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    • About us
          • Digital Catapult is a deep tech innovation organisation driving business value by accelerating the application of advanced technologies.

            3,000

            Companies supported since 2018

            £555m

            Investment raised by startups since 2018

            20+

            Advanced technology facilities nationwide

    • Our ambition
          • Our ambition is to realise the practical application of deep tech through four interventions

            ambition-scale-deep-tech

            Enabling UK deep tech companies to scale

            ambition-improving-supply-chain

            Improving UK industrial supply chain resilience

            ambition-decarbonisation

            Driving industrial decarbonisation

            ambition-advancing-data

            Advancing UK development and use of data driven and open future networks

    • Our people
          • susan-bowen

            We are an organisation made up of almost 300 innovators.

            We pride ourselves on the skilled and talented people from varied backgrounds that make up our team – we harness the expertise, perspectives and connections of people of more than 40 nationalities, thereby bringing together a diversity of skills, experience and backgrounds.

            Susan Bowen

            CEO of Digital Catapult

    • Our places
    • Startups and scaleups
          • bfp cover

            Black Founders Programme

            The Black Founders Programme is an accelerator targeted at pre-seed or seed stage, Black-founded companies creating innovative products and services...
            ORCA-020

            Quantum Technology Programme

            Separating opportunity from hype to understand industry challenges that may be best solved by quantum computing.
    • Government and Public sector
          • 3d,Illustration,Of,Hydrogen,H2,Molecule,Model,-,Clean,Energy

            Hydrogen Innovation Programme

            Discover more about the the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative and the deployment of hydrogen technologies to address pressing energy and environmental...
            London,Office,Building,For,Network,And,Future,Concept

            Digitalising Energy Programme

            Energy Systems Catapult and Digital Catapult have partnered to explore the groundwork for a UK-wide initiative to accelerate a digitalised,...
          • Banner website digital twin 3

            UK Digital Twin Centre

            Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, the UK Digital Twin Centre makes digital twins more accessible and meaningful in the UK. It actively enable industries and innovators to safely embrace, explore and realise their dynamic power.
            Find out more UK Digital Twin Centre
    • Corporates and Industry
          • Transparent,Clear,Colorful,Glass,Or,Liquid,Waves.,Neon,Pattern,Abstract

            Green Hydrogen Certifier

            This report looks at the Green Hydrogen Certifier - an end-to-end demonstration of a potential digital certification solution for hydrogen production...
    • Academia
    • Investors
          • bfp cover

            Black Founders Programme

            The Black Founders Programme is an accelerator targeted at pre-seed or seed stage, Black-founded companies creating innovative products and services...
    • Services
          • Bespoke software & data systems

            Developing proof-of-concept demonstrators to showcase the viability and benefit of deep tech solutions.

            Platform engineering service

            Designing, building and operating physical and digital facilities. Providing testbeds for deep tech discovery and experimentation.

            Technology & innovation consultancy

            Consultancy services helping organisations addresses market preparedness gaps, evaluate financial viability and navigate technology change management.

          • Acceleration programmes for business

            Creating acceleration programmes to support businesses.Helping them grow through mentorship, technology support, networking, and investment opportunities.

            Facilitating and convening

            Bringing together and developing ecosystems of companies to explore, test and demonstrate how deep tech works in practice.

    • Technologies
    • Facilities
    • Opportunities
          • newsletter

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            sign up for alerts and be the first to know when new open calls are announced. Don’t miss your chance to stay informed and get involved!

    • Current interventions
          • ORCA-020

            Quantum Technology Programme

            Separating opportunity from hype to understand industry challenges that may be best solved by quantum computing.
          • Banner website digital twin 3

            UK Digital Twin Centre

            Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, the UK Digital Twin Centre makes digital twins more accessible and meaningful in the UK. It actively enable industries and innovators to safely embrace, explore and realise their dynamic power.
            Find out more UK Digital Twin Centre
    • Case studies
          • Black Founders Programme Showcase event.

