10157691Clean Futures 1 Year ExtensionClosedInvestment AcceleratorInnovate UKClean Futures is supporting the West Midlands' transport sector to be at the heart of the green industrial revolution. As one of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator projects, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, it and exists to enable transport decarbonisation through innovative products being trialled and progressed to market. Connected Places Catapult is leading a consortium alongside BCIMO and Coventry University and to see a continuation of the Clean Futures Accelerator Programme funded between 2023-2025\. The programme is aligned to the West Midlands Plan for Growth and the emerging Local Growth Plan, underpinning the region's commitment to accelerating the 'Green Industrial Revolution'. It adopts a joined-up approach to tackling those challenges by bringing challenge owners together with innovators in the right environment to create growth and jobs over the longer term, as well as providing access to unparalleled knowledge, expertise, facilities and connections to help the region to stay at the cutting edge of the transport sector as we negotiate the transition to net zero. In the first year, the accelerator supported 20 SMEs to develop, trial and showcase their solutions. 16 of these recorded a progression in technology readiness level (TRL). This has resulted in £29m of secured co-investment, with over £17m of private investment and over £50m of aggregated contract values pending. 38 jobs have also been created and 10 patents are in progress.?The second year's cohort of innovators is due to showcase their solutions in Feb 2025\. The multifaceted programme is based around a challenge led accelerator. The challenges in the accelerator are built around the sectors of very light rail and automotive manufacturing, along with related supply chains. The programme in its third year, will supporting 10 SMEs with: * up to £50K each to trial their solutions in the right environments and testing facilities * bespoke business and commercial support to connect the SMEs with the right industry and financial partners.