BT has announced phase two of its Green Tech Innovation Platform (TIP) to “fast-track cutting-edge” new digital solutions and help manufacturers cut their carbon emissions and progress towards a “circular world”.
Following the initial scouting phase supported by Plug and Play, the second phase involves start-up companies RIICO, Sensorfact and Circularise joining the platform. In partnership with BT and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), they will begin proof of concept (PoC) activities to “prove their impact” for UK manufacturers.
A joint report by BT and Accenture has forecast that tech, including 5G, can help reduce carbon emissions from the manufacturing sector by 13% by 2030.
BT says the three start-ups have been selected to solve some of the sustainability challenges with the biggest impact on the carbon-intensive manufacturing sector, applying digital solutions to redesign legacy manufacturing processes with a sustainability lens, deliver energy efficiency on the shop floor and drive circularity and transparency in supply chains
By using the power of digital, we can drive sustainability impact throughout the value chain
BT says the chosen start-ups will help develop solutions based on their specific technological expertise.
RIIICO helps manufacturers create resilient and transparent digital factory designs.
BT says it does this by using a combination of 3D scanning to inform Digital Twins (digital versions of physical environments) augmented by artificial intelligence (AI) to enable people and computers to remodel and enhance that environment.
This approach reduces modelling time by 95% and is also reducing data maintenance costs by 25%, BT says.
Sensorfact works with small manufacturers to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint by eliminating energy waste through sensors. BT says Sensorfact have already helped over 1,000 manufacturing companies across north-western Europe save an average of 5-10% on their electricity bill.
Circularise helps suppliers to trace materials, share sensitive data without risking privacy, and automate mass reporting using blockchain software. BT says this helps businesses and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to get visibility into their own Scope 3 emissions, preparing them for upcoming supply chain sustainability regulations, and enabling a circular economy at scale.
We are really excited about the opportunities we can explore with the three innovative start-ups.
Commentating on the announcement, David Wrout, Principal – Digital Supply Chain, Enterprise Digital Solutions at BT, said: “We have set a target to help customers avoid 60million tonnes of CO2e by 2030 through our products and services, and Green TIP phase two allows us to do this.
“By using the power of digital, we can drive sustainability impact throughout the value chain and help our customers with the transition to net zero.
“We are really excited about the opportunities we can explore with the three innovative start-ups we’ve selected in phase two for our manufacturing customers.”
