GovWire

From the seas to the skies, the UK is set to benefit from new transport technology innovations thanks to government funding awarded today (21 March 2024).

Decarbonisation, Aviation and Technology Minister, Anthony Browne, has announced the 41 winning projects of the 2023 Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) competition, which will share more than 1.8 million between them. This will fund the development of exciting new concepts, such as an automated boat that could reduce road emissions by delivering parcels by water.

This years winning projects are based across the UK. A total of 83% are located outside London, with 56% outside the wider South East region, meaning investment is spread throughout the country.

The TRIG scheme supports businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research. It aimsto improve our transport system across all modes, as well as growing the economy and supporting skilled UK jobs. ?

Decarbonisation, Aviation and Technology Minister, Anthony Browne, said:

Were at the dawn of a new age for transport AI can now help tackle universal challenges like station overcrowding or road congestion by using our historic waterways to deliver parcels by self-driving boat.

These hugely exciting initiatives represent the best of British innovation, showing its UK companies, backed by government funding, that are leading the way in this field, creating jobs and boosting our economy.

This years TRIG winning projects include:

• RAD Propulsion creating a prototype that will make last blue mile parcel deliveries on UK waterways, aiming to cut road congestion and emissions and improve air quality
• Unitrove exploring extending its pioneering liquid hydrogen refuelling technology to aircraft to offer a solution to aviation decarbonisation
• Duku addressing challenges in maritime electric vehicle charging by testing its accessible charger for small passenger ferries and harbour and sightseeing vessels improving inclusivity and sustainability among coastal communities
• OpenSpace researching how an AI tool can be used to tackle rail station disruption, using algorithms to optimise passenger flow, improve passenger experience and get stations moving more quickly
• University of Strathclyde using data analysis to identify ideal sites for electric heavy goods vehicle charging infrastructure across Scotland, supporting the industrys transition to electric

TRIG has now been running for a decade, funding more than 400 companies with more than 14 million in investment. Projects have been wide-ranging, from solutions to improve the accessibility of transport to the future of freight. TRIG projects regularly progress to the demonstration and scaling stages of development, showing the schemes success in feeding a pipeline of innovation.

This years scheme focused on a number of different challenges including airports, local transport and maritime decarbonisation, AI, digital twins, the future of connectivity and the future of freight.

The grant is delivered in collaboration with the Connected Places Catapult (CPC), the UKs innovation accelerator for cities, transport and place leadership. A renewed grant funding agreement with the Catapult will beginfrom 1 April2024 to ensure the continued delivery of our programmes.

Erika Lewis, Chief Executive at Connected Places Catapult, said:

Transport Research and Innovation Grants support high-potential innovators to develop fresh ideas to tackle some of the UKs most pressing transport challenges.

Grants have been awarded to projects right across the country covering many transport modes, with several recipients considering how technology developed for one sector could be transferred to another. Alongside the funding, all 41 projects will receive specialist business support from Connected Places Catapult to help them realise their commercial potential.