Innovate UK

The Clean Futures project is revolutionising sustainable transport in the West Midlands, accelerating the transition to greener infrastructure, road freight alternatives, and electric vehicle innovations. As part of the Innovation Accelerator programme, Clean Futures has already delivered significant impact—supporting 39 businesses, safeguarding 54 jobs, and securing £30 million in private co-investment, with £100 million in follow-on commercial contracts. Led by Connected Places Catapult and Coventry University, the project provides essential resources and guidance to SMEs pioneering sustainable transport solutions. One standout success is OX Delivers, the world’s first flat-pack truck manufacturer, providing affordable electric transport for small-scale farmers in the Global South. Thanks to support from Clean Futures and Coventry University, OX Delivers adopted digital twin technology, transforming its manufacturing management system (MMS) into a streamlined, three-click digital process—reducing production labour time by 15%. With the Innovation Accelerator programme fostering economic growth, job creation, and investment, the West Midlands is proving its global leadership in sustainable transport innovation. Find out more about the Innovation Accelerator projects in West Midlands here: https://ow.ly/o50B50VBIoB #InnovationAccelerators

Hear how SpacePlay unlocked new possibilities in packaging with AI! 🚀 With support and funding from the Innovate UK #BridgeAI programme, Birmingham-based microbusiness spaceplay Ltd collaborated with Birmingham City University to develop machine-learning solutions for designing precision-fitted foam inserts. Founder Director Adam Carthy shares how this innovation is transforming the way they package delicate, irregularly shaped architectural models - moving from hand-cut trial and error to smart, scalable efficiency. 🔗 Discover how BridgeAI could support your next AI innovation. To find out more visit: https://ow.ly/kGxZ50VAFxk #AI #MachineLearning #CreativeTech #BusinessSupport"

We’re pleased to be delivering the new ADOPT Fund on behalf of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), supporting farmer-led, collaborative on-farm trials and experiments. The first ADOPT funding opportunity will open on 28 April 2025 with two types of grants available depending on the needs of the farmer, putting them at the centre to ensure innovation is informed by those who know the land best. Designed to accelerate the adoption of innovation on-farm, this funding empowers farmers to work together to tackle shared challenges, trial new practices, and unlock practical solutions grounded in real-world farming. To help farmers understand more about ADOPT, connect with experts, access funding and make on-farm trials a success, a Support Hub is available, delivered by ADAS, UK Agri-Tech Centre and the Soil Association. Find out more here: https://ow.ly/5e9z50VAeuA

Celebrating World Quantum Day with big news for UK Quantum innovation ✨ As the UK government deepens its commitment to the quantum sector, we are pleased to confirm that Innovate UK will be delivering £46.1m in funding this year to accelerate quantum deployment across high-impact areas. A further £20.4m has been committed to support the work of the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), including its testbed programme - a key initiative delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. On this World Quantum Day, we’re also proud to announce the return of the UK National Quantum Showcase, taking place on Friday 7 November 2025 at BDC, London. Following a record-breaking year in 2024 with 2,000+ delegates, this year’s event will be even more ambitious - bringing together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the cutting edge of quantum. With previous Innovate UK-backed breakthroughs in areas such as greenhouse gas detection, wearable brain imaging, and subsurface mapping, quantum is already transforming industries - this showcase is where the future unfolds. Read more here: https://ow.ly/93Oh50VAbI4 #WorldQuantumDay #QuantumShowcase2025 h#QuantumTechnology #QuantumComputing #FutureOfTech #UKInnovation #QuantumSensing #UKQuantum

The Innovation Accelerator Programme is driving innovation and R&D in the West Midlands through co-creation and government investment. The programme led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has injected £100 million into 26 R&D projects across Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands since 2023. It has been extended by £30m for 2025/26. The West Midlands is accelerating research and development in greener technologies and personalised healthcare, diversifying its economy, strengthening supply chains, and creating new local job opportunities. Beyond economic growth, the programme has strengthened civic relationships, increased political engagement, and solidified the region as a global innovation leader—exemplified by its recognition as a finalist for the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2024. Find out more about the Innovation Accelerator projects in West Midlands here: https://ow.ly/LKrE50VzSCV #InnovationAccelerators

Yesterday, Dr Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, spoke at the annual Innovation Launchpad Network+ Researcher in Residence Showcase, sharing her personal journey of turning research into real-world innovation. The event celebrated the power of collaboration between academia and Catapults through the Researcher in Residence scheme — a catalyst for 100+ high-impact projects across Net Zero, Resilience, and Health & Wellbeing. Stella said: “Growing businesses is everybody’s business. We need more than just for companies to start and scale in the UK. We need them to stay here. Because if we fail to grow our most promising start-ups here, then British breakthroughs will be scaled elsewhere. That is one of the key reasons why fast-tracking the translation of research is so important.” EPSRC | Innovate UK Catapult Network

What do lithium-ion batteries, agrochemicals and household cleaning products all have in common? They all contain fluorochemicals. 🧪 FluoRok a University of Oxford spinout, are developing new, disruptive fluorinating technologies that are safer, more efficient and sustainable than existing products and methods. Since it began working with Innovate UK in 2023, the company has: ✅ Secured £1.5M in grant funding ✅ Leveraged £7.8M in private investment ✅ Created 5 high value jobs Read the full story here, and find out how Innovate UK can support your innovative business today: https://ow.ly/Tn6T50VxfU7 #InnovateToGrow #ChemicalManufacturing #Oxford

These pioneering young innovators are tackling some of today's biggest environmental challenges - and winning. With backing from Innovate UK, they're putting sustainability at the heart of their ventures.  🌍 ♻️ Abiel M. is transforming food waste recycling with smart biotechnology 🚆 Tanya Beri is helping commuters navigate less polluted travel routes 🛠️ Megan Hale is teaching kids to fix electronics and fight e-waste They're proving that innovation can be both impactful and planet friendly.  Learn more about the success stories of our Young Innovators here: https://lnkd.in/exf43rk7 #IdeasMeanBusiness #YoungInnovators #SustainabilityMatters #FutureLeaders #ClimateInnovation

Greater Manchester is leading the way in health innovation, and the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator (ADA) is at the forefront of this transformation. As part of the Innovation Accelerator programme, ADA is developing cutting-edge diagnostic pathways to enable early disease detection and more targeted care, ultimately improving health outcomes and driving economic growth. Led by Health Innovation Manchester The University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, ADA bridges the gap between research and clinical implementation, ensuring that new diagnostic technologies quickly reach patients. In just two years, the project has engaged over 1,200 patients in treatment and research, attracted £2.7m in co-investment, developed a new MedTech product, and expanded access to screening and diagnostics, particularly for underserved communities. It has also contributed to job creation and business growth in the health sector, reinforcing Greater Manchester’s position as a global leader in medical innovation. With an additional £1.6m Innovate UK grant, ADA will continue to revolutionise early diagnosis, business sustainability, and health inequalities, driving forward innovation and economic prosperity in the region. Find out more about the Innovation Accelerator projects from Greater Manchester here: [https://ow.ly/zFg650VwLec] #InnovationAccelerators

Revolutionising Fibre Intake: The Story of Funki Drinks🥤 Fibre UP Drinks aims to tackle the issue of low fibre intake in the UK by developing Fibre Up, a unique carbonated soft drink fortified with a specially designed fibre blend to improve human health. Their innovation has been made possible with support from the Innovate UK system. Our support includes: Funding and support through an Innovate UK Young Innovators Award and a Better Food For All grant 🍎 Application support and facilitating introductions that enabled the company to collaborate with the Quadram Institute, through Innovate UK Business Connect's AgriFood team 🥭 Sharing valuable advice and expertise to enable the company to complete important product research and development to improve the digestive tolerance and beneficial impacts on gut microbes of this beverage, through Innovate UK Business Connect’s AgriFood team 🍋 Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/vWsx50VwIYQ #FibreDrink #BeverageInnovation #HealthyLiving