The deadline is approaching to apply for the latest Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG), sponsored by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Connected Places Catapult.
Transport innovators, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, and large businesses based in the UK, have until 15 January to apply for the current funding round providing a cash injection for research and development work.
As well as an open call, the DfT is particularly interested in solutions that address the following challenges:
- Local Transport Decarbonisation
- Maritime Decarbonisation
- The Future of Freight
- Transport Resilience to Severe Weather and Flooding
- Improving the Rail Passenger Experience
Find out more and apply here.
Applications have also been opened for the first tranche of a £7m technology fund to decarbonise freight and boost innovation.
Unveiled last year within the Government’s future of freight plan, the fund targets five priorities identified by the sector, including being cost-efficient, reliable, resilient, environmentally sustainable, and valued by society.
The cash will be delivered by the Connected Places Catapult until 2024 through two key initiatives: the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator and Freight Innovation Cluster. The first round of the accelerator is open until 5 February. It is seeking SMEs with solutions to in the following areas:
- Data collection and sharing technologies or methods to reduce impact on the planet, efficiency and to drive better coordination.
- Better aggregation and disaggregation of large loads from rail to last-mile logistics and onward transport modes to allow goods to enter cities without aggravating emissions and traffic.
- Design new solutions for inter-modal hubs within ports for containers logistics and their allocation to other freight modes.
The DfT and the Catapult will select 12 SMEs to join a 6-month programme, where they will each have the opportunity to access up to £150,000 of funding to trial their solutions.
Find out more and apply here.
The Freight Innovation Cluster is a new forum that aims to become the go-to community for organisations seeking to innovate in the freight industry. Members of the cluster, which will include SMEs on the Accelerator programme, will be informed of the latest opportunities for commercial and collaborative R&D work, and have the chance to discuss barriers and challenges and help find solutions within the freight sector
In total, the £7m freight innovation fund (FIF) will support up to 36 SMEs.
Roads minister Richard Holden said: 'Our freight industry is vital to underpinning the economy and keeps Britain moving, so it is crucial we invest in new innovations to make it greener and quicker.
'This fund will accelerate new ideas and technologies, helping to develop a future pipeline of innovations that can be rolled out to create jobs and allow everyone to get their goods faster and easier.'
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
