E2E 100 Feminine: Digital Catapult’s drive for progress and tech progress

Susan Bowen, Chief Govt Officer, Digital Catapult

Digital Catapult performs a vital position in accelerating innovation for UK companies. Are you able to share the story behind its founding and the important thing milestones which have formed its progress?

“Digital Catapult is an innovation organisation targeted on the sensible utility of deep tech in business. We play an necessary position in bridging the hole between academia, business, and authorities, guaranteeing that deep tech improvements translate into real-world impression. Up to now 5 years, we now have helped 174 startups scale, facilitated £555 million in funding, engaged with greater than 3,000 companies, and delivered over 300 tasks and programmes, all geared toward accelerating the commercial adoption of recent applied sciences.

“With a dedication to offering companies with entry to cutting-edge testbeds, innovation programmes, and investment-readiness assist, we now have expanded our nationwide footprint, opening 20 amenities throughout the UK. This contains, alongside our London operation, our centres of excellence in Belfast and Gateshead, with a hub within the Southwest of England as a part of the College of Bristol Temple Quarter. In spring 2025, we are going to launch the UK Digital Twin Centre in Northern Eire. As a part of our future ambitions, we stay targeted on deepening business engagement, scaling the sensible utility of deep tech, and strengthening the UK’s place as a world chief in digital innovation.”

How has Digital Catapult developed to maintain tempo with the quickly altering tech panorama?

“We’ve frequently developed as an organisation by horizon scanning to determine rising tendencies, figuring out key challenges, and adapting our focus to the place intervention is most wanted. As deep tech innovation accelerates, we now have expanded our efforts to allow deep tech firms to scale, advance industrial decarbonisation, strengthen provide chain resilience, and develop open and future networks. Our method has shifted to unlocking alternative by means of large-scale testbeds, investment-readiness programmes, and collaborative R&D, with over £270 million secured in joint funding. By refining our experience, increasing our nationwide footprint, and deepening business partnerships, we make sure that companies are outfitted not simply to maintain up with technological shifts however to steer in a extra digital world.”

With over 25 years within the tech sector, what drew you to Digital Catapult, and the way has your management fashion developed since taking up the position of CEO?

“What drew me to Digital Catapult was its distinctive method to co-creating innovation. I used to be excited by the chance to deliver collectively numerous industries with academia and authorities, to make sure that deep tech options not solely get developed however are deployed the place they will drive impression. Since taking up the position of CEO one yr in the past, my management fashion has developed to give attention to understanding market wants, leveraging experience throughout our organisation, and figuring out key areas the place we will take advantage of vital impression. For me, management is about fostering collaboration and co-creating options that unlock the total potential of deep tech, and I’m happy with the impression we’re having in driving this ahead.”

As a frontrunner within the tech and innovation sectors, do you’re taking inspiration from different enterprise leaders—both inside the business or past? Are there any explicit management philosophies or position fashions which have influenced your method?

“As a frontrunner within the tech and innovation sectors, I draw inspiration from position fashions who prioritise adaptability and a people-first mindset. In an atmosphere the place change is fixed, flexibility is crucial for each group engagement and enterprise progress. A powerful sense of group inside an organisation is important, the place collaboration is inspired, and all voices are valued. I’m additionally impressed by leaders who exhibit resilience, modelling the behaviour they want to see in others, and remaining dedicated to their groups, significantly throughout unsure instances. I additionally consider that it’s important to stay your genuine self. This philosophy shapes my method at Digital Catapult, the place we give attention to empowering startups, fostering innovation, and guaranteeing that the folks behind the applied sciences stay on the coronary heart of our efforts.”

How do you see AI and rising applied sciences remodeling the best way companies function over the subsequent 5 years?

“AI is about to contribute £9.1 billion yearly to the UK economic system, which is testomony to its skill to decarbonise operations, improve industrial provide chain resilience and optimise workflows. Sure sectors nonetheless, akin to development, the inventive industries, transport, and agriculture are falling behind of their adoption of deep tech, risking their skill to remain aggressive within the digital economic system. Because of this, many will battle to enhance their operational effectivity and tackle evolving market wants, and this is the reason intervention by means of focused innovation and accelerator programmes just like the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme can be key to assembly the calls for of the UK’s Industrial Technique.”

Many SMEs battle with integrating superior applied sciences into their companies. How does Digital Catapult assist them in bridging this hole?

“Because it stands, the UK’s connectivity and compute hole stays a serious problem for SMEs, significantly in regional areas. Northern Eire, nonetheless, serves as a microclimate for innovation, with initiatives just like the Good Nano NI programme, Tenfold Accelerator Programme and the 5G testbed in Derry Londonderry, highlighting the worth of interventions that assist native SMEs. Digital Catapult has demonstrated the type of intervention wanted to nurture regional innovation clusters throughout the UK, paving the best way for additional focused investments, such because the UK Digital Twin Centre. By fostering regional hubs and investing in infrastructure, Digital Catapult permits deep tech SMEs to scale, compete globally, and drive digital transformation nationwide.”

What are the largest obstacles to digital transformation within the UK, and the way is Digital Catapult working to beat them?

“One of many largest obstacles to digital transformation within the UK is the shortage of entry to networks for assist and knowledge-sharing, making Digital Catapult’s convening of capabilities a high precedence. Many companies battle to grasp easy methods to undertake new applied sciences, and that is the place collaboration and co-creation between business leaders, educational establishments, and startups drives worth. Extra strategic partnerships are obligatory nonetheless to additional overcome the obstacles to adoption, significantly in sectors just like the inventive industries. By providing bespoke information and software program companies, platform engineering amenities, expertise and innovation consultancy, and accelerator programmes, our focus is on guaranteeing that firms throughout the UK, no matter area, have the instruments, infrastructure, and connections to compete on a world scale.”

What are Digital Catapult’s key objectives for the longer term, and the way do you see its position evolving?

“Digital Catapult’s future is one among steady evolution, adapting to market challenges and shifting sector priorities to make sure the UK stays on the forefront of deep tech innovation. As a strategic supply companion and a trusted business collaborator, we’re dedicated to scaling our impression, and increasing our capabilities in AI, 5G, quantum, immersive applied sciences, and past. By strengthening our position as a convening drive, we are going to bridge the hole between cutting-edge analysis and business utility, guaranteeing companies throughout key sectors can harness deep tech to drive productiveness, sustainability, and progress.”