Advanced Connectivity Programme demonstrates the value of real-world innovation for UK industry. 

Digital Catapult has successfully concluded its Advanced Connectivity Technology Access Programme, delivered in partnership with Smart Nano NI, with a showcase event that convened industry, innovation partners and the participating SMEs. The showcase event provided a platform for the participants to demonstrate how advanced connectivity technologies could accelerate the development and deployment of commercially relevant solutions across industry. 

The technology access programme supported ten companies from across the UK to explore how deep tech innovation and emerging capabilities including private 5G, Cellular IoT and edge computing can address operational and industrial challenges across major sectors of the UK economy including manufacturing, energy, transport and construction. During the programme, Digital Catapult provided participants with technological and innovation consultancy as well as access to its advanced connectivity facilities located at North West Regional College in Derry/Londonderry. 

The cohort companies had the opportunity to test, validate and refine their solutions in real-world conditions using the 5G testbed at North West Regional College, helping to remove barriers to deep tech adoption and strengthening the pathway towards commercial deployment. The opportunity to iterate in a secure and independent environment under valid and reliable conditions is essential in enabling deep tech companies to scale, to showcase success to investors, and to demonstrate industrial demand for the companies’ solutions.  

The programme’s showcase event was held at Digital Catapult’s Belfast office, where participants presented the programme outcomes, metrics of success and how access to infrastructure and testbeds enabled many to de-risk innovation, validate use-cases and pave the way to securing private investment.  

The Advanced Connectivity Technology Access Programme underpins Digital Catapult’s ambition to accelerate the practical application of deep tech and to accelerate the development and use of data drive and open future networks. By providing UK businesses with access to the infrastructure, expertise and collaborative environments necessary to innovate with confidence, companies can test technologies before committing to full-scale deployment. 

Programmes such as this help to bridge the gap between research, development and commercial implementation, and is one of several interventions delivered by Digital Catapult to support critical digital infrastructure and telecommunications networks.  

The 5G industrial testbed in Derry/Londonderry was established as a core element of our Smart Nano NI programme, led by Seagate Technology, to test and trial new 5G-enabled industrial solutions to unlock opportunity and mobilise economic growth in Northern Ireland and beyond. As the programme draws to its conclusion, the testbed has evolved into a 5G capability delivered by Digital Catapult and housed at North West Regional College. The streamlined 5G capability will continue to help to close the compute and connectivity gap in the UK, providing startups and small businesses with access to the infrastructure they need to scale successfully. As more startups access the 5G capability in the region to test and iterate their solutions and validate their products and services, it will prove the value of the facility in enabling deep tech startups to grow, showcasing its success to local government, business and industry with a view to building a sustainable and lasting legacy off the back of the five-year Smart Nano NI programme. 

The programme brings together a diverse cohort of companies applying advanced connectivity to challenges across manufacturing, energy, transport, immersive media and environmental monitoring: 

• Scanmatix – developing real-time inventory management solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy in manufacturing and retail operations  

• StellarCube – delivering resilient, multi-network connectivity solutions across air, land, sea and space environments  

• Senergy Innovations – advancing smart solar thermal systems with high-resolution data and digital twin capabilities for low-carbon heating  

• Weev – optimising EV charging infrastructure through real-time data, predictive maintenance and AI-driven network operations  

• ClubMixed – creating immersive XR live music experiences powered by low-latency 5G connectivity  

• iPurvey – enabling AI-driven early warning systems for operational disruption using real-time connected data  

• Polaris Intelligent Technologies – applying private 5G and edge intelligence to enhance wildlife protection and remote monitoring systems  

• PontePatros – improving housing performance through real-time environmental monitoring and connectivity-enabled insights  

• Rotary Bearings Industrial Ltd – exploring advanced connectivity applications to enhance industrial performance and reliability  

• MENTHA Ltd – developing innovative solutions leveraging advanced connectivity technologies