Open call

Digital Supply Chain Innovation Funding Opportunity

Open date: Monday 20 May 2024 Close date: Monday 17 June 2024

Introduction

The Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub is on a mission to transform UK manufacturing through digitally-empowered supply chains that are more efficient, resilient and sustainable. To achieve this, the programme must address various digital supply chain issues focused around the hub’s seven core challenge themes.

This open call looks to develop solutions to issues that have arisen in three critical areas; data governance, reporting and verification of emissions across the food supply chain, and cybersecurity vulnerability. Applications are invited from companies interested in working with programme collaboration partners from the Digital Supply Chain Hub ecosystem.

As a delivery partner, Digital Catapult will facilitate and oversee the partnerships between technology innovators and programme collaboration partners, furthering digital adoption and driving innovation forward.

Challenge Briefs

Challenge brief 1: Data governance systems for supply chains

Aim: To develop a data governance framework mechanism to build trust among Digital Supply Chain Hub ecosystem participants, ensuring that their interests are maintained when sharing information.

Challenge brief 2: Food supply chain carbon management

Aim: To establish a comprehensive carbon management system to monitor, report and verify the greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain starting with farms.

Challenge brief 3: Cybersecurity vulnerability in supply chains

Aim: To develop a system to test whether supply chain cyber vulnerabilities and breaches can be found through available data whatever the source.

Why should you get involved?

MVP funding Up to £150,000 to develop a challenge focused minimum viable product (MVP) and supporting material within the timeframe of the project.

Collaborate with technology and industry experts from Digital Catapult to assess, iterate and accelerate your solution, and significantly expand your network.

Upon successful completion of the project, the participant will have the opportunity to join the future digital supply chain hub platform, which will offer a platform to connect interested digital supply chain stakeholders.

Diagnostic sessions with your project team to determine current technological, commercial and strategic needs.

Upon successful completion of the project, join the Digital Catapult Alumni Network, which keeps them informed of opportunities and relevant updates from the Digital Catapult, and which provides additional opportunities to engage with other Alumni.

Be part of our showcase event, which is an opportunity to participate, pitch and attend meetings at the showcase events in February 2025 and any relevant digital supply chain events.

How to apply and next steps

Applicants must apply via the application form.
As part of the application, you will be asked to demonstrate that you meet the programme requirements for the challenge open call.
Once you start your application you will have until 23:59 BST on Monday 17th of June 2024 to submit your application. Once submitted you will not be able to make any edits.
If you would like to apply for multiple challenge areas using the same technology, please complete a separate application form for each. If an organisation wishes to apply with more than one technology solution, please submit an additional application form per solution.

Should you require any assistance with the application you can reach out to [email protected] to explore the suitability of your idea for the challenges.