Digital Catapult is the UK innovation agency for advanced digital technology, developed in conjunction with Innovate UK (former Technology Strategy Board) as part of the Catapult centres. Digital Catapult works with startups, industries, investors, public sector and academia to accelerates the adoption of new and emerging technologies, with the aim of driving regional, national and international growth for UK businesses across the economy.
| Company type | Non profit |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 230+ (2022) |
| Website | www.digicatapult.org.uk |
Chief executives
editNeil Crockett was Digital Catapult's founding CEO, serving from January 2013 to June 2016.
He was succeeded by Jeremy Silver in June 2016, who served as chief executive officer for three years.[1]
The current CEO is Susan Bowen, who took over from Silver in March 2024.[2]
Function
editDigital Catapult focuses on how digital technologies are applied in areas including supply chains, digital infrastructure and cyber-physical systems, acting in a similar way to a business incubator. It's technology expertise includes artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, distributed systems, immersive technology (AR, VR), telecommunications (5G), quantum computing and the Internet of things.
It offers organisations accelerator programmes, consultancy, collaborative research & development, and the setup and operation of testbed facilities.
Locations
editDigital Catapult has centres supporting regions across the UK, based in London, Sunderland, Belfast and Bristol.
London
editDigital Catapult[3] is located in the London Borough of Camden, at 101 Euston Road, opposite the British Library and close to St Pancras railway station.
North East Tees Valley
editDigital Catapult NETV[4] is based out of Sunderland in North East England, and runs the NETV Immersive Lab[5] at PROTO[6] in Gateshead.
Northern Ireland
editDigital Catapult Northern Ireland[7] is in the Ormeau Baths Gallery in Belfast.
South West
editDigital Catapult South West[8] is located in Cathedral Square[9] near the centre of Bristol.
Testbeds and labs
editDigital catapult has set up a number of testbed facilities across the UK where organisations can experiment with digital technologies, including:
Advanced Media Production facility
editOperated with Target3D, a space for exploring the evolution of media production, using AI, 5G, cloud rendering and edge computing.
Immersive labs
editLabs based in Belfast, Gateshead and London that offer augmented and virtual reality equipment to businesses of all sizes, academia and researchers.
SONIC Labs
editA collaboration between Digital Catapult and Ofcom that offers Open RAN interoperability testing.[10]
See also
edit- British Automation and Robot Association
- Innovation and Networks Executive Agency of the EU
- National Centre for Computing Education at the University of York
- Tech Partnership, former e-skills UK, a sector skills council for the digital industry
References
edit- ^ "Digital Catapult CEO to step down - Digital Catapult". Digital catapult - The UK authority on advanced digital technology. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Scammell, Robert (15 December 2023). "Digital Catapult appoints Susan Bowen as CEO - UKTN". UKTN. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Digital Catapult London
- ^ Digital Catapult NETV
- ^ Immersive labs
- ^ PROTO
- ^ Digital Catapult Northern Ireland
- ^ Digital Catapult South West
- ^ Digital Adoption
- ^ SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC) Labs