Deadline: 28-Jun-21
Applications for the HS2 Accelerator are now open.
The programme in partnership with HS2 and Connected Places Catapult is looking for five SMEs to provide innovative digital solutions to cut carbon and increase construction site safety and security as part of Europe’s largest infrastructure project.
The HS2 Accelerator Programme is a partnership between HS2 Ltd, Connected Places Catapult, and Bruntwood SciTech.
HS2 is a new high speed railway linking London, the Midlands, the North and Scotland – serving over 25 stations, including eight of Britain’s largest cities and connecting around 30 million people.
HS2 want to create a legacy of knowledge, expertise and opportunities by driving innovation throughout the design and build of the railway, harnessing new technologies to improve productivity and reduce waste, noise and emissions.
Accelerator goals
- Bespoke business support to 5 disruptive SMEs
- Support SMEs to secure investment and produce investment strategies
- Focus on facilitating discussions that lead to commercial contracts, both UK and international
- Support collaborative R&D – where appropriate/applicable
- Two agile sprints and technical focused sessions to develop technologies and meet challenge requirements
- Support the implementation of potential trials with HS2 and HS2 partners
- Support development of FTEs.
Benefits
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Including pitch coaching, business support and VC support
- Solution Showcase
- Demonstration Day to investors, industry and customers
- Investment Readiness
- Tailored investment readiness programme, with support from investment coaches
- Growth Focus
- 4 months tailored business support
- Funding Advice
- including CR&D and grant opportunities
- Technical Support
- Technical support and sprints and access to technical experts
- Office Space
- Access to office space at Innovation Birmingham Campus (subject to Covid-19)
- Business Development
- Business development opportunities and introduction to potential customers.
Challenge 1 – Net Zero
How can they utilise data or digital technologies to decarbonise:
- Materials used within construction – This may include any aspect that minimises the life-cycle impact of materials including application, transport, installation, reuse and recycling
- Onsite construction operations – This may include transportation and vehicle movement, utility & waste tracking, onsite work scheduling, liability and risk sharing
- Energy and Fuel – This may include forecast and optimisation of energy and fuel use across our HS2 construction sites
Eligibility Crietria
- You must be an SME
- You must have a UK registered company
- You must have an innovative digital or data solution at TRL 6 – 8
- You must be able to address the challenge statements with your technology
- You should be able to commit to working one day per week from the HS2 incubator at iCentrum, Birmingham Innovation Campus.
For more information, visit https://community.cp.catapult.org.uk/en/page/accelerator-en