelerator is a partnership between Connected Places Catapult and Wayra UK, the world-leading start-up accelerator that is part of Telefónica Open Future. The programme is designed to support leading corporates in solving their innovation challenges in the transport industry by leveraging solutions offered by disruptive start-ups.
The programme focuses on intelligent mobility challenges set collectively by the programme partners, including specifically the areas of decarbonisation, improving experience and connectivity. Its goal is to develop companies that will create solutions for the most pressing transport problems facing the world today, improving day-to-day life for millions of travellers while creating new industry leaders in Global Intelligent Transportation Systems Market worth $52.59bn.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Department for Transport, Network Rail, Transport for London, Amey and Virgin Media O2, and is designed to support and guide disruptive start-ups with high-growth potential into the UK transport industry, helping them grow into world-leading companies.
The team at Connected Places Catapult is excited to announce nine successful SMEs who have been accepted onto the six-month programme to work alongside the partners to disrupt the UK transport industry.
- Esoterix – Enabling transport to better serve the needs of future passengers.
- Everimpact – An IoT software that combines satellite, ground sensors, and AI data to establish cities and businesses’ carbon footprint.
- Go Jauntly – A walking, wayfinding and nature connection app to increase everyday walking, active travel and improve nature connectedness.
- Hello Lamp Post – An innovative communications and engagement platform, connecting people to their town or city using AI.
- Innovation Factory – Acoustic and vision AI algorithms for a wide range of industries’ safety, security and comfort.
- Pluvo – Actively monitoring and removing airborne pollutants from the built environment at scale, helping create healthier and safer spaces for us all.
- See.Sense – Technology to make riders safer on the roads and generate the data that cities need to build better transport infrastructure for sustainable travel.
- Tandem – Taking 21st century transport technology and adapting it for towns and small cities, starting with shared shuttles to get people to work.
- Transreport – Innovative software which improves the journey experience for millions of passengers who use public transport, regardless of their accessibility requirements.
With this varied and often complementary cohort of SMEs, we are excited to see the projects and collaborations that grow throughout the duration of the programme.
Our SMEs will receive a six-month support programme co-delivered by the Catapult and Wayra, with Wayra providing technical support through a series of masterclasses and the Catapult offering networking opportunities with key industry, government and investor stakeholders.
Alongside this, they will be supported by the Catapult to develop their solution alongside one-to-one support and expertise from the industry partners.
Intelligent Mobility Accelerator successes so far
To date, the IM Accelerator has generated 33 commercial trials for the 45 SMEs that have participated across five previous cohorts of the programme. Combined, these start-ups have raised over £80M in external investment and £3.5M in CR&D funding. Notable success includes kerbside management and mobility technology firm AppyWay, who received strategic investment from Hyundai and the Sumitomo Corporation as part of its total £7.6 million Series A funding round; and, electric vehicle range prediction technology company Spark EV, who received support to trial its technology on Hyundai electric vehicles. These were both a direct result of AppyWay’s and Spark EV’s involvement on the accelerator.
“The transport industry is undergoing its biggest transformation in generations, as technology provides a cleaner and more efficient way of moving people and goods. The IM Accelerator programme has already uncovered innovative thinkers who are ready to lead the way in this new world. We’re excited to be setting out to find the next group of businesses to help make their visions a reality.”Alex Weedon, Director of SME Development u0026amp; Academic Engagement at Connected Places Catapult
“The Intelligent Mobility programme has had a long-standing presence in the UK ecosystem and supported multiple start-ups and corporates to develop business together. Innovative mobility solutions can have a very strong impact in our environment, our lives and society. Through driving development in the space, we show our commitment and that of our partners to this important sector.”Bruno Moraes, Country Manager of Wayra UK
