Makers say COVID-19 has made them more open to innovation

New research commissioned by Digital Catapult and the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator reveals that COVID-19 could prove to be a turning point when it comes to UK manufacturers implementing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, the internet of things or 5G, with 77% saying that the pandemic has made their business more open to change and innovation.

Yet, despite recognising such technologies would benefit their manufacturing operations (71%), design and engineering processes (60%) and procurement and supply chain performance (49%), a third (32%) of senior manufacturers have admitted that the UK is behind its international competitors when it comes to adopting advanced technologies.

Learn more about the Technology Accelerator

Navigating this years’ extremely challenging conditions has been tough for manufacturers of all sizes, right across the UK. Digital Catapult is dedicated to working hand in hand with industry and the UK’s vibrant tech startup community, and it’s really encouraging to see so many organisations from the sector seize this opportunity to embrace innovation as an important means of building back better. The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator will make visible how a range of disruptive emerging technologies will really work to benefit early industrial adopters. It will also clarify routes to market for digital innovators. The outcomes from this programme are really positive, we will see new and traditional businesses working together - making enormous savings, significantly improving productivity, developing new business models, boosting exports and delivering on challenging net-zero targets.”
Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO of Digital Catapult

The manufacturing research findings

Support on hand

The research revealed that the key barriers for accessing these benefits include lack of budget – particularly pertinent in light of the economic impacts of the pandemic – with 40% of respondents saying it is stopping them investing. This was closely followed by cyber security concerns (32%) and a lack of skills within the company (30%).

To help manufacturers overcome these hurdles, as well as fast-forward and shape the UK’s technology innovation directly into industry, the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator empowers established manufacturers to join forces with innovative technology startups and scaleups to develop technology prototypes and minimum viable products in order to drive productivity, digitalisation and innovation and ultimately push forward the fourth industrial revolution for the UK manufacturing sector.
7 industry partners announced
Today Digital Catapult has announced the seven industry partners which have partnered with the match-funded Made Smarter Technology Accelerator programme and have set 14 challenges for the technology companies to respond to. The seven Industry Challenge Owners and their unique challenges are:

Babcock International Group: Warrior base overhaul and Digital shipbuilding

BAE Systems: Scalable artificial intelligence for visual inspection and Dynamic workflow management

GAF: Asphalt material characterisation and Machine vision systems for product conformance and machine condition

Northumbrian Water: Sewer blockages smart Porcupine and Water network monitoring and real time analysis

O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited: Product customisation – intelligent verification and Automation of production

Safran Landing Systems: Adaptive scheduling and performance monitoring and Implementation of SPC on all test rigs in the assembly shop

Sainsbury's: Microbial control in ready to eat foods and Increasing shelf life and sell through of products while reducing waste
The funding available to respond to UK manufacturing challenges

The successful startup and scaleup applicants selected to respond will be provided with up to £20,000 funding each and a platform to grow as they develop prototypes to address these challenges. In return for both match-funded financial and in-kind contributions, partners will gain direct access to the outputs and learnings of the programme as well as have proof of concepts developed for challenges they set.
Stay informed

Those in the digital technology innovation community can register to join the programme – and the UK’s manufacturers can stay up to date –via www.madesmartertech.uk. Applications for startups close 07 February 2021.