Makers say COVID-19 has made them more open to innovation

The research revealed that the key barriers for accessing these benefits include lack of budget – particularly pertinent in light of the economic impacts of the pandemic – with 40% of respondents saying it is stopping them investing. This was closely followed by cyber security concerns (32%) and a lack of skills within the company (30%). 

To help manufacturers overcome these hurdles, as well as fast-forward and shape the UK’s technology innovation directly into industry, the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator empowers established manufacturers to join forces with innovative technology startups and scaleups to develop technology prototypes and minimum viable products in order to drive productivity, digitalisation and innovation and ultimately push forward the fourth industrial revolution for the UK manufacturing sector. 

Today Digital Catapult has announced the seven industry partners which have partnered with the match-funded Made Smarter Technology Accelerator programme and have set 14 challenges for the technology companies to respond to. The seven Industry Challenge Owners and their unique challenges are: 

• Babcock International Group: Warrior base overhaul and Digital shipbuilding
• BAE Systems: Scalable artificial intelligence for visual inspection and Dynamic workflow management
• GAF: Asphalt material characterisation and Machine vision systems for product conformance and machine condition
• Northumbrian Water: Sewer blockages smart Porcupine and Water network monitoring and real time analysis
• O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited: Product customisation – intelligent verification and Automation of production
• Safran Landing Systems: Adaptive scheduling and performance monitoring and Implementation of SPC on all test rigs in the assembly shop
• Sainsbury's: Microbial control in ready to eat foods and Increasing shelf life and sell through of products while reducing waste

The successful startup and scaleup applicants selected to respond will be provided with up to £20,000 funding each and a platform to grow as they develop prototypes to address these challenges. In return for both match-funded financial and in-kind contributions, partners will gain direct access to the outputs and learnings of the programme as well as have proof of concepts developed for challenges they set.  

Those in the digital technology innovation community can register to join the programme – and the UK’s manufacturers can stay up to date –via www.madesmartertech.uk.  Applications for startups close 07 February 2021.