Innovation funding is available for UK start-ups in manufacturing sectors as part of Hexagon’s quest to support visualisation, digital reality, intelligence & automation.
Innovation programme Sixth Sense is open to start-ups offering innovative technologies in advanced manufacturing. Key thrust of the programme is digital reality and visualisation for a sustainable future.
The winning companies will be provided the resources to help them scale-up globally, including potential access to funding, worldwide office space, access to Hexagon’s full suite of products and services and incorporation into Hexagon’s ecosystem and exposure to Hexagon’s customer base.
Innovation in manufacturing
The manufacturing industry needs innovation to help overcome a significant number of challenges it is facing, like sustainability, supply chain crises and skills shortages. Start-ups often provide the most cutting-edge technological solutions but without support can fail to implement these technologies widely and in effective ways. Sixth Sense seeks to change that, and the thriving current winners SmartParts and RIIICO are evidence of this success.
Launched in January 2022, the open innovation platform supports scaling start-ups in advanced manufacturing with Hexagon resources and market insights. Up to three winners will be selected after an intensive 10-week programme and offered the opportunity to scale their business alongside Hexagon.
“Sixth Sense is open to applications from anyone, anywhere in the world, “ said Milan Kocić, head of Sixth Sense, Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. “We’re excited to see how we can work together with new emerging leaders in manufacturing to meet society’s current and future challenges, as we believe that diverse backgrounds lead to better ideas. We have seen first-hand how start-ups can be a source of truly ground-breaking innovation and are looking forward to welcoming the latest best-of-the-best into the fold in September.”
The selection criteria for Sixth Sense include $3m or less in revenue, 1-5 years in existence, Post seed, Series A, Series A+, Proven traction and product-market fit, Propensity to scale. IP & licenses
