Who we are

The UK’s innovation
accelerator for cities,
transport & place leadership

Close-up of a green paperclip on a dark blue and green gradient background.

WHAT ARE CONNECTED PLACES?

Places thrive on their ability to connect people – to resources, opportunities and to each other.

Throughout history, new technologies have enabled ever-increasing levels of physical, social and digital connectivity.

The application of today’s emerging technologies to the places we live, work and play will enable even greater levels of connectivity, driving new services, productivity gains and prosperity.

  • SocialEnriched by advances in urban design, civic infrastructure and innovations in governance systems.
  • PhysicalImproved through the application of new materials and engineering techniques which resulted in bridges, utilities infrastructures, railways and skyscrapers.
  • DigitalExploded with successive waves of telecommunications technology, internet connected sensors, and increasingly powerful data processing.

Our purpose is to connect places
for the future.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Connected Places Catapult, we provide impartial ‘innovation as a service’ for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel.

We connect businesses and public sector leaders to cutting-edge research to spark innovation and grow new markets. We run technology demonstrators and SME accelerators to scale new solutions that drive growth, spread prosperity, and eliminate carbon.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

  • We are human centred, solution-led
  • We advocate for standards which enable interoperability, replicability and scale
  • We work in partnership with others across the UK and beyond to provide access to R&D assets and deliver impact
  • We support local economies and organisations by being present within them to embed and transfer innovation capabilities
  • We are globally connected in order to stimulate demand for UK innovations overseas and create opportunities for companies to expand globally

OUR FOCUS

Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and places.

We provide impartial ‘innovation as a service’ for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel. We connect businesses and public sector leaders to cutting-edge research to spark innovation and grow new markets. We run technology demonstrators and SME accelerators to scale new solutions that drive growth, spread prosperity, and eliminate carbon.

People's Experience

Places prosper when they understand and design for the needs of people. Connected Places Catapult has access to a range of capabilities which help partners to understand changing needs and to design for experience.

Connected Intelligence

The infrastructure that enables digital connectivity within and between places as well as the technology and intelligence that enables data-rich insights, modelling and analysis.

Climate Action

We convene the markets to spark disruptive innovation and scale up Net Zero and resilience technologies, by developing the business and operational case for adoption and deployment.

Innovation imperatives into markets

Place Leadership

Integrated Infrastructure

Maritime & ports

Air mobility & airports

Rail & stations

Homes & housing

OUR PARTNERS

At Connected Places Catapult work in partnership with others across the UK and beyond to achieve impact.

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Logo of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. The logo has overlapping circles in blue, green, and yellow with the acronym "ICLEI" in large letters and the full name below in smaller text.
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