Catapult centres are a network of nine organisations set up byInnovate UK, an agency of the British government, to promoteresearch and development (R&D) and to exploit market opportunities.[1][2][3]
Catapult centres promote R&D and innovation through business-led collaboration between scientists, academics, engineers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and Government. They receive grants from public funds but are also expected to seek commercial funding. The first centres were established in 2011.
The Catapults individually receive core grant funding from Innovate UK, approved for a five-year period, with a long-term funding split set out through a "thirds" model, to ensure neutrality and independence. The thirds model was recommended to reduce the Catapults' reliance on any part of the innovation ecosystem, with the ambition set out that one-third of funding comes from core grant funding, one-third comes from commercial funding, and one-third comes from collaborative (public and private) research & development funding.[6]
The centres operate as nine independent, private, not-for-profit businesses, brought together through collaboration, joint projects. As a whole, they are referred to as the Catapult network.[6]
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult – Established in October 2012, headquartered atGuy's Hospital, London and at subsequent locations including Stevenage, Braintree and Edinburgh.
Connected Places Catapult – Established in April 2019 as a result of merger of the Transport Systems and Future Cities Catapults, located in London, Milton Keynes, and Birmingham.[7]
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult – Established in 2016[8] inNewport, South Wales and at subsequent locations including Durham, Bristol and Glasgow.
Digital Catapult – Established in June 2013 inKing's Cross, London and at subsequent locations including North East Tees Valley, Bristol and Belfast.
Energy Systems Catapult[9] – Established in April 2015, headquartered inBirmingham.[10]
High Value Manufacturing Catapult – Established in October 2011; six manufacturing technology and innovation centres:[11]
A seventh centre, the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC),[12] closed in 2024 or 2025; some staff were transferred to theUniversity of Sheffield[13]
The Catapult Network appoints a Chair of the Network every year, chosen from one of the Catapult CEOs. The Chair's role is to represent the collective mission of the nine Catapult centres.
Recent Chairs have included:
Katherine Bennett, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, in 2023.[16]
Matthew Durdy, CEO of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, in 2022.[17][18]
Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO of the Digital Catapult, in 2021.[19][20]
Andrew Jamieson, CEO of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, in 2020.
The Catapult Network has been subject to variousindependent reviews, inquiries and reports since its inception. These have included the following:
In November 2017,Ernst & Young published a report commissioned by the thenDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, following the completion of the first five-year funding cycle of the first centres established. This report made a series of recommendations to encourage Catapult performance and growth.[21]
In February 2021, theScience and Technology Committee (House of Lords) published a report following their inquiry, Catapults: bridging the gap between research and industry. The report statedCatapult Network is an integral part of the UK’s innovation system, and the R&D roadmap envisages a key role for the Catapults in attracting increased private sector R&D investment. and made a series of recommendations toInnovate UK,UKRI and the thenDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to reduce barriers to Catapult impact and maximise Catapults' potential to drive private investment.[22]
In April 2021, the thenDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published a Review of Catapults, confirming that Catapults play an important role in the R&D ecosystem and making 13 recommendations which prioritised greater collaboration between Catapults and an increased role for them in driving equality, diversity and inclusion and skills. This Review was updated in September 2023 to reflect the progress made against the original recommendations.[23]
In August 2018, the Government announced funding totalling £780 million to be provided to several of the centres,[24] over the next five years.[25]
In November 2022, during the Autumn Statement, the Government announced a 35% increase in funding for the nine Catapults, compared to the last 5-year funding cycle, totalling a £1.6 billion investment.[26]
