Collaborating with industry giants like BAE Systems, HS2, and Creagh Concrete, these companies will receive guidance from Digital Catapult's innovation experts to develop sustainable industrial solutions.

Funded by Made Smarter and Innovate UK, this programme builds on the success of the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator, which previously paired UK manufacturers with tech firms to boost industrial innovation. The new initiative seeks to foster strategic collaborations between tech innovators and industrial leaders to advance sustainable manufacturing, particularly through digital twin technologies.

BAE Systems, a global leader in defence, aerospace, and security, is partnering with Digica Solutions to create a digital twin of its Factory of the Future research centre. Digica’s solution will illustrate the impact of environmental factors on manufacturing operations. Meanwhile, Quasir will merge physics-based models with machine learning tools to enhance operational efficiency and reduce energy consumption and resource waste.

HS2, responsible for building Britain's new high-speed railway, aims to convert its 350 active construction sites into green sites. Infinitive Group Ltd and Material Index are working to optimise the planned deconstruction process. They will develop digital tools to analyse deconstruction data, supporting decisions on material recapture and reuse, ensuring sustainable site deconstruction.

Creagh Concrete, a major producer of concrete products in Northern Ireland, will collaborate with DataFlowIQ, Linearworks, Kinsetsu, and Coraledge Ltd to refine its production processes. By optimising and digitising manufacturing, Creagh Concrete aims to improve energy efficiency and operational performance, maintaining its competitive edge while achieving sustainability goals.

Participants in the programme will benefit from sustainability masterclasses, technical monitoring, innovation expertise, and peer-to-peer support, enhancing their capabilities. This initiative is crucial in promoting industrial sustainability through deep technology adoption, especially as the UK progresses towards its net zero goal, having cut emissions by 53% between 1990 and 2023.

Each participating startup and SME will receive £75,000 to develop a proof of concept, with an additional £100,000 available for up to four companies to advance to phase two. The second phase will support these companies in developing pilot prototypes, culminating in a showcase event in early 2025 where they will pitch their solutions to investors and industry leaders.

Cenk Kafaoglu, Manufacturing Development Engineer, BAE Systems - Air, said: “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. We 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”

Zoë Edmonds, Senior Innovation Manager, HS2 Ltd, said: “We are excited to collaborate with these two companies on our data integration challenges, and benefit from their innovative approaches. Both companies are new to HS2, so Digital Catapult has helped us reach new potential suppliers to explore their fresh ideas. The sheer scale and complexity of analysing reusable materials in up to 350 temporary worksites requires a truly innovative approach, and if successful it could represent a significant step change to engage the construction industry in the circular economy.”

Justin Cross, Director of Innovation Practice, 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.”