Local Growth Archives

Strong local innovation economies are essential for regional growth, productivity, and equitable economic opportunities.

We empower businesses and regional organisations to unlock inclusive economic prosperity across the UK.

We tackle the barriers holding regions back including:

Limited access to funding for SMEs and regional projects.
Complex regulatory environments that hinder innovation.
Public sector procurement practices that are not innovation-friendly.

£400bn

Annual UK public sector procurement spend, with £60bn in local government alone.

£19bn

Potential annual innovation-driven outcomes by unlocking just 5% of public-sector contracts.

Our focus areas

Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC)

We help public authorities adopt innovation-friendly procurement practices, unlocking demand for new solutions and driving regional R&D activity.

Learn more

UK Innovation Districts Group (UKIDG)

We work with leading innovation districts where businesses, universities, and communities collaborate to tackle society’s biggest challenges, from net zero interventions to AI applications. Our goal is to ensure place-based innovation drives inclusive urban growth.

Learn more

3Ci: Cities Commission for Climate Investment

We support local authorities in securing long-term finance for achieving net zero, unlocking £200bn+ in investment opportunities across UK cities.

Learn more

Freeport Innovation Network

We support UK Freeports in delivering their innovation objectives, ensuring long-term legacy impact for businesses and communities.

Learn more

Open Calls

Have an innovative pilot, product, or solution?

View open calls

Station Innovation Zone

We’re working with Network Rail and SMEs to test new technologies in live station environments. This helps SMEs grow, reduces risk for rail partners, and improves the passenger experience.

Project

Connected Airport Living Labs

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.