These centres will demonstrate how technology and innovation can improve services and quality of life in cities and develop integrated, efficient and sustainable national transport systems. The Technology Strategy Board will work with UK business to establish the centres in the coming months.
The centres join the five Catapults already announced: high value manufacturing, offshore renewable energy, cell therapy, satellite applications and connected digital economy.
An investment of over £50 million has also been committed to stimulate innovation in five areas of research and development where a Catapult centre is not currently the appropriate solution, but which also hold high potential for growth. These areas are photonics, sensor systems, smart grids, resource efficiency and complex systems.
Work will start with UK business and other stakeholders to establish the two new Catapults, starting with a registration of interest phase in April. All Catapults are expected to be fully operational in 2013.
To mark this milestone and give an overview of all the Catapults, an update brochure titled Shaping the network of centres is now available.
Find out more.
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New Catapults announced
3 April 2012
As part of the recent Budget, plans for two further Catapult centres, focusing on future cities and transport systems, were announced. The Future Cities and Transport Systems Catapults will help stimulate economic growth by focusing on innovations that will give UK businesses a technological edge in global markets that could be worth hundreds of billions per year.