Deadline: 13 October 2024
The High Speed 2 Limited (HS2), supported by Connected Places Catapult and in partnership with the Department for Transport, has launched its search for six small businesses to develop new technology business cases and funded pilot projects for the rail scheme.
The HS2 Accelerator has supported 31 small businesses which have collectively secured 24 pilot projects across HS2 – with more to be expected in the upcoming months from their sixth cohort. These businesses have raised over £220 million in investment & funding, and more than doubled their team headcount since participating – creating over 430 new jobs for the UK. The six successful SMEs will be accelerated through a bespoke 20-week programme involving:
- Project scoping workshops with domain experts and challenge owners from within HS2, the Department for Transport, and the wider industry.
- Business case development with support from HS2 innovation managers and programme mentors.
- Investment readiness support including opportunities to meet investors and coaching on raising investment and refining investment and financing strategies.
- Bespoke business coaching from a consortium of mentors and technical experts with specialisms in areas including marketing & branding, product development and commercial strategy.
Benefits
- The Programme has the following benefits:
- Small Businesses
- Bolster credibility &recognition
- Explore commercial project opportunities with HS2 and wider industry
- Unlock innovation funding for proof-of-concept projects
- Build new use-cases and bolster product-market fit
- Access to industry-specific tech investors
- High Speed 2 (HS2)
- Support strategic goals &innovation legacy
- Enhance project agility and derisk decision-making
- Save cost and carbon from project baseline
- Future-proofing
- Wider Industry
- De-risk innovative technologies and use-cases
- Collaborate on innovation projects to share learnings and value-add
- Catalyse industry step-change
- Attract new talent and new skills from future generation
- Economy
- Cultivate entrepreneurship & innovation
- Create new jobs for future generations
- Influence policy-making to support new ways of working and emerging technologies
- Small Businesses
Programme Challenges
- Automating Asset Management
- How can they identify, monitor and manage the condition of rail assets?
- How can they ensure the integrity and accuracy of asset condition data throughout its lifecycle?
- Future-proofing Operations
- How can they detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities and safeguard critical rail systems (such as signalling, telecoms, controls etc) from cyber threats?
- How can they identify, monitor and prevent hazards, obstructions, unauthorised access, and trespassing in real-time?
- Maximising Site Productivity
- How can they automate on-site installation and fit-out (including civils, stations and rail systems) to improve productivity and reduce risk?
What’s on offer to SMEs?
- Project Scoping Workshops
- Business Case Development
- Bespoke Coaching & Mentoring
- Funded Project Opportunities
- Industry Events & Showcase Opportunities
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible, applicants must be:
- A micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).
- Headquartered or based within the UK or Europe.
- Committed to attend in-person project scoping workshops, engagement activities, and programme events with sponsors and stakeholders across HS2 and supply chain.
- Solutions must have a Technology Readiness Level of at least TRL 5. This means that the solution has been tested or demonstrated in its intended environment.
For more information, visit Connected Places Catapult.
