The Government has announced a new £1.8 million competition aimed at supporting innovative transport solutions that address critical challenges. The Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) competition, now in its 10th year, seeks to stimulate the economy while advancing efforts to make the country's transportation systems more environmentally sustainable. The latest round of funding, which opens on October 23rd, 2023, offers a maximum grant of up to £45,000 per project.
Administered by the Connected Places Catapult (CPC), TRIG grants financial support to businesses looking to pioneer research and develop solutions for some of the most pressing issues in the transport sector, with a primary focus on decarbonisation.
The previous iteration of the TRIG competition in 2022 successfully awarded funding to 67 projects, ranging from personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers to innovative robots for streamlining freight operations at ports. These projects not only created jobs but also contributed to economic growth across the UK.
Technology Minister, Jesse Norman, lauded the impact of TRIG funding over the past decade, emphasising its role in catalysing fresh ideas to address future transportation challenges. “TRIG funding has been a huge success over the past 10 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”.
For this year's competition, TRIG is seeking proposals that address various critical areas:
Airport Decarbonisation: Innovations to support the development of zero-emission aircraft ground infrastructure or transition airport operations to zero emissions.
Local Transport Decarbonisation: Groundbreaking ideas that accelerate the decarbonisation of local transport systems, considering the specific needs of local communities and areas, with potential for nationwide scaling.
The Future of Freight: Ideas addressing opportunities and challenges in the Freight and Logistics sector, aligning with the Future of Freight plan.
Maritime Decarbonisation: Innovative solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK's maritime sector, in alignment with the Clean Maritime Plan and the transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
Connectivity, AI, and Digital Twins: Solutions that combine artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and digital connectivity to create a resilient, cost-effective, clean, and efficient transport system.
Open Call: Innovative ideas that have the potential to tackle transport challenges in the UK across all modes, challenges, and technology areas.
The TRIG competition has been a resounding success since its inception, with more than £12 million awarded to 361 projects since 2014. Past winners have introduced groundbreaking initiatives, including an augmented reality app for visually impaired rail passengers, kite-powered tugboats to reduce emissions, and drones for delivering packages to remote locations.
The TRIG competition is now open for applications, offering an opportunity for businesses to drive transformative change in the UK's transport sector. If you have a pioneering transport innovation, no matter the scale, this competition provides a platform to turn your idea into reality.
Roxana Hurjui, Bus Centre of Excellence