- Government providing vital support for research to
revolutionise our transport sector and address some of
transport’s biggest challenges, including decarbonisation
- Research will help support companies across the UK, growing
the economy and improving transport for passengers
- Funding comes as the latest round of the Transport Research
and Innovation Grants competition, with previous winners
including postal drones to connect remote communities and
accessibility apps for train stations
A new £1.8 million competition is opening to support the latest
innovative transport solutions as the Government seeks to grow
the economy while looking at ways to decarbonisation
transport.
The latest round of funding through the Transport Research and
Innovation Grant (TRIG) competition has opened today (Monday 23
October) and sees an increased available grant amount per winner
of up to £45,000 per project.
This round of funding will look at several different areas
including ways to decarbonise airport operations and ways to
better use artificial intelligence (AI) to make transport cheaper
and quicker.
The TRIG competition, delivered by the Connected Places Catapult,
awards grants to businesses seeking to develop research and
provide solutions to some of transport’s most-pressing issues
including decarbonisation.
Last year’s competition saw 67 projects awarded funding,
including personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers
and robots for freight at ports, creating jobs and growing the
economy across the UK.
Technology Minister, said:
“TRIG funding has been a huge success over the past ten years,
helping to pioneer the new ideas to solve the transport problems
of tomorrow.
“Today’s launch of the latest round of funding promises to build
on the knowledge that innovation is key to helping improve
transport across the UK, making lives easier and creating jobs.”
This year, the competition is seeking proposals which focus
on:
-
Airport Decarbonisation: innovative ideas to
support the development of airport ground infrastructure for
zero emission aircraft or to support airport operations
transition to zero emission.
-
Local Transport
Decarbonisation: innovative ideas that accelerate the
decarbonisation of local transport systems, demonstrating an
understanding of the needs of local areas and communities,
whilst also having the potential to be scaled-up across the UK
in the future.
-
The Future of Freight: innovative ideas that
address the opportunities and challenges faced by the Freight
and Logistics sector and its supporting services, as outlined
in DfT’s Future of Freight plan.
-
Maritime Decarbonisation: innovative ideas for
maritime solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the
UK’s maritime sector, as set out in the Clean Maritime Plan,
and support the transition to Net Zero by 2050.
-
Connectivity, AI and Digital Twins: innovative
ideas that combine Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins
and/or Digital Connectivity together to enable a resilient
transport system delivering cheaper, cleaner, and quicker
journeys for all.
-
Open Call: innovative ideas that have the
potential to address a UK transport challenge, across all
modes, challenges and technology areas.
Following its continued success, TRIG is now in its tenth year,
with over £12m has been awarded to 361 projects since 2014.
Previous winners have developed a range pioneering of initiatives
including an app that uses augmented reality to help visually
impaired passengers get around rail stations, kite-powered tug
boats to reduce emissions and drones to deliver packages in
hard-to-reach areas
Connected Places Catapult’s Chief Executive Officer,
Nicola Yates OBE said:
“Transport Research and Innovation Grants support high-potential
innovators to develop their fresh ideas. Alongside financial
assistance, they will receive a wide-range of business support
from Connected Places Catapult to help them realise their
commercial potential.
"The increased funding available per project this year will mean
innovators have access to more resources to further their ideas.
If you have an innovative idea that could help tackle some of the
UK's transport challenges, I urge you to apply now."
Previous winners include Edge Innovation, which created a new
approach to community car sharing in rural areas.
Head of Projects at Edge Innovation, Susan Ross
said:
“The programme has enabled a new product, brand and support
packages to be created and to move the concept from TRL2 to TRL6.
This would not have been possible without the TRIG programme.
“The application process and monitoring processes were user
friendly and the teams at CPC and DfT were very supportive. I
would encourage anyone who has a transport innovation however big
or small to apply. I am certainly glad that we did!”
Iona Drones, the first drone solution that meets the needs and
regulations for rural logistics, enabling efficient and
sustainable autonomous deliveries anywhere and for
everybody.
Iona Drones Chief Executive Etienne Louvet said:
“TRIG and the CPC network were instrumental on
IONA's R&D efforts, especially when funding gets scarce which
naturally penalises industrial technologies.
“Since then, we have continued to work efficiently and are
pursuing new later stage opportunities.”
