Joint winners of the Live Labs 2 Expo ‘Dragons’ Den’ pitching event - Clearview Intelligence and Circular 11
The Live Labs 2 Expo held in Liverpool on 25th March showcased an alchemy of innovation, collaboration and ingenuity.
One of the features of the event was the Dragons’ Den style pitching session, where a select number of hand-picked SMEs presented cutting-edge solutions for the decarbonisation of local highways.
These dynamic sessions offered a unique platform to pitch transformative technologies directly to sector leaders and decision makers. The panel of industry ‘Dragons’ included Rupert Furness, Deputy Director, Local Highways and Active Travel & Sarah Sharples, Chief Scientific Adviser both from Department for Transport (DfT) along with Angela Halliwell, Head of Carbon & Air Quality Group, National Highways and Mike Batheram, Market Director, Local Transport, AtkinsRéalis.
After a compelling series of pitches, two SMEs emerged as joint winners: Clearview Intelligence and Circular 11.
Clearview Intelligence impressed the panel with their Solar Lite Road Studs – an innovative, solar-powered solution designed to enhance road safety while cutting energy consumption and carbon emissions. By integrating intelligent design and renewable energy, their road studs offer a sustainable alternative to traditional delineation methods, reducing maintenance needs and improving visibility in all conditions.
Equally impressive was Circular 11, a waste innovation company reimagining the use of plastic waste through the creation of low-carbon materials. Their pitch demonstrated how this material can be repurposed into outdoor asset products for highway use, providing a dual benefit of reducing landfill and lowering the carbon footprint of infrastructure projects. By turning waste into a valuable asset, Circular 11 is helping local authorities tackle environmental and resource challenges.
In addition to the joint winners, the panel awarded a ‘highly commended’ to Asphalt IQ for their Carbon IQ Carbon Management System, a data-driven solution to enable better monitoring and reduction of carbon emissions across road construction and maintenance.
The Live Labs 2 initiative, developed by ADEPT and funded by the Department for Transport, wants to support SMEs working towards the decarbonisation of highways.
The ‘Dragons’ Den’ session not only highlighted innovation in the sector but also underscored the importance of partnerships between public sector bodies and private enterprise in realising the UK’s net zero ambitions.
For those unable to attend the Live Labs 2 Exp oin Liverpool, the Live Labs 2 Mini Expo on 30 April, offers a virtual opportunity to be part of the conversation on the latest ideas and developments from the programme. You can find out more and register to attend here: https://www.adeptnet.org.uk/events/livelabs2-mini-expo2025
Live Labs 2 is a £30m three-year, UK-wide programme, developed by ADEPT and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) that aims to decarbonise the local highway network.
For more on the Live Labs 2 programme, visit Live Labs 2: https://www.adeptnet.org.uk/livelabs2
Learn more about Clearview Intelligence - Solar Lite Road Studs: https://www.clearview-intelligence.com/products/active-road-studs/
Discover more about Circular 11: https://circular11.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorjcaIad1dZQWXni2yxXd8CncnExk_1irMk65Fdg5EgfLH5ExqR
