The Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator sits at the heart of the Made Smarter Innovation mission, funded by Innovate UK and UKRI. The Sustainability Accelerator will enable UK manufacturers to address current industrial challenges that deliver resource and energy efficiency (REEE).

Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator is a 9-month programme with two phase selection and support, and a midpoint development review to down-select the companies for phase 2 of the programme.

Phase one – innovation community onboarding and prototype development
From February 2024 we’ll put out an open call to the innovative technology community. Following judging and contracting, 8 applicant teams will be selected to each receive £75,000 funding and the opportunity and support to develop prototypes that will pivot industry challenges.

Successful applicants, from across the technology stack, will work directly with the industrial sponsors and Digital Catapult experts to develop their leading solutions from June to October 2024.

During this phase successful applicants will gain access to focused workshops, facilities and mentorship that will complement and aid the funding to develop prototypes for industrial sponsors. We’ll present the final prototypes at the Midpoint Development Review, currently scheduled for the week commencing the 14th October 2024.

Phase two – further prototype development within a pilot environment and final showcase
On successful completion of phase one and the development of prototypes, the programme will select up to 4 applicant teams for further funding of £100,000 and support to further develop their solution within a pilot environment. These solutions will be presented and pitched at the final Showcase, currently scheduled for the 19th February 2025.