DfT and Connected Places Catapult have renewed their partnership that sees the Catapult regularly support the DfT by leading programmes designed to address key Government priorities. The signing of a new grant funding agreement means Connected Places Catapult will continue to run programmes and administer grants on behalf of the DfT.

Over the last six years, Connected Places Catapult has delivered the flagship Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme for the DfT. So far, the programme has assisted over 350 innovators, with tailored support and over £12m in funding, to progress their innovations. Previous grant recipients have developed a range of pioneering initiatives including: an app that uses augmented reality to help visually impaired passengers navigate rail stations; kite-powered tugboats to reduce emissions; and drones to deliver packages in hard-to-reach areas.

At the start of last year, the DfT launched the £7m Freight Innovation Fund programme, delivered by the Catapult, which focuses on accelerating the adoption of commercially ready solutions to address challenges in the UK’s freight sector. The programme includes the establishment of the Freight Innovation Cluster, which has already grown to a network of over 320 businesses looking to explore joint opportunities and progress disruptive technologies in freight.

Over the years, experts from the Catapult have also supported the DfT on over 100 other projects. These include Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure, showing how airports can gear up to support more sustainable aviation; Zero Emission Road Freight, investigating ways of decarbonising heavy goods vehicles; and The Transport Digital Twin Vision and Roadmap to 2035, mapping the steps required to implement and benefit from connected digital twins across the transport sector.

(Picture – Connected Places Catapult)