In a world where sustainability is paramount, the UK government has set a clear target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This ambitious commitment underscores the need for transformative change across industries, especially in manufacturing.

The Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator was a national programme, designed to enable UK manufacturers to fast forward their adoption of digital solutions that deliver resource efficiency and energy efficiency (REEE).

Funded by the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge and Innovate UK, the programme was led and delivered by Digital Catapult, designed to accelerate sustainable manufacturing and leverage cutting-edge technologies to drive environmental impact.

By joining this programme, participants had the opportunity to be at the forefront of driving digital innovation and helping to transform the UK manufacturing industry into a sustainable powerhouse.

Four companies developed solutions for Industry Challenge Owners BAE Systems and HS2, to reduce waste, optimise energy and improve efficiency through deep tech prototypes. Participants benefited from grant funding, business expertise, group learning, technical monitoring and investment readiness support. The programme culminated in a showcase event where the companies presented their solutions to a room of industry leaders and investors.