Advanced Connectivity Technologies Growth Programme

Applications will first be assessed against the programme’s eligibility requirements. Eligible applications will then be scored against five indicators of high-growth potential.

1. Market Opportunity & Customer Demand

To determine whether the business is addressing a meaningful and realistically addressable market opportunity, understands the customer problem, and can demonstrate credible evidence of customer demand.  

Assessors will consider: 

• Clarity and definition of target customers and markets. 

• Significance of the customer problem or unmet need. 

• Evidence of customer validation, engagement or adoption. 

• Strength and credibility of market opportunity evidence. 

• Potential for market growth and commercial impact.

2. Technology, Proposition & Differentiation

To establish whether the proposition is technically credible, appropriately mature, validated beyond assertion, and offers meaningful differentiation. 

Assessors will consider: 

• Technology maturity and readiness. 

• Quality of technical validation and evidence. 

• Strength of competitive advantage. 

• Uniqueness of the proposition. 

• Sustainability and protection of differentiation. 

3. Commercial Traction & Business Model

To determine whether the business has a credible route to revenue, evidence of commercial progress, and a scalable business model. 

Assessors will consider: 

• Evidence of commercial traction and revenue generation. 

• Clarity of revenue model and pricing approach. 

• Understanding of unit economics and commercial drivers. 

• Evidence that the model can be repeated and scaled. 

• Commercial viability of future growth plans. 

4. Growth Ambition & Trajectory

To assess whether the business demonstrates significant but credible growth ambition, supported by evidence of progress and realistic future milestones.  

Assessors will consider: 

• Progress achieved to date. 

• Quality and significance of key milestones. 

• Credibility of future growth plans. 

• Scale of ambition relative to current stage. 

• Evidence of momentum and ability to execute.

5. Team & Execution Capability

To determine whether the business has the leadership, skills and capabilities required to deliver its next stage of growth.  

Assessors will consider: 

• Strength and relevance of leadership team. 

• Balance of technical, commercial and operational capabilities. 

• Previous sector, scale-up or delivery experience. 

• Understanding of capability gaps. 
• Credibility of plans to address future capability needs

After being assessed against the five criteria detailed above, applications demonstrating sufficient growth potential will undergo a programme suitability assessment review. This stage is not solely based on growth potential, but on the likelihood that programme support will accelerate business progress.  

Assessors will consider: 

• Whether the business has a clear and timely growth challenge or opportunity. 

• The alignment between identified needs and programme support offerings. 

• The potential for technology, commercial or investment readiness support to create measurable impact. 

• The applicant’s readiness and commitment to engage with programme activities. 

• The likelihood that support will materially accelerate business growth, commercialisation or investment outcomes.

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Each of the above criterion will be assessed on a scale of 1–5, with assessors considering the strength, credibility and quality of evidence provided as below: 

1 – weak – Target segment and customer problem are vague or unsupported. Customer validation is limited to hypothesis / early conversations. Market value is very small, not established or unsupported.

3 – credible – Target segment and customer are specific; the problem and its value are understood. There is evidence of an external customer trial/pilot underway or completed (or equivalent strong commitment). The realistically addressable market is large enough to support material growth and the estimate has a credible basis.

5 – Compelling – The company has a clear position in a substantial market, quantified customer value and strong evidence of customer pull. Multiple paying customers, repeat demand or equivalent adoption evidence supports the opportunity, with a well-evidenced route to a meaningful share of the market.

Scores 2 and 4 are used when the evidence falls materially between the adjacent anchors.

Final Cohort Selection 

Final selection will be made from the highest-scoring and most suitable businesses. Decisions will balance evidence of high-growth potential with the extent to which programme support can deliver meaningful and timely value to the applicant.

Successful applicants will require a participation commitment including: A 0.5 day needs assessment (December), 2 days per month support sessions (Jan-March), 0.5 days off boarding (End of March): Approximately 7 days minimum. Additional time and support opportunities will be available where business-led activities are identified that align with programme objectives and demonstrate clear value.

This time will be needed to:

• Sign contracts and onboard

• Prepare for and attend the Health Scan

• Attend online masterclasses

• Attend one-to-one office hours support sessions [optional]

• Attend in-person events and travel

Key dates:

• Health Scans – from Monday 07 December 2026 until Friday 11 December 2026 (final date and time to be confirmed with selected companies)

• Online masterclasses – happening over 1-2 days the first week of every month. Each masterclass will be around two hours long for a total of maximum three masterclasses per month (one per focus area)

• In-person events – happening over one day the last week of each month for a maximum of three events across the whole programme

Any travel costs in relation to programme activity will need to be covered by the participating companies themselves.

It’s a mix of both, with mostly online sessions for the masterclasses and one-to-one office hour support, and three in-person events at the end of each month.

During each month there will be an in-person event hosted at one of the three partner Catapults offices, which are located at: 

• Semiconductor Catapult, Newport Innovation Centre, Imperial Park, Celtic Way, Duffryn, Newport, NP10 8BE, United Kingdom. 

• Satellite Applications Catapult, Quad Three, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DF, United Kingdom. 

• Digital Catapult, 101 Euston Road, Euston Road, London, NW1 2RA, United Kingdom.

A maximum of 15 companies.

