Reflecting on a milestone year of innovation and impact

CPI was created two decades ago to enable industry’s access to new innovations in manufacturing technology, helping ideas move from concept to commercial reality faster and unlocking economic growth, environmental and societal benefits. What began as a small team with a bold mission has grown into a national innovation organisation with global reach. 

Over the past 20 years, CPI has supported thousands of innovators to overcome barriers, scale their ideas, and deliver real-world impact. Beyond the technologies and facilities, CPI has always been defined by people – our colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve. Together, we have built a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation not for its own sake, but to create a better future for people, places, and our planet. 

Our membership of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and access to the wider Catapult Network continues to accelerate the scale and reach of the collaborations we create for greater economic growth. 

Turning ideas into impact

During 2024/25, we continued to deliver against our ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to innovate. By combining our technical expertise, convening and collaboration strengths, and tailored business support, we helped hundreds of organisations translate great science into products and processes that improve lives. 

Here’s our 2024/25 impact in numbers: 

• Delivered 1,058 targeted business support activities, with nearly two-thirds focused on SMEs, strengthening the backbone of UK innovation. 

• Supported the progression of 96 technology readiness levels (TRLs) across projects, advancing new technologies closer to market readiness. 

• Enabled the creation of 71 new pieces of intellectual property and the development of 117 new products and processes, with 11 successfully launched to market. 

• Upskilled 357 learners through expert-led technical and commercialisation training. 

• Contributed to 76 strategic roadmaps and research papers, culminating in four new industry standards and regulations that will help shape the UK’s innovation landscape. 

These achievements represent far more than numbers. They show how collaboration, expertise, and a shared sense of purpose can deliver tangible progress, from strengthening supply chains to enabling resource-efficient manufacturing, greater productivity through technology adoption and upskilling, and building clusters of capability to transform regional economies. 

Embedding sustainability and social value

Innovation and responsibility go hand in hand. Throughout 2024/25, we expanded our portfolio of energy and carbon reduction initiatives, introduced an EV salary sacrifice scheme, and trialled data-driven energy-saving measures, including the use of clean room monitoring technology to reduce electricity use. 

We also strengthened our approach to emissions reporting, refining how we collect and validate data across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. With the continued use of a carbon accounting tool introduced the previous year, data capture became more accurate and efficient, enabling better-informed decisions and progress tracking towards our net zero targets. 

These efforts were recognised through a Silver Award from EcoVadis and participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the first time, key milestones that demonstrate CPI’s commitment to responsible and transparent business practices. We also remain a committed member of the UN Global Compact, benefitting from shared learning and benchmarking across a wide community. 

Sustainability at CPI is also about people and our communities. In September 2024, we ran our first Giving Back Week, during which more than 150 colleagues volunteered across 20 local charities. Activities ranged from tree planting and restoring community spaces to supporting hospices, food banks, and farms providing refuge for women. The week reflected CPI’s values in action, bringing people together to make a difference in the regions that have shaped us. 

To embed this commitment more deeply, we established our first ESG Committee, bringing together senior leaders to provide oversight and direction for long-term environmental, social, and governance goals.

Celebrating 20 years of CPI

The 2024/25 financial year coincided with CPI’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of innovation and collaboration. It was a time to celebrate achievements, reconnect with people and partners, reflect on how far we have come, and look ahead to future opportunities 

We hosted a series of roadshows across our North East of England and Scotland sites, welcoming colleagues, alumni, and partners to celebrate the connections that make CPI unique. We also launched People in Innovation: A CPI Podcast to capture the human stories behind two decades of pioneering science and engineering. 

A special reception at the Palace of Westminster brought together leaders from government, academia, industry and investors to celebrate 20 years of national impact, highlighting CPI’s role as a key convenor in the UK innovation ecosystem. We took the opportunity to recognise the entrepreneurial spirit of our deep tech SME community, as at CPI, we enjoy our success through the achievements of others. Through our Giving Back Week, we demonstrated that innovation and social value go hand in hand, a powerful reminder that our success has always been rooted in community.

Looking ahead

As we reflect on 2024/25, it is clear that this was a year that celebrated the past while enhancing the foundations for the future. We have improved how we measure and communicate economic impact, advanced our sustainability commitments, and reinforced our standing as a trusted partner. 

Looking forward, we remain focused on our mission to deliver translational research, development and innovation that delivers economic growth, enhances national security and sustains our manufacturing industry in the UK.