Connected Places Catapult

Connected Places Catapult, formerly known as the Future Cities Catapult, is an innovation accelerator and research organization based in the UK. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions and technologies in cities, transport, and places to drive economic growth, sustainability, and improved quality of life.

Catapult focuses on connecting businesses, public sector leaders, and researchers to foster collaboration and spark innovation. It provides "innovation as a service" to public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers, catalyzing step-change improvements in the way people live, work, and travel.

Connected Places Catapult, formerly known as the Future Cities Catapult, was established in 2013 as part of the UK government's innovation agency network. The Catapult program was created with the aim of accelerating the development and adoption of innovative technologies and solutions to address societal challenges and drive economic growth.

The Catapult initiative was launched by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, and it established a network of Catapult centres across various sectors to support innovation and collaboration. The Future Cities Catapult was one of the first centres to be established, focusing specifically on urban innovation and the development of smart cities.

The Future Cities Catapult began its operations in 2013, based in London. It brought together experts from various fields, including urban planning, architecture, transport, technology, and data science. The centre aimed to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and government, fostering collaboration and innovation to create smarter and more sustainable cities.

Over the years, the Future Cities Catapult worked on numerous projects, collaborating with businesses, local authorities, research institutions, and other stakeholders to develop and test innovative solutions. The centre provided support and expertise in areas such as data analytics, digital technologies, urban design, mobility, and energy efficiency, among others.

In 2019, the Future Cities Catapult rebranded and became the Connected Places Catapult to reflect its expanded focus beyond cities and into broader areas of transport and place leadership. This strategic shift allowed the organization to address a wider range of challenges and opportunities related to transportation systems, infrastructure, and the built environment.

As Connected Places Catapult, the organization continued to work towards its mission of driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and accelerating the adoption of transformative technologies in cities, transport, and places. Through its initiatives, partnerships, and services, the Catapult has been actively involved in shaping the future of urban environments, and transportation systems, and placing leadership in the UK and beyond.

The goals and purpose of Connected Places Catapult are centred around driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and creating a positive impact in cities, transport, and places. Here are the key goals and purpose of the Catapult:

• Accelerate Innovation: The Catapult aims to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative solutions and technologies in areas such as urban design, transportation, and the built environment. It provides support, expertise, and resources to businesses, public sector leaders, and infrastructure providers to catalyze innovation and drive positive change.
• Improve Quality of Life: The Catapult strives to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities by creating connected places that thrive. It focuses on understanding and addressing the needs of people, designing for enhanced experiences, and leveraging technology and data to enhance urban environments and mobility systems.
• Drive Economic Growth: The Catapult's purpose is to stimulate economic growth by fostering innovation and creating new markets. By connecting businesses with cutting-edge research, technology demonstrators, and SME accelerators, the Catapult aims to drive growth, spread prosperity, and create opportunities for businesses to thrive and succeed.
• Promote Sustainability: Sustainability is a key pillar of Catapult's goals and purpose. It actively promotes initiatives and solutions that contribute to carbon reduction, climate action, and resilience. By convening markets and advocating for the adoption of sustainable technologies, the Catapult seeks to support the transition towards more sustainable and resilient cities and transport systems.
• Foster Collaboration and Partnerships: The Catapult recognizes the power of collaboration and partnerships in driving innovation and achieving impact. It actively works in partnership with public bodies, businesses, research institutions, and other stakeholders across the UK and internationally. By leveraging collective expertise and resources, Catapult aims to create a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates innovation and creates shared value.

Overall, Connected Places Catapult's goals and purpose revolve around accelerating innovation, improving quality of life, driving economic growth, promoting sustainability, and fostering collaboration. By focusing on these objectives, the Catapult aims to create positive and transformative changes in cities, transport, and places for the benefit of individuals, communities, and the wider society.

Connected Places Catapult has made a significant impact in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and creating positive change in cities, transport, and places. Here are some examples of the impact achieved by the Catapult:

• Innovation and Market Growth: The Catapult has supported numerous innovative projects and initiatives, leading to the development of new products, services, and solutions. By connecting businesses with cutting-edge research, technology demonstrators, and accelerators, the Catapult has helped scale up innovative ideas and technologies, driving market growth and creating new business opportunities.
• Improved Urban Environments: Through its focus on human-centred design and understanding people's needs, the Catapult has contributed to the creation of improved urban environments. By leveraging emerging technologies and data-driven insights, the Catapult has supported the development of smart cities, enhancing urban planning, mobility, infrastructure, and sustainability.
• Sustainable and Resilient Solutions: The Catapult has played a crucial role in promoting sustainability and resilience in cities and transport systems. By convening markets and advocating for the adoption of sustainable technologies, the Catapult has supported the transition towards low-carbon and resilient urban environments. This includes initiatives related to climate action, carbon reduction, energy efficiency, and the development of resilient infrastructure.
• Collaboration and Ecosystem Building: The Catapult has fostered collaboration and partnerships between various stakeholders, including businesses, public sector leaders, research institutions, and communities. By creating a collaborative ecosystem, the Catapult has facilitated knowledge sharing, innovation exchange, and co-creation, leading to the development of integrated and holistic solutions that address complex urban challenges.
• Economic Growth and Job Creation: Through its support for innovation, the Catapult has contributed to economic growth and job creation. By helping businesses scale up and enter new markets, the Catapult has stimulated economic activity and created employment opportunities in the areas of technology, infrastructure development, and urban services.
• Policy Influence: The Catapult has influenced policy and decision-making processes related to cities, transport, and places. Through its research, expertise, and collaborations, the Catapult has provided valuable insights and recommendations to inform policy development, leading to more informed and effective decision-making at the local, regional, and national levels.

Connected Places Catapult has made a significant impact by driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and creating positive change in cities, transport, and places. Through its initiatives, partnerships, and thought leadership, the Catapult continues to shape the future of urban environments, and transportation systems, and place leadership for the benefit of society and the economy.