Diatomic Projects

Inclusive innovation

The Inclusive Innovation project champions diverse and equitable innovation across the West Midlands, aiming to bridge the gap between underrepresented groups and the region’s innovation ecosystem. This initiative seeks to unlock opportunities for individuals and businesses from marginalized communities, ensuring that innovation benefits all citizens, not just a select few. Key components include dedicated support for innovators from disadvantaged backgrounds, tailored business acceleration services, and partnerships with local authorities to foster inclusive growth.

Through initiatives such as place-based innovation hubs, skills development programs, and mentoring schemes, the project supports entrepreneurs in sectors like green technology, digital services, and manufacturing. It also encourages collaboration between large enterprises, SMEs, and startups to address social inequalities, with a particular focus on health, education, and economic development. By driving inclusive innovation, this project contributes to the region’s overall resilience and prosperity while ensuring that no community is left behind.

Global Connections

The Global Workstream aims to enhance the West Midlands’ capacity for global research and innovation collaborations, attract foreign direct investment, and boost the participation of local companies in international trade. This initiative focuses on elevating the region’s international profile and increasing both exports and imports. Key components include a global accelerator to help West Midlands SMEs access the Indian market, a soft-landing hub for overseas cleantech businesses to establish themselves in the region, and the Innovation Twins project, which fosters cross-sector collaboration between Birmingham (UK) and Ulsan (Republic of Korea).

Additionally, the project involves global benchmarking research to support regional international strategies, outlining international opportunities, and strengthening city-to-city relationships with tangible outcomes. Through these efforts, the Global Workstream seeks to significantly increase imports and exports, benefiting the West Midlands’ economy and its businesses.

UK Accelerator

The DIATOMIC UK accelerator, led by Connected Places Catapult in collaboration with Birmingham City Council and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, supported nine SMEs addressing Birmingham City Council’s housing and waste management challenges. These SMEs focused on Data Insights, Performance, Citizen Engagement and Knowledge Sharing. Their products and services support cities to become cleaner and healthier and provide a better experience for citizens. The SMEs received £368,000 in trial funding as well as bespoke business support, mentoring and showcasing opportunities.

Digital Twin

The Digital Twin project, part of the Diatomic initiative, harnesses cutting-edge digital technologies to create a virtual replica of Birmingham’s urban environment. This digital twin mirrors the city’s physical infrastructure and services, enabling real-time data analysis and simulation to drive smarter decision-making. By integrating vast datasets from multiple sources, including transport, utilities, housing, and public services, the digital twin empowers city planners and policymakers to optimize operations, predict future challenges, and improve the overall quality of life for residents.

Key objectives include enhancing Birmingham’s capacity for sustainable urban development, reducing environmental impact, and improving service delivery. The project facilitates cross-sector collaboration by bringing together local authorities, technology providers, and citizens to co-create solutions that address pressing urban challenges such as traffic congestion, air quality, and energy efficiency. It also enables real-time insights into service performance, ensuring that the city’s resources are allocated more effectively and equitably.