The Connected Airport Living Lab: 2026/27 Programme provides an opportunity for UK-registered SMEs to secure funding and commercial support for the development, testing, or demonstration of innovative technology solutions within a live airport setting. Delivered by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Glasgow Airport and funded by Innovate UK, the initiative is now in its fourth year. The programme is designed to address key airport challenges through targeted trials, accelerate the market readiness of new technologies, and help high-potential UK SMEs to scale their operations.
Programme Focus and Objectives
• The 2026/27 programme specifically targets solutions that improve asset performance management, understand live passenger sentiment, and generate actionable insights from passenger feedback.
• A key challenge identified is the monitoring of large airport assets, such as escalators, lifts, scanners, and car park barriers, to better predict maintenance needs and minimize unexpected failures.
Funding and Support
• Up to three successful SMEs will be selected to participate.
• Each selected SME will receive up to £30,000 in funding to conduct a trial at Glasgow Airport over a six-month period.
• Comprehensive commercial support is provided, which may include market targeting and sizing, stakeholder mapping, value proposition development, pricing and delivery strategies, strategic execution, financial forecasting, valuation and funding, pitching, and effective communication.
Eligibility Criteria
• Applicants must be UK-registered micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• The proposed solution must be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5–9, indicating it has been tested in its intended environment or deployed commercially.
• The solution is required to address at least one of the specified airport challenges.
Application Deadline and Key Commitments
• Application Deadline: August 17, 2026.
• Availability: Applicants must be available to participate in programme activities between 1 September 2026 and 31 March 2027.
• Travel: Participants must be willing to travel to Glasgow Airport as required for the trial.
• Access: Participants must provide digital copies of formal identification to obtain temporary airport access passes.
For complete details and further information regarding the programme, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Connected Places Catapult website.