Connected Airport Living Lab opens call for airport innovation SMEs

Connected Places Catapult has opened applications for the latest cohort of the Connected Airport Living Lab, offering UK SMEs the chance to test new technologies in a live airport environment.

The programme, funded by Innovate UK, is led by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Glasgow Airport, part of AGS Airports.

Up to three UK-registered SMEs will be selected for the six-month programme, with each able to access up to £30,000 in funding, commercial support and connections with industry stakeholders.

Selected companies will also be able to trial their solutions at Glasgow Airport, helping them test technology against real operational needs and passenger experience challenges.

Airport innovation programme seeks SME solutions

The fourth cohort of the Connected Airport Living Lab is focused on three airport challenges: asset performance management, live passenger feedback and actionable insights from passenger sentiment data.

For asset performance, the programme is seeking technologies that can help airports better monitor large assets such as escalators, lifts, scanners and car park barriers. These systems are usually managed through planned maintenance but can still fail unexpectedly, disrupting passenger journeys.

The passenger sentiment challenges focus on improving how airports gather and use feedback. One challenge asks how airports can understand live passenger sentiment at different stages of the airport journey, while another looks at combining data from sources such as social media, voice recognition and formal complaints to produce trend analysis and actionable insights.

Glasgow Airport to host live technology trials

Gavin Birch-Williams, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said the airport had become “a proving ground for innovative technologies” designed to solve operational challenges and improve the passenger experience.

He said previous cohorts had shown the value of giving SMEs access to a live airport environment, allowing them to test and refine technologies in real-world conditions.

Sameer Savani, transport managing director at Connected Places Catapult, said the programme had supported innovators since 2023.

He pointed to previous participant, Hello Lamp Post, which has since secured a multi-year contract with AGS and now supports more than 12,000 customers each year.

Prospective applicants have until midday on 17 August 2026 to apply through the Connected Places Catapult website.