Clean energy business support and incubation services

Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) is a government-sponsored innovation support organisation for energy systems, based in Birmingham and part of a network of technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK. ESC and the University of Birmingham have closely collaborated since 2016 on a range of initiatives including the delivery of the business engagement programme ATETA, which supports the development of SMEs through access to the University and ESC expertise and facilities. Since May 2021, the University has been delivering the HSBC-supported 'Climate Innovation Platform' which aims to co-locate academic and commercial expertise to drive research through to application, and ultimately see energy and circular economy developments realised in the City of Birmingham, West Midlands region, and wider UK.

Within each of 4 annual cycles of the CIP business support programme, ESC is responsible for delivering Step 3 (Business Model Master Class for 13 SMEs) and Step 4 (Business Accelerator for 5 SMEs). Step 3 is an intensive masterclass to walk businesses through a range of business models that they can exploit in terms of commercialisation of their innovation. Step 4 is effectively a business mentoring scheme whereby ESC will help businesses develop both the product and the business.