The Clean Futures Catalyst - helping regional businesses to be at the forefront of the green transport revolution
Friday 01 March 2024
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The Clean Futures Catalyst, led by Coventry University, aims to empower small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region to develop and produce cleaner technologies within the transport sector.
Transport systems stand as significant contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, underscoring the urgent need for innovative solutions to drive sustainability and foster a greener future. Recognising the important role SMEs play in advancing sustainability, the Catalyst will look to equip transport-focused businesses with the tools and support needed for transformative change.
The Catalyst forms part of the wider Clean Futures programme led by Connected Places Catapult, alongside Coventry University and the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation.
Aligned with the West Midlands Plan for Growth, which underpins the region’s commitment to accelerating the ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, Clean Futures is part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator - a locally-led initiative delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The Clean Futures Catalyst will act as a catalyst for change by providing businesses with technical expertise and access to state-of-the-art facilities to catalyse the development of cleantech products and services.
Businesses will gain access to practical support and information, including access to networking events, masterclasses, skills development advice and workshops. The programme will be developed and delivered by experts from industry and academia, who will provide insights into the benefits of implementing greener business operations and information on navigating new legislation and evolving demands within the transport industry as net-zero targets come into play.
The Clean Futures Catalyst is our commitment to using the latest university R&D and industry expertise to support transport businesses to transform their operations for a better, more sustainable future.
Paul Fairburn, Director of Innovation Ecosystem, Coventry University
This initiative not only symbolises our dedication to environmentally friendly practices, but also reflects our vision to strengthen the regional economy.
The West Midlands has a rich heritage of innovation in transport. Through the Clean Futures Catalyst, we hope to provide transport sector businesses in the region with the support they need to be at the heart of the green industrial revolution.
Alex Weedon, Executive Director of SME Development & Academic Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
Les Gill from Global Nano Networks Ltd, one of the SMEs being supported by Clean Futures, spoke at the launch about the impact that the programme is having on his business. He said:
The Catalyst is supporting our business at a very tender stage in its growth. Getting the sustainability right at this stage, is much easier than trying to retrofit it later so the help that we're getting now is setting a roadmap for our future scaling ability.
Les Gill, Chief Operating Officer at Global Nano Networks Ltd
We are working very closely with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) to simulate and digitally capture our processes, enabling us to build a process infrastructure with the lowest possible impact on the environment.
Find out more about the Clean Futures programme and get in touch with the team to register for news and events.
