The funding — which comes from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) — will enable the two catapults to work alongside industry partners and small businesses, as to drive greater resource efficiency and energy efficiency (REEE) in manufacturing via advanced digital technologies.

As part of the two-year programme, five industry partners are to work with Digital Catapult and HVM Catapult to scope and define two real-world sustainability challenges each. Then, around ten startups will join the programme to brainstorm and trial innovative solutions to address these challenges through digital technology.

Five manufacturing partners, who are to be supported by experts at Digital Catapult and HVM Catapult, will then use the startups’ solutions to help drive down carbon emissions, increase productivity, and cut costs.

The programme comes amid demand for the greening of the manufacturing sector, and to help the industry meet the UK government’s environmental objectives.

As referenced in University College London’s Towards Net Zero in UK Manufacturing report, the manufacturing sector contributes around 12% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions.

With the Climate Change Act, the UK government is committed by law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (net zero) by 2050.

On the new programme, Katherine Bennett CBE, the CEO of HVM Catapult, said: “Without doubt, sustainable manufacturing must be the number one priority for the sector, and the development and integration of new and existing industrial digital technologies is critical to this.

“By bringing together industry heavyweights, technology developers and subject-matter experts to prove-out ideas and develop them rapidly, this programme can find solutions to the biggest challenges facing manufacturers right now.

“Through this, we can deliver a UK manufacturing sector that is resilient, flexible, productive and – vitally – environmentally sustainable.”

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Jeremy Silver, Digital Catapult’s CEO, also commented, saying: “The UK’s vibrant tech startup sector is a deep well of untapped opportunity for manufacturing industries.

“Resource and energy efficiency gains are examples of the ways in which advanced digital technologies – and the innovative startups that use them – support growth and sustainability gains for industry through new products and services that can disrupt traditional approaches.

“Digital Catapult-led programmes such as the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator and the Made Smarter Innovation Digital Supply Chain Hub have already shown how to make smart use of small amounts of public money to drive private investment and create tangible impact in support of both large industrial players and smaller, agile businesses.”