Plug and Play partners with JLR and TechWM to offer innovators the chance to win investment with Global Innovation Challenge

By JLR x Plug and Play x TechWM

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Quick Read: Plug and Play, JLR, and TechWM have launched the JLR Global Innovation Challenge, inviting innovators worldwide to propose sustainable automotive solutions with a chance to win up to £50,000 and collaborate with industry experts.

Plug and Play in collaboration with JLR and TechWM, has announced the launch of the JLR Global Innovation Challenge, an initiative aimed at driving and supporting sustainable solutions within the automotive industry.

This challenge invites startups, scaleups, SMEs, academia, and other innovators worldwide to propose groundbreaking ideas that align with JLR's sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design.

Successful winners will gain opportunities for strategic funding, collaboration with JLR experts, and significant industry exposure. The finalists will receive prizes of £50,000 for the winner and two prizes of £20,000 for the second and third runner-ups.

The challenge, which seeks innovations that demonstrate environmental and societal impact, technological feasibility, and scalability, calls for applications building under the following themes: Circular Economy, Decarbonisation and Net Zero, Sustainable Mobility, and ESG.

Photo: Kieran Borrett, Andrea Debbane, Yiannis Maos MB

“Technology and business model innovation, enabled through collaboration is the only way we can create a sustainable world for generations to come. This challenge is an important example of a globally recognized brand, opening up and committing to collaboration with innovation partners. We are proud to be working with JLR and TechWM.”

Andrea Debbane, Director of Sustainability at JLR:

“This innovation challenge means more than just groundbreaking solutions – it signifies a profound step towards a future where sustainability is at the forefront of our industry. We invite you to join us, and together we can pioneer sustainable solutions that shape a brighter and greener tomorrow for generations to come.”

Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM:

“This partnership is a great example of how the West Midlands continues to invest in world-class innovation and entrepreneurship. To have a heritage brand like JLR coming together with Plug and Play and TechWM is a testament to the ambition that we share to lead on the world stage. The region’s rich history has an important part to play in its future, and this collaboration will see inventive solutions brought forward that have the opportunity to change the automotive industry’s approach to sustainability. I’m delighted that TechWM can play its part in support such visionary entrepreneurs.”

JLR Innovation Challenge Applications Now Open

Key Dates:

• June 4, 2024: Applications Open
• July 31, 2024: Applications Close
• October 24, 2024: Pitch Day Event at Birmingham Tech Week

For more information and to apply, visit JLR Innovation Challenge.

About JLR:

JLR’s Reimagine strategy aims to deliver a sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design.

We are transforming our business, targeting carbon net zero across our supply chain, products, and operations by 2039. We have set a roadmap to reduce emissions across our own operations and value chains by 2030 through approved, science-based targets. Electrification is central to this strategy and before the end of the decade our Range Rover, Discovery, Defender collections will each have a pure electric model, while Jaguar will be entirely electric.

At heart we are a British company, with two design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an engine manufacturing centre, and a battery assembly centre in the UK. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria, and Slovakia, as well as seven technology hubs across the globe.

Jaguar Land Rover is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, part of Tata Sons.

About Plug and Play:

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/.

About TechWM:

TechWM is the recognised digital economy agency for the West Midlands, advising on regional tech policy, making recommendations and creating partnerships between the public, private and academic sectors. TechWM connects, aims to raise the profile of the West Midlands tech sector and help local businesses go global. Through a number of carefully crafted scale-up initiatives, cross-network collaboration, and original content, Tech West Midlands helps tech and digital businesses successfully scale by providing them with valuable knowledge, insight, and support.

Since its inception in 2019, the organisation has helped businesses raise over £100 million and inspired thousands of people to get into the tech sector. It has also become known for its most popular showcase event, Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional tech event.

To find out more, visit www.techwm.com.

Contact:
JLR Global Innovation Challenge Team
Email: p.stavrovski@pnptc.com
Website: JLR Innovation Challenge

What's new

Changes at the top of TechWM set to see growth in the West Midlands

TechWM, the leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to driving tech innovation in the West Midlands, has announced a new Chairman alongside the appointment of new board members. Bringing over 40 years of collective industry experience, this board expansion comes as the organisation celebrates significant growth in revenue and ahead of the sixth annual Birmingham Tech Week.

Jason Sahota, a seasoned technology and business leader and Private Equity Advisor, will be taking the role of chairman of the TechWM board. With over 20 years of experience, Jason carries an impressive portfolio of NED and advisory positions that focus on technology start-ups and scale-ups in the West Midlands region.

Jason will replace Kim Leary, who remains on the board having been in the chair position since 2020. Speaking about his appointment, Jason comments:

“There’s no doubting the opportunity that lies ahead for the region’s tech scene. Every year, we go from strength to strength and that is largely down to the vision and strategic direction set by TechWM. Picking up the baton as chair is an incredible honour, and I cannot wait to get started in pushing towards our collective vision of being a recognised global tech superpower by 2030.”

Kim Leary is a founding member of the TechWM board, having joined after the first Birmingham Tech Week. She will remain on the board, commenting:

“I stepped into the Chair role at a time when Birmingham Tech Week was in its infancy because I truly believed in its purpose. That was nearly five years ago, and naturally, the time has come for me to step down as chair. However, I will remain a board member because that belief still burns strong, and I know there is more to do.

TechWM has achieved so many successes and has become a vital part of the tech ecosystem here in the West Midlands. However, personally speaking, I am most proud of the role I have played in transitioning the board from being very operational to the diverse and strategic force it is now.

We have a wonderful team in place, and I am confident that the organisation will continue to thrive and make a significant impact in the years to come.”

In addition to Jason’s appointment, TechWM has also welcomed new board members including: the new Vice Chair, Elizabeth Zeddie Lawal, an award-winning creative producer and founder of CreaTech organisation, More Than A Moment; Joanna Birch, Chief Innovation Officer, Woodbourne Group; and, Daniel Campion, co-founder and CEO of Infrastructure SaaS platform, Sitenna.

Bringing over 40 years of combined business and tech experiences, the newly appointed board members offer diverse perspectives and expertise across telecoms, M&A, strategic innovation, cultural industries, and global client relations; enhancing TechWM’s support of the region’s tech community.

This expansion comes at a time when TechWM is celebrating significant growth, with revenue increasing by 78% between July 2023 and July 2024. A new Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact, Victoria Pargetter-Garner, will also be joining the TechWM team, who will play a crucial role in developing the region’s digital talent.

Having worked at the University of Birmingham for over a decade in business engagement roles, being the facilitator between academia and industry for up-skilling and innovation, Victoria comments:

“I’m delighted to be joining the TechWM team on its exciting growth trajectory. The West Midlands motto is ‘making tech succeed in the most human of places’ – this couldn’t be more appropriate than when looking at the digital skills agenda.
Ensuring that we have the right skills base for the short, medium and long term are fundamental to the growth of the region’s burgeoning tech sector, as well as that of the economy more broadly. I’m looking forward to working with employers and education providers to ensure we have the right digital skills to reduce the current skills gap and create a thriving tech ecosystem for the West Midlands.”

Building on its ongoing momentum, including powering the high-profile ‘One to Win’ pitch competition, which will see £1 million reward to the region’s most promising start-up business, and launching a standout Birmingham Tech Week 2024, TechWM is scaling up its operations to accelerate the region’s tech ecosystem to become a Global Tech Superpower by 2030.

By Molly Matthews

9 Sep