News from the catapult network

News headlines from across the Catapult Network. For comprehensive news updates, please explore our Politics Home webpage or visit individual Catapult websites

Graphic of four images including a microscope, a solar panel, a man examining a samply and a flying drone
Catapult Network
NEWS
Catapulting growth in 2023 and beyond
In the face of many challenges – changing customer desires, cost pressures, supply chain disruption, expected regulatory changes and fierce competition – UK innovation is on the rise. This article showcases how Catapults helped to deliver great results for business and industry in 2023; it summarises our predictions for technology-driven advances in 2024 and the years ahead.
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Compound Semiconductor Applications
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News
North East Advanced Material Electronics Landscape Report launched
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult has been awarded £4m from Innovate UK to help deliver a resilient and energy efficient future telecoms network for the UK. The funding will help expand Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult’s activities across the future telecoms landscape and develop new compound semiconductor technologies to improve the speed, energy efficiency and security of our communications networks.
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Compound Semiconductor Applications
News
North East Advanced Material Electronics Landscape Report launched
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult has been awarded £4m from Innovate UK to help deliver a resilient and energy efficient future telecoms network for the UK. The funding will help expand Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult’s activities across the future telecoms landscape and develop new compound semiconductor technologies to improve the speed, energy efficiency and security of our communications networks.
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Satellite Applications
A digital image of the globe
News
Lucy Edge Stands Down as Chief of Missions and Deputy CEO after 7 years
After 7 years at the Satellite Applications Catapult, Lucy Edge, Chief of Missions and Deputy CEO will stand down at the end of January. Lucy joined the Catapult in February 2018 from Avanti Communications, initially as Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for revolutionising the Catapult’s delivery capability during a period of rapid growth and change in the space industry. This has established the Catapult as a go-to delivery organisation for initiatives like the development of the in-orbit servicing and manufacturing market
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Digital
News
Eleven local innovators seek to solve industry challenges using deep tech
In partnership with Smart Nano NI, a local consortium collaborating to develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies, Digital Catapult has welcomed eleven companies on a new Technology Access Programme to accelerate the practical application of photonics and future networks for local industry. Led by Digital Catapult, the Smart Nano NI Accelerator Programmes provide startups and SMEs with access to cutting-edge technology and expertise to leverage deep-tech to develop products and services that address complex industry challenges, drive innovation and enhance business competitiveness.
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Cell and Gene Therapy
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News
70% increase in Phase I advanced therapy clinical trials in the UK in 2024
The number of ongoing advanced therapy clinical trials in the UK reached 187 in 2024, an increase of 7% compared from the previous year. This includes a significant approximate increase of 70% in the number of Phase I trials, which grew from 24 to 41. The data is presented in the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s UK 2024 Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) Clinical Trials Database.
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Energy Systems
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News
UK-Singapore innovation challenge call launched
Energy Systems Catapult is seeking innovators with strong connections to UK universities, whether as spinouts, research collaborators, or representatives of university-driven innovation, to join us for a week-long programme of events in Singapore, starting March 31. These events will facilitate knowledge sharing between leading UK and Singaporean companies and academics in AI and energy sustainability. The sessions will focus on gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and innovation opportunities in Singapore, as well as identifying potential partner companies for collaboration.
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High Value Manufacturing
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News
You’ve got to be in it to win it
In ten years’ time, 260 floating offshore wind turbines will be anchored in the Celtic Sea. They won’t be visible to my son and his mates surfing in Porthcawl or my mum and dad tucking into fish and chips on holiday in Tenby, but they will be there, powering more than four million homes and helping the UK government achieve its vision of fully decarbonised electricity generation. Clean energy is not the only prize, however. Last year’s Celtic Sea Blueprint report said the new floating wind farms could create more than 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4bn boost to the Welsh economy. This is where I believe we should be leveraging Wales’ strengths.
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High Value Manufacturing
News
You’ve got to be in it to win it
In ten years’ time, 260 floating offshore wind turbines will be anchored in the Celtic Sea. They won’t be visible to my son and his mates surfing in Porthcawl or my mum and dad tucking into fish and chips on holiday in Tenby, but they will be there, powering more than four million homes and helping the UK government achieve its vision of fully decarbonised electricity generation. Clean energy is not the only prize, however. Last year’s Celtic Sea Blueprint report said the new floating wind farms could create more than 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4bn boost to the Welsh economy. This is where I believe we should be leveraging Wales’ strengths.
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Medicines Discovery
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News
Scientific Experts Join Medicines Discovery Catapult’s Board of Directors
Medicines Discovery Catapult has announced three new members joining its experienced Board of Directors. Professor Sir Mike Ferguson is Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee and was knighted in 2019 for services to science. Professor Maddy Parsons is Dean for Research Excellence Frameworks at King’s College London, having previously held the role of Vice Dean for Impact and Innovation, overseeing academic-industry partnering activities across life sciences and medicine. Professor Sir John Burn has been Professor of Clinical Genetics at Newcastle University since 1991 and leads its Cancer Prevention Programme research group.
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Medicines Discovery
News
Scientific Experts Join Medicines Discovery Catapult’s Board of Directors
Medicines Discovery Catapult has announced three new members joining its experienced Board of Directors. Professor Sir Mike Ferguson is Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee and was knighted in 2019 for services to science. Professor Maddy Parsons is Dean for Research Excellence Frameworks at King’s College London, having previously held the role of Vice Dean for Impact and Innovation, overseeing academic-industry partnering activities across life sciences and medicine. Professor Sir John Burn has been Professor of Clinical Genetics at Newcastle University since 1991 and leads its Cancer Prevention Programme research group.
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Offshore Renewable Energy
Wind turbine in the sea connected to land
News
Bespoke opportunity for Scotland’s island businesses as offshore wind supply chain programme opens
Innovative businesses based across Scotland’s island and coastal communities will have the chance to benefit from the opportunities offered by the offshore wind sector when a dedicated industry supply chain programme opens this week. Created by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, in partnership with the developers of four major Scottish offshore wind farm projects – MachairWind, Spiorad na Mara, Stoura and Arven – the Fit for Offshore Renewables (F4OR) Island programme will offer fully-funded, expert support to help eligible companies succeed in the offshore wind industry, both at home and abroad.
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Connected Places
News
Industry representatives join West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster Advisory Board
Connected Places Catapult has been selected by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to establish the West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster. The aims of the Logistics and Distribution Cluster align with the vision set out in the West Midlands’ economic strategy - through the existing Plan for Growth and emerging Local Growth Plan. The cluster is aiming to leverage investment, create more high paying jobs, upskill the existing workforce, reduce unemployment and foster an innovate approach to tackling issues faced across the wider industry and ecosystem development.
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