Local Growth- Page 2 of 4 - Connected Places Catapult

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Freeport Innovation Network

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

Open Calls

Have an innovative pilot, product, or solution?

View open calls

Featured Article

Tale of two cities in boosting local growth through innovation

Delegates flocked to the Connected Places Catapult pavilion at UKREiiF in Leeds for three days of discussion around place…

Projects

Aspirational public realm

Project

Public Realm Innovation Lab

Supporting innovation in public spaces—helping to create places that are more inclusive, sustainable, and commercially successful.

Aerial view of the library of Birmingham Baskerville House Centenary

Project

DIATOMIC

DIATOMIC (Digital InnovAtion TransfOrMatIve Change) is designed to accelerate place-based innovation in the West Midlands, harnessing the region’s existing international relationships through a series of targeted initiatives.

Clean Futures

Project

Clean Futures

Clean Futures is supporting the West Midlands’ transport sector as it transitions from fossil fuels to clean technologies. The programme is also driving regional economic growth by accelerating the route to market for SMEs in the sector.

Related News

A port scene shows cargo ships, trucks, and stacked containers. An airplane is flying overhead against a sunset sky, with city skyscrapers visible in the background.

News

£1.8 million awarded to projects at the cutting edge of transport innovation

Shapeshifting trailers and ‘swarm robotics’ are amongst a host of new ideas being chosen to help tackle some of the UK’s most pressing transport challenges, like improving the efficiency of freight and decarbonising maritime.

Call for innovations in public space that can promote healthier lifestyles for young people

News

Call for innovations in public space that can promote healthier lifestyles for young people

Up to £25k funding, plus trial support, is available to innovators with ideas for public realm interventions that can improve the health of young people in Barking as part of the Public Realm Innovation Lab.

Black Country businesses dominate list of firms selected for green innovation funding

News

Black Country businesses dominate list of firms selected for green innovation funding

Ten West Midlands based businesses have been chosen to develop their solutions through the Clean Futures Accelerator programme – with eight based in the Black Country.