HS2 Announces Eighth Round of Innovation Accelerator Programme

HS2 Ltd has announced a call for small technology specialists to submit their concepts for the streamlining of delivery of the new railway, improvement of associated productivity and formation of a more cost efficient solution to its implementation.

Introduced in collaboration with the Connected Places Catapult in 2020; HS2’s Innovation Accelerator seeks to open opportunities for start-ups and tech innovations to design and implement solutions that help solve complex challenges.

The programme has thus far led to a number of savings for the project since its inception, created a swathe of jobs and driven investment into 37 small tech firms, who have collectively secured 31 pilot projects across HS2’s development.

Yesterday (24 September 2025) saw the opening of applications for the eighth round of the initiative, which invites companies to deliver concepts to aid with HS2’s overall reset with solutions that will address the improvement of the railway’s value, enhance site visibility and productivity and strengthen safety management.

HS2 Ltd’s Senior Innovation Manager, Jon Kelly, said:

Getting HS2 back on track is our number one priority and this is a unique opportunity for the country’s very best innovators to get on board and help us to achieve our goal.

2025 has been a huge year for the project, with both the longest bridge and longest tunnel reaching completion. There is, however, still a vast amount to do. We must continue exploring new tech and innovative solutions to help us complete major construction milestones quickly, safely and efficiently.

Over 40% of firms that have once worked on HS2’s delivery have now secured work across the supply chain, subsequently raising over 240 million GBP in funding and doubling their own team headcounts, creating over 580 new jobs.

Alan Peters, Rail Director at Connected Places Catapult, said:

Digital technology promises major gains for large rail projects such as HS2, and I am delighted to announce that the eighth iteration of this successful accelerator programme is now open.

Applications for the latest round of the HS2 Innovation Accelerator programme are set to remain open until 31 October 2025, and will see twelve initial finalists reduced to six firms which will be given the opportunity to scale-up their solution into a trial project in collaboration with HS2.