Knowledge Centre

Regional clusters are powerful catalysts for collaboration, connecting organisations, expertise and capabilities. This is particularly important in Defence & Security, as demonstrated by a recent event in South Central England.

Battery Futures is a thought leadership series from the Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network. Drawing on discussions from the Cross-Sector Battery Showcase and wider industry engagement, each article explores one of the key themes shaping the future of the UK’s battery ecosystem.

In the first article of this series, we explored how the UK’s battery opportunity extends far beyond automotive. We highlighted the growing importance of batteries across defence, aerospace, rail, maritime, energy systems, and the built environment. Whilst these opportunities are significant, a recurring theme emerged throughout the Cross-Sector Battery Showcase: innovation alone is not enough.

Innovate UK is welcoming a new cohort of business fellows to the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) programme, supporting ambitious innovators to develop bold ideas with the potential to create lasting impact.

The experiences of Polysolar and SugaROx demonstrate how the Global Incubator Programme can accelerate market entry, reduce risk and create tangible commercial opportunities for innovative UK companies.