The Superconducting Machines & Systems Catalyst is a UK-wide initiative established to strengthen the national ecosystem for high-temperature superconductors (HTS) at industrial scale.
Seeded through initial support from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Catalyst is designed to accelerate technology development, scale-up and deployment across four strategic sectors: fusion energy, renewable energy, transport, and power transmission systems.
Rather than creating a single physical centre, the Catalyst operates as a coordinated national network—connecting universities, industry, testing infrastructure and funders across the UK, from Scotland to South West England.
By aligning capabilities, sharing infrastructure, and enabling cross-sector collaboration, the Catalyst ensures that the UK can:
- Maximise value from existing national assets and expertise
- Accelerate the translation of HTS technologies into real-world applications
- Strengthen supply chains and industrial capability
- Provide a coherent, independent voice to support strategic investment decisions
The Catalyst takes a system-level approach, recognising that no single organisation or region can deliver this opportunity alone. By linking activity across sectors and geographies, it enables the UK to move beyond fragmented efforts and towards a globally competitive superconducting industry.