The MVP will use machine learning to identify defects in manufacturing, improve the quality of the end product, reduce waste and save money.
Four cutting-edge UK technology startups will now have the opportunity to develop minimum viable products (MVPs) to help industry titans digitise and improve their manufacturing processes, after being selected to go through to the final stage of Digital Catapult’s Made Smarter Technology Accelerator Programme.
BAE Systems, Babcock International Group, Safran Landing Systems and Northumbrian Water Group will soon be able to reap the benefits of four industry-changing solutions, as the successful startups - chosen from a total of 14 as part of a competitive pitching process - each receive up to £100,000 funding to develop minimum viable products to be applied for commercial use. Winning concepts include a remote system for monitoring water quality, and an artificial intelligence tool to visually inspect items on the production line, identify defects and improve product quality.
Run by Digital Catapult, in partnership with tech sponsors Verizon Business and Software AG and funded by UKRI, the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator gives Industry Challenge Owners the chance to bring in startup expertise to fuel innovation, boost productivity and accelerate the fourth industrial revolution using advanced digital technologies.
The novel solutions respond to each industry giant’s unique challenge - with predicted benefits including streamlined manufacturing operations, improved product quality assurance, enhanced traceability in the supply chain, reduced emissions and waste, and prevention of unnecessary re-manufacturing.
I’m thrilled that these successful startups and scaleups - whose ideas vary from a water quality monitoring solution to ship hull inspection tools - will now be developing minimum viable products which could one day hit the market and solve very real manufacturing challenges.
Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO of Digital Catapult
As manufacturing begins to bounce back, the Made Smarter Technology programme shows what brilliant things can be achieved when we bring together startups and industry greats to explore the application of advanced digital technologies.
The full list of successful startups going through to MVP stage includes:
What's next?
Many of the remaining startups will continue developing their solutions outside of the programme - including CAE Tech, who have been using tech from the gaming and music sectors to support shipbuilding engineers to collaborate on design in real time.
The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator supports the wider Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge, with its ambition to raise productivity by 30% by 2030.
The successful startups and scaleups will be presenting their industry-changing Minimum Viable Products (MVP) at a final showcase event on 9th December 2021.
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