Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, built environment, and local growth, has launched a call for applications for its new Diatomic Digital Accelerator in the West Midlands. The programme aims to support up to ten SMEs based in the region with innovative digital solutions that address key urban planning and development needs in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
At least five of the selected companies will advance to a trial phase. The accelerator identifies six core challenges that align with planning priorities in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter and Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor. The total funding pool of £100,000 will be used to develop and demonstrate digital use cases that aim to foster a smarter and more sustainable urban future.
The programme, which runs from October 2025 to March 2026, offers successful applicants tailored mentoring, technical guidance, training, and access to partners, investors, and potential customers. Companies will also receive commercial support and benefit from connections fostered through the Connected Places Catapult’s ecosystem. Applications for the accelerator close on 31 August 2025.
The six thematic challenges of the programme include improving urban mobility and last-mile transport connectivity in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter through digital twin technologies, and optimising land use and underground infrastructure mapping for faster planning and development. Further focus areas include enhancing digital connectivity infrastructure, building optimisation for sustainability on Aston University’s campus, AI-driven planning tools to streamline housing development in Wolverhampton, and innovative modelling of renewable energy systems to support long-term sustainability goals.
