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

Catapult Network

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.

Cell and Gene Therapy

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New projects aim to improve environmental sustainability of the cell and gene therapy industry

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is working with the Innovation Launchpad Network+ on two projects that aim to assess and reduce the environmental impact of the advanced therapies industry. As the cell and gene therapy industry continues to grow, the amount of materials and energy it uses is increasing. For the industry to lessen its impact on the environment, there is a need to find more energy efficient processes and new approaches or technologies to dispose of waste.

Cell and Gene Therapy

New projects aim to improve environmental sustainability of the cell and gene therapy industry

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is working with the Innovation Launchpad Network+ on two projects that aim to assess and reduce the environmental impact of the advanced therapies industry. As the cell and gene therapy industry continues to grow, the amount of materials and energy it uses is increasing. For the industry to lessen its impact on the environment, there is a need to find more energy efficient processes and new approaches or technologies to dispose of waste.

High Value Manufacturing

New innovation centre ‘a big bang for regional economic prosperity’

Plans for a new innovation centre, set to turbo charge the local economy and bring millions of pounds of investment to Rochdale and the wider region, have been revealed to North West business leaders. Located on the Atom Valley site, the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) will focus on providing state-of-the-art green manufacturing solutions. Advanced materials are designed to cut down on waste and increase sustainability, making them crucial for business and the environment.

Medicines Discovery

Medicines Discovery Catapult Wins ‘Non-Profit Life Science Innovation Enablers’ Award

Medicines Discovery Catapult received the award for ‘Non-Profit Life Science Innovation Enablers’ at last night’s One Nucleus award ceremony in London. Against some tough competition, Medicines Discovery Catapult was recognised as a key enabler of life science innovation, acknowledging its work to build innovation ecosystems and the impactful strategies it develops to engage with the community.

Satellite Applications

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UK-Autonomous and Connected Earth Network Launches to Unite Communities through Space Technology

Today marks the launch of the second Satellite Applications Catapult funded Connected Capability Network (CCN) which aims to unite communities across the UK, enabling them to harness the benefits of satellite data and space technology. The UK Autonomous and Connected Earth (UK-ACE) CCN will advance the reach and impact of satellite data and space technology across the UK, emphasising the pivotal roles connectivity and autonomy applications play on Earth. The UK-ACE network will work with stakeholders across space and adjacent sectors by hosting engagement events and activities to help catalyse collaboration and investment opportunities using autonomy and connectivity technologies.

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Former E.ON UK CEO, Tony Cocker, appointed Chair of Energy Systems Catapult

Energy Systems Catapult is delighted to appoint Dr Tony Cocker, former CEO of E.ON UK, as its new Chair. Dr Cocker will step into the role previously held for nine years by Nick Winser CBE. Tony is an experienced senior energy leader with 28 years’ experience in the sector, both with some of the UK’s largest energy companies and with innovators. He is currently chair of Future Biogas Ltd, a developer and operator of anaerobic digestion plants, and Infinis Energy management, the UK’s leading generator of low carbon power from captured methane. He is also a Non-Executive Director at SSE plc, the FTSE-100 renewables and networks business.

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Digital Catapult welcomes new vendors to test Open RAN deployability in real-world outdoor setting

Digital Catapult has announced that SONIC (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) Labs, an initiative aiming to advance Open RAN technology, will welcome a new group of international companies to its programme. These companies will have the opportunity to use SONIC Labs’ outdoor testing site in West London to explore the potential value of Open RAN in a real-world environment.

Digital Catapult welcomes new vendors to test Open RAN deployability in real-world outdoor setting

Digital Catapult has announced that SONIC (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) Labs, an initiative aiming to advance Open RAN technology, will welcome a new group of international companies to its programme. These companies will have the opportunity to use SONIC Labs’ outdoor testing site in West London to explore the potential value of Open RAN in a real-world environment.

Connected Places

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£1.3 million to back cutting-edge transport projects

The latest round of the Government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) is now open, with organisations and academics able to win up to £45,000 in funding. The TRIG scheme, delivered by Connected Places Catapult, supports businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research. It aims to improve transport across the country and support skilled UK jobs as part of the Government’s plan to help grow the economy.

Connected Places

£1.3 million to back cutting-edge transport projects

The latest round of the Government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) is now open, with organisations and academics able to win up to £45,000 in funding. The TRIG scheme, delivered by Connected Places Catapult, supports businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research. It aims to improve transport across the country and support skilled UK jobs as part of the Government’s plan to help grow the economy.

Offshore Renewable Energy

New UK-US collaboration targets innovative UK support for floating wind technology in the United States

Applications open today (18 April 2024) for a unique project that could expand the US market for innovative UK companies developing technology which can help support the growing floating offshore wind market in the United States. The ‘UK-US Floating Offshore Wind Supply Chain Innovation Bilateral (FLOWB)’ supply chain programme brings together the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Innovate UK, with US partners including University of Maine and NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Together they will support UK companies developing exportable technologies to team up with floating wind platform developers in the US and benefit from up to a £1.5 million funding pot.

Compound Semiconductor Applications

CSA Catapult and SMD Semiconductor sign memorandum of understanding

Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult and SMD Semiconductor have today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the House of Commons. The MoU lays the foundation for CSA Catapult and SMD Semiconductor to work together in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of next-generation semiconductor and compound semiconductor chips in the automotive and space industries.

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