Catapults
Catapult Network Cell and Gene Therapy Connected Places Digital Energy Systems High Value Manufacturing Medicines Discovery Offshore Renewable Energy Satellite Applications
Search

What is a Catapult?

A network of nine world-leading technology and innovation centres

The UK Catapult centres are independent, not-for-profit technology and innovation centres set up by Innovate UK, on behalf of the UK government, with the headline objective of closing the gap between concept and commercialisation to drive UK economic growth.

Catapults act as industry convenors and thought leaders, bringing together business, academia and government to drive innovation, improve regulation and build markets.

The nine Catapults collectively form the Catapult Network.
Watch Video
Watch Video

UK-wide presence helping businesses commercialise

Catapults are a national R&D capability; a translational infrastructure that provides concentrated expertise, access to cutting-edge equipment and specialist facilities, allowing businesses to develop and test new products and services.

There are nine Catapults with centres spanning over 50 locations across the UK, employing around 5,000 people.

Since 2013, Catapults have worked with around 11,000 businesses across a wide range of sectors, such as manufacturing, space, health, digital, energy, transport, telecoms, the urban environment and many others.

The impact
of Catapults

18,785

Industry collaborations

11,916

SMEs supported

5,560

Academic collaborations

5,130

employees in 2022

£1.4 billion

of research and demonstration facilities under management

1,120

international projects

Supporting business

Catapults helps businesses realise their potential, seize the right opportunities and grow their innovative capability.

Working with national and international partners, Catapults de-risk the commercialisation of new products and services, getting them to market faster.

Whether a business wants to explore and test new product ideas, accelerate their adoption, improve efficiency, make their business operations more sustainable, or investigate market gaps, Catapults have dedicated teams to explore specific needs in detail.

Engaging with academia

Catapults work closely with universities and research institutions to build better connected, collaborative ecosystems.

The aim of Catapults is to encourage wider access to facilities, expertise and infrastructure, exploring every opportunity to maximise collaboration.

Through the Researchers in Residence scheme, researchers can work alongside a Catapult on specific projects or activities in areas of key strategic importance.

Shaping
future skills

What is a Catapult?

Developing skills is key part of a Catapult’s remit and a pressing priority for businesses, who find it difficult to attract the right talent in sufficient numbers.

This is particularly critical in sectors that are at the forefront of innovation, where the availability of skills will help deliver national and global priorities such as Net Zero, health, digitalisation, regional growth and inclusivity.

Catapults help to attract, train and retain talent, and transfer expertise into their sectors through innovation programmes and by supporting the implementation of skills delivery across supply chains.

Catapults also work coherently to map and foresee the future requirements for skills in evolving industries.

“The Catapult Network is a really important part of the UK’s innovation ecosystem. The talent, the skills, the connections that we have already built up with and through the Catapult Network are extremely important assets for the UK.”

Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK

“The Catapult Network has an important role to play in the UK’s post-pandemic recovery. Bringing together researchers and innovators from across the public and private sectors is vital to our efforts to support a dynamic and vibrant economy in which new ideas, products and services flourish.”

Ottoline Leyser, CEO of UKRI

Case studies

UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN)
26/07/2022

UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN)

Live projects | Academic collaboration | Cross Catapult | Identifying new market opportunities | Skills | Technology acceleration Find out more
Energy Efficient Networks
26/04/2024

Energy Efficient Networks

Case studies | Completed Projects | Cross Catapult | Identifying new market opportunities Find out more

Get in touch  

To explore how we can work together, get in touch with a member of our team today. 

Contact us