            SymphoMe: case study

            Part of the FutureScope's Black Founders Programme, Digital Catapult supported Nyangibo Gallery to get investment ready and receive business expertise
    • Events
    • Blogs
    • Publications
          • Glass globe encircled by verdant forest flora, symbolizing nature, environment, sustainability, ESG, and climate change awareness, generative ai

            Get involved

            Be the first to know about upcoming resources, events and activities in the BridgeAI programme.
            Glass globe encircled by verdant forest flora, symbolizing nature, environment, sustainability, ESG, and climate change awareness, generative ai

            The Programme

            Find out more about how the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme and how it aims to stimulate the adoption AI and...
    • Press releases
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open-calls

Investment Readiness Programme

Open date: Wednesday 5 June 2024   Close date: Sunday 21 July 2024

Accelerate your investment readiness

The Investment Readiness Programme, part of the Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator, is designed for companies developing cleantech solutions for the UK manufacturing sector, aiming to increase their investment readiness and accelerate business growth.

This programme comes amid the growing demand for sustainable manufacturing and the UK’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The manufacturing sector accounts for over 40% of the country’s consumption-based carbon emissions*. This highlights the need for innovative solutions to drive sustainable growth.

The programme aims to accelerate investment readiness by offering tailored support to help participants navigate the investment landscape, secure research and funding opportunities, and boost their market presence.

This initiative not only supports individual businesses but also contributes to the broader goal of achieving net zero emissions and driving sustainable growth in the manufacturing sector.

The programme is open to companies that previously benefited from Made Smarter funding and companies that are new to the Made Smarter movement.

Successful applicants will be able to access £5,000 cash funding as a financial contribution towards completing the programme.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 21 July 2024.

* Source link 

Apply now

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Apply now

Why should you get involved?

Each successful applicant will receive £5,000 cash funding

Strategic guidance from the Digital Catapult team

Diagnostic sessions to determine current commercial and strategic needs

Tailored support to develop and improve product, technical and investment roadmap, business planning and marketing strategy

Opportunity to pitch at the showcase event to industry representatives and potential investors

Who can apply

The Investment Readiness Programme supports registered and active UK based companies. The programme welcomes applications from:

  • Companies that are looking to raise investment in the next 6 -12 months.
  • Companies that are looking to grow their business in the next 6 – 12 months.
  • Companies engaged in the development of technology solutions focused on REEE (Resource Efficiency and Energy Efficiency) with applications in the manufacturing sector.
  • Companies that have previously received funding under the Made Smarter Innovation Programme.
  • Companies developing solutions focused on sustainability, with an interest and business plan to enter the manufacturing sector.

See the selection criteria in the FAQs.

Key info

121 Q&A drop-in session

Companies that have questions regarding the programme, selection process and how to apply can book time slots and talk directly to the team.

Book a time slot

How to apply

  • Applicants check they meet the programme’s specific requirements.
  • Applicants fill out their application form through the platform.
  • Applicants will need to complete the application form by 23:59 on Sunday 21 July 2024.
Apply now

Who can apply

  • Applicants must be eligible to receive up to £20,000 in State Assistance.
  • Applicants must have a UK business bank account for any payments to be made.
  • Applicants must be a UK based registered company, or prove they are a company that has an establishment in the UK, and undertake all activity in the UK.
  • Applicants must be engaged in developing solutions enabled by at least one of the technologies from the advanced digital technology stack: artificial intelligence (AI), immersive technologies, internet of things (IoT), distributed ledger technologies (DLT) and 5G/future networks.

Selection criteria

Product and Solution 30%
The applicant should demonstrate that their company is addressing a clear industry challenge as well as applying advanced digital technologies to tackle them.

Business Capability 40%
The applicant should be capable of identifying their growth potential as well as clear business and investment goals and potential challenges for the next 12 months. The company and its employees should have the necessary experience and skills to reach these goals.

Sustainability & Responsibility 30%
The company should be able to define how its product aligns with the principles of sustainability and responsible innovation.

Selection Process
Applications will be screened for eligibility, followed by a shortlisting process of judging applications by the Digital Catapult team. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the interview for the final selection.

The scoring criteria will be assessed based on statements in the areas above. Each will be scored on a range from 0 to 5.

0 being an “Unacceptable or No submission” score for each criterion and 5 being an “Excellent” score for each criterion. Weighting will be applied across each scoring criterion.

Deliberation will take place to select 10-15 successful applicants.

Apply now

Apply now