All participating companies complete a Business Health Scan at the start of the programme. The findings are used to create a tailored growth support plan, meaning companies may receive support from one or more programme modules depending on their specific growth priorities and challenges.

Not necessarily. Support is tailored to the individual needs of each business. Following the Business Health Scan, companies will receive a tailored growth support plan focused on the areas likely to deliver the greatest impact on their growth journey.

Selected cohort companies will receive targeted scale up support from December 2026 until March 2027. After an in-depth baseline evaluation to assess technology maturity, commercial traction, and investment readiness, a team of Catapults’ experts will shape a customised growth plan for each company based on a combination of the below modules:  

Investment Readiness Support 

Description 

This module will support companies to become investment ready and better equipped to secure private finance. Support will be tailored to the maturity, sector and funding requirements of participating businesses, helping them understand investor expectations, strengthen fundraising materials and develop effective engagement strategies. Delivery will combine online masterclass content covering core investment readiness topics with tailored one-to-one support for selected businesses, complemented by access to Cross Catapult investor networks and ecosystem connections. 

Topics covered 

Support may include: 

• Investment readiness assessment and planning: evaluating current investment readiness, identifying key gaps and priorities, and developing tailored action plans to strengthen the company’s position for future fundraising. 

• Fundraising strategy and investor engagement: understanding investor expectations, developing fundraising strategies, strengthening financial models and investment propositions, and improving pitching and engagement approaches. 

• Investor targeting and network development: mapping the investor landscape, identifying and prioritising suitable investors aligned to sector, stage and funding requirements, and building connections through relevant investor networks and engagement opportunities. 

Expected outcomes 

Businesses receiving this targeted module support can expect to develop a clearer understanding of their investment readiness and priority areas for improvement, stronger fundraising materials and a more compelling investment proposition, and greater confidence in engaging with investors. Support will help companies build targeted investor pipelines, strengthen investment engagement strategies and improve their ability to attract and secure private investment. 

The overall aim is to increase investment readiness and provide companies with a stronger platform for successful fundraising and long-term growth. 

Commercial Readiness Support 

Description 

This module will assist companies translate technical innovation into a clear and scalable commercial proposition. Support will be tailored to business maturity and commercial priorities, helping companies strengthen their understanding of their market, customers and route to growth. Delivery will combine online masterclass content covering core commercial approaches with tailored one-to-one support for selected businesses, complemented by a dedicated commercial readiness event in the second month bringing together companies, customers, sector specialists and peers. 

Topics covered 

Support may include: 

• Opportunity and positioning: refining the customer problem and value proposition, identifying and prioritising target markets and use cases, sizing market opportunities and understanding competitive positioning. 

• Customer traction and go-to-market: strengthening customer discovery, assessing product market fit and adoption barriers, developing appropriate business models and pricing approaches, and defining routes to market, channels and partnerships. 

• Growth strategy: identifying commercial growth pathways and key inflection points, scaling customer acquisition and delivery, developing strategic partnerships, considering market expansion and internationalisation, and defining commercial milestones and capability requirements. 

Expected outcomes 

Businesses receiving targeted commercial readiness support can expect to develop a clearer view of their priority market opportunities and customers, a stronger and better evidenced value proposition, and a more practical approach to achieving customer traction. Support will help companies develop a tailored commercial model and go to market roadmap, identify the partnerships and capabilities required for growth, and establish a sequenced growth plan with clear priorities, milestones and next steps. 

The overall aim is to reduce commercial uncertainty and provide companies with a stronger evidence base and clearer direction for sustainable growth. 

Technology Readiness Support 

Description 

This module will support companies to mature their technologies towards commercially viable products and deployment opportunities. Support will be tailored to individual company requirements, helping businesses assess technology readiness, identify technical risks and evidence gaps, and understand how Catapult facilities and specialist expertise can accelerate development. Delivery will combine tailored technical reviews, Technology Readiness Sprints and specialist consultancy, complemented by access to relevant Catapult facilities where a clear and evidenced requirement is identified. 

Topics covered 

Support may include: 

• Technology readiness assessment and planning: reviewing technology maturity, technical roadmaps, architectures and development plans, identifying key risks, evidence gaps and barriers to commercial deployment. 

• Technical development and specialist support: providing tailored technical consultancy, helping companies prioritise development activities, address critical technical challenges and strengthen product readiness. 

• Facilities access and capability mapping: identifying relevant facilities, testing environments and specialist capabilities across the Catapult network, understanding where requirements can be met, and informing future technical development pathways. 

Expected outcomes 

Businesses receiving this targeted module support can expect to develop a clearer understanding of their technology readiness and technical development priorities, stronger evidence to support product maturation and commercial deployment, and greater visibility of specialist facilities and expertise available across the Catapult network. Support will help companies identify critical technical actions, address priority risks and requirements, and establish a practical roadmap for progressing towards market-ready products.   

The overall aim is to reduce technical uncertainty and provide companies with a stronger evidence base and clearer direction for successful technology development and commercialisation.

Alongside specialist support, participants will join a cohort of ambitious advanced connectivity businesses. Monthly cohort events create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing, collaboration and potential commercial partnerships.

Yes, companies who haven’t received support yet are encouraged to apply, but you will be eligible even if you have already received Innovate UK support in the past.

Please contact the team on [email protected] if you have any questions about the programme or the application process.