17.06.20
HS2 launches Innovation Accelerator initiative
HS2 Ltd announced yesterday (16th June) a new initiative of theirs titled ‘Innovation Accelerator.’
This new scheme aims to encourage and develop entrepreneurial ideas that can help drive project efficiencies and create wider long-term economic benefits around the scheme.
Focused around HS2’s three innovation challenges: productivity, the environment, and the circular economy, the launch of the scheme is an outward call for individuals or firms with ideas to help deliver Europe’s largest infrastructure project.
The launch comes with an online portal which can you access here. The portal will be open for a month, after which time HS2 will chose five of the entered ideas to take forward on the scheme. The Accelerator will provide the five winning firms with commercial and technical support and rent-free working space to develop their proposal.
After six months solutions will be presented and pitched to industry investors and HS2’s supply chain, which is made up of thousands of suppliers.
HS2 Head of Innovation, Howard Mitchell, said: “I encourage individuals and firms of all sizes - from start-ups and budding entrepreneurs to established businesses – to go online and share their ideas with HS2.
“The construction of HS2 will show the world the very best of British skills, innovation and ambition. We hope that the Accelerator programme, which is an innovation itself, will both offer new ways of delivering HS2, but also generate new jobs, technology and opportunities.”