Coventry University to support second set of green transport innovators to drive sustainability in the West Midlands

The second cohort of cutting-edge small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the potential to revolutionise green transport have been selected to join the Clean Futures accelerator programme.

The 19 selected companies will receive tailored technical and commercial support, alongside funding of up to £50,000, to trial their sustainable transport solutions over the next six months.

Their innovations address key obstacles in the rail and automotive sectors, focusing on clean vehicle manufacturing, transportation infrastructure and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels.

The programme is led by the Connected Places Catapult, in collaboration with Coventry University and the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) and is part of the wider West Midlands Innovation Accelerator.

Last year’s cohort of 20 SMEs secured £2.6 million in contracts and research and development funding, with a further £43 million in the commercial pipeline. Additionally, £1.3 million in private investment was raised, with £27 million expected in future rounds.

This year’s SMEs will have the opportunity to test their technologies, access Coventry University’s state-of-the-art facilities and benefit from industry mentorship to scale their innovations and bring them to market.

As part of the programme, Coventry University plays a pivotal role by providing access to its Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) and the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS). These world-class facilities will support the development of manufacturing techniques and sustainable technologies aimed at accelerating green transport innovations.

Professor Marcos Kauffman, Director of the AME at Coventry University, said:

The Clean Futures accelerator is part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, a government-backed initiative designed to boost the region’s innovation and R&D capabilities, driving commercial growth and investment. The programme is delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK, and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Find out more about the Clean Futures programme.

This year’s selected SMEs are: Aeroforge, Alucast, Composite Braiding Ltd, EnginSoft UK Ltd, Extend Robotics, GBR Rail Ltd, Geospatial Ventures, Grinsty, Integrated Systems Engineering, LiBatt Recycling, MOLE, Moasure, Moonbility, OX Delivers, Raeon Ltd, Taraz Metrology Ltd, Treeva, Unipart Powertrain Applications and Vanguard. Find out more.