Clean Futures Accelerator Opens New Round for West Midlands SMEs Driving Net Zero Transport Innovation

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 35 seconds

Investment

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Quick Read: SMEs in the West Midlands can now apply for funding and support through the Clean Futures Accelerator to develop and trial net zero transport technologies, with £300,000 available for green innovation projects.

West Midlands-based SMEs are being invited to apply for funding and expert support to develop and trial clean transport solutions through the latest round of the Clean Futures Accelerator, launched by Connected Places Catapult.

The programme, delivered in partnership with Coventry University, is part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator and is supported by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Over the last two years, the Accelerator has helped regional innovators raise over £125 million in co-investment and create more than 50 new jobs, marking it as a key driver of clean tech growth in the region.

Funding Opportunities for Net Zero Innovation

The new call is open to SMEs based in the West Midlands working on innovations in:

- Net zero manufacturing
- Future fuels
- Clean energy conversion
- Circular economy applications

Applicants must be ready to trial their innovations and provide 100% in-kind match funding. Selected projects could receive between £10,000 and £50,000, with £300,000 in total funding available across 10 successful businesses.

Participants will receive:

- Technical support from Coventry University’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
- Commercial guidance from Connected Places Catapult
- Access to specialist facilities, industry mentors, and networking opportunities
- Engagement with the Clean Futures Industry and Investor Board

Building a Greener Transport Future

Previous programme successes include:

- Global Nano Network, which built a digital twin of its battery production process
- ChangeMaker3D, which enhanced its 3D printing for sustainable infrastructure
- BoxTube, which prototyped a rapid-loading freight system for rail transport

Leaders from the project partners praised the Accelerator’s impact:

Sarah Windrum, Deputy Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board:

This programme gives pioneering businesses the platform, funding, and expert support they need to develop and test cutting-edge green technologies.

Erika Lewis, CEO of Connected Places Catapult:

The West Midlands is one of the UK’s manufacturing heartlands. If you have an idea that can make transport greener, I encourage you to apply.

Professor Marcos Kauffman, Coventry University:

Our goal is to accelerate the West Midlands toward net-zero transport while creating skilled local jobs and economic growth.

Applications are now open. For full eligibility and application details, SMEs can visit the Connected Places Catapult website.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun