What High Value Manufacturing Catapult does

High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) is an independent not-for-profit research and innovation organisation established in 2011 by Innovate UK to commercialise advanced manufacturing technologies across the United Kingdom. It operates as a federation of six specialist centres — the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) for aerospace and automotive, CPI for industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) for robotics and digital manufacturing, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), the National Composites Centre (NCC), and WMG at the University of Warwick — supported by 3,700+ engineers, scientists and technicians across more than twenty UK locations, with the head office in Birmingham. Its technology footprint spans additive manufacturing, biomanufacturing, composites, digital manufacturing (digital twins and cyber-physical systems), robotics and automation, advanced materials, joining engineering, near-net-shape forming, subtractive manufacturing and assurance, delivered through nine technology capability roadmaps.

The business model is funded primarily through Innovate UK and UK Government grants, supplemented by industry co-funded collaborative R&D contracts. Engagement begins with no-charge exploratory consultations, after which projects are scoped and priced to match client ambition and available funds, with the organisation facilitating connections to additional Innovate UK funding streams. Customers range from SMEs (over 3,000 transformed annually) to large multinationals such as Airbus and LISI Aerospace, alongside government departments, the Ministry of Defence, and academic partners. Recent strategic priorities include clean energy transition (offshore wind, hydrogen, nuclear), healthy living, national security, industrial sustainability, and AI and digitalisation, with the latter anchored by the national AI Champion role held by the HVM Catapult CTO.

Name

High Value Manufacturing Catapult

Legal name

High Value Manufacturing Catapult

Website

https://hvm.catapult.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

High Value Manufacturing Catapult is a UK government-backed not-for-profit R&D organisation, operating a national network of six advanced manufacturing centres serving SMEs, multinational manufacturers, government and academia with technology expertise in additive manufacturing, composites, robotics, AI and industrial sustainability.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding / Government Grants: HVM Catapult is an independent not-for-profit private organisation established by Innovate UK. Funding comes from government to support UK manufacturing innovation. Centres help businesses transform products, processes and workforce skills with no charges for initial exploratory conversations.
2. Industry Collaboration: Projects are scaled and shaped to match client ambition and available funds. They facilitate connections to additional funding bodies including Innovate UK for businesses requiring funding to develop innovative products or services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) operates a UK-wide network of six specialist manufacturing technology centres that deliver collaborative research, development, and innovation services. It helps manufacturers—particularly SMEs—develop, test, scale, and adopt advanced manufacturing technologies across areas such as additive manufacturing, composites, digital manufacturing, biomanufacturing, and industrial biotechnology. The organisation was established in 2011 by Innovate UK as a not-for-profit private entity.

Product overview

The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult is a strategic research and innovation hub for UK industry, operating as a network of six manufacturing centres that help businesses commercialise advanced manufacturing ideas. The core offering consists of six specialist centres: the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) for aerospace and automotive; CPI for industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals; the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) for robotics and digital manufacturing; the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) for Scottish manufacturing innovation; the National Composites Centre (NCC) for composite materials; and WMG at University of Warwick for automotive and electrification. Supporting these centres, HVM Catapult provides technology strategy development through nine capability roadmaps, SME support services, workforce development and skills training, AI adoption support, clean energy transition services, and hydrogen innovation initiatives including the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative. Additional programmes include the £85m Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge. The organisation helps businesses transform their products, manufacturing processes, and workforce skills through access to world-class research facilities and expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) A specialist manufacturing R&D centre delivering applied research, development and demonstration services in advanced manufacturing technologies for industrial customers and research partners.
• Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) A process innovation centre providing formulation, scale-up, and commercialisation services for manufacturers working in sectors such as biomanufacturing, printable electronics, and industrial biotechnology.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) A manufacturing technology centre delivering applied research, development and demonstration projects in digital manufacturing, additive manufacturing, automation, and connected factories for industrial customers.
• National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) A Scottish manufacturing research institute delivering advanced manufacturing R&D, skills development, and digital manufacturing services to manufacturers operating in Scotland and the wider UK.
• National Composites Centre (NCC) A composites manufacturing centre delivering design, prototyping, testing, and certification services for advanced composite materials and structures across aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors.
• Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ manufacturing businesses supported since 2011
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Offshore Renewable Energy CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Delivery partnership for Wind Innovation Hub (£15m/$20m package) to accelerate technological innovation in offshore wind sector, supporting UK businesses developing advanced turbine technology, next-generation foundations, and electrical systems.
• National Composites Centre (NCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026NCC leading Wind Innovation Hub delivery alongside ORE Catapult and NMIS, focusing on advanced materials for offshore wind including floating turbines and next-generation foundations.
• National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026NMIS part of leadership team for Wind Innovation Hub, working on manufacturing innovation for offshore wind sector supply chain development.
• University of Sheffield AMRCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026AMRC secured £1m funding from HVM Catapult for HyDecarb project - industrial-scale hydrogen fuel-switching testbed for foundries, glassmaking and steel industries to overcome decarbonisation barriers.
• Made SmartercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Co-author of national AI adoption plan for advanced manufacturing, supporting industrial AI deployment across UK manufacturing sector.
• BridgeAIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Co-author of AI adoption plan, part of government-backed initiative to accelerate AI adoption in manufacturing with potential £150bn GDP addition by 2035.
• MakeUKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Manufacturing industry association co-authoring AI adoption plan, supporting workforce capability and SME engagement in industrial AI deployment.
• Department for Business and Trade (DBT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Government department commissioning national AI adoption plan through HVM Catapult's AI Champion Chris Dungey, part of Modern Industrial Strategy.
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Government department working with DBT on AI adoption plan for advanced manufacturing sector transformation.
• Liverpool Combined AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026First pilot region for £85m Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge to modernise construction methods for social housing, schools and hospitals, working with housing partners to trial new methods.
• Onward HomesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 March 2026Housing partner for Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge pilot in Liverpool, testing and refining construction innovation approaches in social housing schemes.
• Torus DevelopmentsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 March 2026Housing partner for Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge pilot, collaborating on social housing schemes to demonstrate innovative construction methods.
• Connected Places CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Joint programme leadership for Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) Demonstration Programme, supporting hydrogen technologies including hydrogen-powered railway shunter, seawater electrolysis, and liquid hydrogen storage solutions.
• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Government innovation agency providing programme support for Hydrogen Innovation Initiative and Wind Innovation Hub, part of wider £15m offshore wind innovation package.
• Digital CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2023Joint £2 million programme funded by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to address sustainability challenges in UK manufacturing sector, developing innovative digital solutions using AI and other technologies to improve resource and energy efficiency for net zero goals.
• Ministry of Defence (MOD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew alliance announced in 2025 between HVM Catapult and MOD in defence industrial strategy to grow the defence industrial base, providing framework for HVM Catapult to support implementation.
• Net Zero Technology CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on clean energy solutions, working alongside government, industry and academia to accelerate clean energy commercialisation.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission): CEA is a French government-funded RTO with deep capabilities in advanced materials, energy, and manufacturing technologies. Its role supporting French industrial competitiveness and energy transition parallels HVM's role in supporting UK manufacturing and clean energy ambitions.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): TNO is the Dutch public applied research organization with a similar mandate to translate scientific research into industrial and societal applications, including advanced manufacturing. Its funding model, multi-institute structure, and industry-academia-government positioning closely parallel HVM Catapult's.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's Fraunhofer Society is the closest international analogue to HVM Catapult: a government-funded applied research organization operating through a federated network of specialized institutes serving industry, with similar funding mix from public sources and industry contracts. Both convert national R&D investment into industrial competitiveness across manufacturing-adjacent domains.
• National Research Council Canada: NRC Canada is a federal RTO that supports industrial R&D across manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and emerging technologies. Its role as a government-backed applied research provider to Canadian industry parallels HVM Catapult's UK manufacturing mission.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): CSIRO is Australia's national science agency, operating as a publicly funded RTO that translates research into industrial outcomes including advanced manufacturing, materials, and energy. Its scale, national mandate, and industry-facing business model closely mirror HVM Catapult's positioning.
• SINTEF: SINTEF is Norway's largest independent research organization, with deep applied research in materials, manufacturing, oceans, and energy. Its scale, multi-lab structure, and mix of public funding plus industry contracts make it a close comparator to HVM Catapult in advanced manufacturing R&D services.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle is a US non-profit applied science and technology organization managing national laboratories and serving industrial clients in advanced manufacturing, energy, and life sciences. Its non-profit RTO model and federal/industry funding mix closely parallel HVM Catapult's structure.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is Finland's state-owned applied research centre working across advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, digital systems, and energy. Like HVM Catapult, it operates as a public-sector RTO serving industrial clients with both collaborative and contract research, and is similarly positioned as a national industrial policy instrument.

Emerging players

• SRI International: SRI International is a US non-profit research institute performing contract R&D across advanced manufacturing, robotics, and materials. While it operates in a more commercial model than HVM, its non-profit applied research orientation in manufacturing-adjacent fields makes it a relevant peer for benchmarking capability and funding mix.

Others

• Digital Catapult: Digital Catapult is a sibling Catapult within the same Innovate UK Catapult Network as HVM, focused on digital and AI innovation. It is a direct collaborator (joint £2m sustainability programme with HVM) and provides adjacent UK public-sector innovation infrastructure rather than competing in HVM's manufacturing core.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-value-manufacturing-catapult
• Xx.com/hvm_catapult

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Value Manufacturing Catapult