Reading and Milton Keynes start-ups among eight pioneers on Digital Catapult programme

The UK authority on digital technology, Digital Catapult, has welcomed eight tech pioneers to the 'Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator' programme so the start-up firms can supergcharge their ambitions.

The programme is funded by Made Smarter and Innovate UK and sees industry giants like BAE Systems, HS2 and Creagh Concrete partner up with smaller firms.

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It is aimed at improving efficiency in manufacturing in the UK and each company will receive £75,000 to develop proof-of-concept projects, while a further £100,000 will be available for up to four companies to advance to phase two, where they will develop pilot prototypes.

Among the eight companies is Reading-based Coraledge Ltd and its Thingitude business, which is focused on using the Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver more efficient operations for clients and better service delivery for the end-customers. It will collaborate with one of the UK’s largest producers of concrete products - Belfast-based Creagh Concrete.

Elsewhere, HS2 is constructing Britain’s new high-speed railway, comprising 140-miles of track, four new, state-of-the art stations, two depots, 32 miles of tunnel, and 179 bridges. It is working with Milton-Keynes-based Infinitive Group Ltd and London-based Material Index in a bid to improve the sustainability of work by optimising the planned deconstruction process.

Both startups will develop digital software tools to integrate and analyse deconstruction-related data effectively

Meanwhile, BAE Systems will work with Digica Solutions Ltd to create a digital twin of its Factory of the Future and Gerrards Cross-based Quaisr Limited - which is an Imperial College London and Alan Turing Institute spin-out founded in 2020 and delivers digital connectivity infrastructure across defence, pharmaceutical and FMCG companies.

Justin Cross, director of innovation practice at Digital Catapult, said: "With UK manufacturing touted as one of the silver bullets to sustainable economic growth, there is growing demand for manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and prove that this commitment yields significant commercial benefit.

"The UK was the 8th largest global manufacturer last year, so we are in a prime position to show the rest of the world that sustainable innovation and smart manufacturing are key to achieving long-term economic prosperity.

"I’m confident that these innovative solutions will improve energy efficiency and optimise resource use, and I’d like to congratulate the startups for joining this pioneering new programme."

Cenk Kafaoglu, manufacturing development engineer at BAE Systems - Air, added: "BAE Systems Air Sector has a clear set of net zero drivers we are embedding in our UK manufacturing operations, with researched and applied data science being key to achieving our goals.

2We have always looked to our strong relationships with the Catapult Network and UK-based SMEs as a way of accelerating early stage technology development ideas. The innovations from these proposals could make a hugely positive impact on the way we do things."

The remaining start-ups of the eight are Kinsetsu, LinearWorks and Material Index.

Digital Catapult is part of the Catapult Network - a network of world-leading technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK.