Zizo Joins Connected Places Catapult’s first ‘Maritime Accelerator Programme’

Zizo, a data and analytics specialist software provider and consultancy, has announced that it has been selected to join Connected Places Catapult’s first ‘Maritime Accelerator Programme.’

The maritime and ports sector is the gateway to some of the biggest challenges currently facing the world, and presents innovation opportunities to deliver sustainable, equitable growth for our communities and economies.

The Maritime Accelerator is a brand-new, challenge-led programme, powered by Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership. The cohort of participants includes ten SMEs, aiming to provide each business with a programme tailored to their specific needs to help them maximise commercial engagement. This will include modules focusing on investment readiness, business modelling, customer profiling, and enterprise selling.

Zizo has been selected amongst ten SMEs to participate in the Accelerator Programme. Zizo delivers solutions within data engineering, data science, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling organisations of any scale to use its data effectively to drive improved performance and increased efficiencies – getting the correct information to the right person at the right time.

The accelerator is supported by several industry and academic partners who took an active role in defining programme challenge areas: data, infrastructure and decarbonisation. They also took part in the cohort selection process, ensuring the programme focuses on significant sector challenges and de-risking innovation in the marketplace.

Over the next five months, the cohort of SMEs will receive business development, investment readiness and technical support from Connected Places Catapult, along with expertise from the programme partners, and the opportunity to explore trials with them where applicable. The programme will culminate with a Showcase Event in early March 2023.

Thomas White, Ecosystem Director – Maritime and Port at Connected Places Catapult, comments: “The UK has a rich and diverse maritime heritage, woven through our history and guiding our future potential. As an internationally recognised leader in maritime technology, the UK has fantastic opportunities ahead in accessing new global markets, creating new high-value jobs in the sector and delivering economic growth across UK regions. Through this programme, we are delighted to be working with ten SMEs innovating in the sector to open new opportunities, accelerate their growth and continue building a strong, vibrant maritime sector for the future.”

Peter Ruffley, CEO, Zizo, concludes: “Zizo is honoured to be selected as part of the cohort of SMEs taking part in the Maritime Accelerator Programme. Globally, the maritime industry faces significant challenges – economically, environmentally and socially. Yet, an increase in the availability of data can provide organisations with extraordinary abilities to address those challenges and identify new opportunities. To be successful, organisations throughout the industry must have the technology, knowledge and skills to process, manage and use data – which can then be used to overcome existing hurdles; such as shipping delays by predicting the risks associated with each shipping route.

“The future of the industry will be defined through a collaborative effort between industry and digital experience. Therefore, we look forward to being part of this journey, growing and learning as a business, and working with Connected Places Catapult and the other SMEs, industry and academic partners involved in the Accelerator Programme.”

To find the full cohort list and more information about the Maritime Accelerator, click here.