- innovative start-ups to be given a share of £1.85 million to
help bring their ideas to life, revolutionising transporting and
supporting growth across the UK
- past winners include using technology to guide visually
impaired people through transport, innovations making EV charging
easier and trialling drones to improve mobile signal for rescue
missions
- government-backed projects aimed to help create a greener
transport future, drive growth and create jobs
Transport technologies of the future, like rescue mission drones
and sensors to help visually impaired people use transport, could
be brought to life through a new round of government funding,
launched today (12 December 2022).
As many as 60 projects could be awarded a share of the £1.85
million fund to develop early stage research projects designed to
support innovative ideas to create a better transport system. The
programme aims not only to foster innovation to improve transport
in the UK, but also to
generate growth in the sector.
Previous winners include:
- a trial using a drone in remote areas to help emergency
services find missing people
- a project exploring 3D technology to help visually impaired
people use public transport
- the development of magnetic technology to improve reliability
of rail services in rain and snow
Transport and Decarbonisation Minister said:
AI rescue drones,
magnetic train tech, and sensors to help visually impaired people
are just some of the cutting-edge transport projects this
programme has already funded.
We’re determined to support path-breaking R&D across the UK. This new round of funding is designed
to find the next top tech projects that will improve transport
for millions across the UK.
By aiming at emerging start-ups and small businesses we can
ensure we build a tech base for the future.
The TRIG 2022
programme will have five targeted funding calls, alongside an
‘open-call’, considering any transport related idea. Specific
areas of focus include:
- maritime decarbonisation
- future of freight
- local transport decarbonisation
- transport resilience to severe weather and flooding
- improving the rail passenger experience
Under the Transport Research and Innovation Grant programme, past
winners also include:
Vivacity obtained a grant for their
award-winning artificial intelligence camera technology that
gathered real-time transport usage data and has now been
implemented by Local Authorities including Milton Keynes, Salford
and Oxford and was used during the pandemic to monitor social
distancing on local transport.
Makesense Technology researching the feasibility
of using shape-changing haptic technology, which uses vibrations
to give feedback from a device, to guide visually impaired people
through transport networks, such as train stations and airports,
better enabling independent travel for them.
Lenz Ltd who proved
the concept of a novel magnetic rail traction technology, which
can improve reliability and safety of rail services under adverse
conditions. Their technology improves the connection between the
wheels and the rails by using magnetism, which is not impacted by
items on the line like ice or leaves.
University of Surrey developing a system that
uses artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor the condition of
bridges by listening to how they vibrate. Without needing an
inspection team to travel to the site, maintenance can be
predictive, more efficient and minimise any potential network
downtime.
Unitrove producing a proof-of-concept system for
managing hydrogen storage and distribution at ports to help the
maritime sector decarbonise shipping.
Snowdonia Aerospace received funding to trial a
drone that would circle in the sky to create a 4G/5G network in
the sky by grabbing the signal of any network to provide service
in areas of poor mobile signal connectivity, which could be used
by emergency services to locate missing persons and coordinate
with ground personnel.
Since TRIG was
launched in 2014, over £10 million in grants have supported
almost 300 projects, with the three hundredth set to be awarded
in this latest funding round.
Along with industry applicants, TRIG is also
open to academic applicants and helps university researchers
translate blue-skies research into the real world and create new
solutions. This can be a useful way to taking their first steps
toward creating a new company and helping the sector grow and
create jobs across the UK.
Now in its 16th round of funding, the TRIG programme,
delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, brings
together talented innovators – mainly start-ups and universities
– and policymakers at the earliest stage of innovation to help
enhance the UK’s transport
system.
Nicola Yates OBE,
Connected Places Catapult, Chief Executive Officer said:
The UK’s innovation ecosystem
is adept at developing solutions to complex problems.
Government-backed projects like TRIG feed the
early stages of the UK
transport innovation pipeline and help us identify and nurture
viable solutions to some of our biggest challenges.
The TRIG 2022 call
is focused on finding the next wave of state-of-the-art transport
solutions, enabling the creative innovators to propel us along
the road to a greener future whilst driving growth.
Apply for
TRIG 2022
