Catapults are part of a nationwide network of technology and innovation centres established and overseen by Innovate UK. Each Catapult focuses on an opportunity where the UK has genuine potential to generate sustainable jobs and growth in strategically important global markets.
Their aim is to transform the UK’s ability to create new products and services by taking an integrated approach to:
- Bridging the gap between businesses, academia, research and government
- Reducing the risk of innovation and accelerating the pace of business development
- Developing the UK’s skills and knowledge base and its global competitiveness
The Catapult Network operates facilities worth over £1 billion across the UK with around 4,700 employees in 2020. Between 2013 and 2020 Catapults supported over: 8,300 SMEs; 14,700 industry collaborations; 5,100 academic collaborations; and 1,200 international projects.
Catapults offer unique, world-class facilities and expertise that enable small, medium and large businesses to solve key problems from developing new products, processes and services, to scaling up and realising commercial success.
Catapults work collaboratively with the UK research base to promote knowledge exchange and exploitation of early-stage discoveries. They support local and national supply chains, charities, service providers, and end-users to drive innovation.
The network consists of nine Catapults located across the UK:
- Cell and Gene Therapy – London, Stevenage and Braintree in Essex
- Connected Places – London and Milton Keynes
- Compound Semiconductor Applications – South Wales
- Digital – London
- Energy Systems – Birmingham and Derby
- High Value Manufacturing – comprised of seven manufacturing centres throughout the UK
- Centre for Process Innovation
- Advanced Forming Research Centre
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- Manufacturing Technology Centre
- Warwick Manufacturing Group
- National Composites Centre
- Medicines Discovery – Alderley Park in Cheshire
- Offshore Renewable Energy – Glasgow, Blyth and Levenmouth
- Satellite Applications – Harwell in Oxfordshire