The UK’s 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 £1.8m between them.
The winning projects are based across the UK, with a total of 83% located outside London and 56% outside the wider South East region, meaning investment is spread throughout the country.
The TRIG scheme has been devised to support businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research, and aims to improve the UK’s transport system across all modes.
Browne said: “We’re 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 it’s UK companies, backed by government funding, that are leading the way in this field, creating jobs and boosting our economy.”
This year’s 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.
READ MORE: UK DfT announces £2m competition to help decarbonise local transport
The 2023 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 industry’s transition to electric
TRIG has now been running for a decade, funding more than 400 companies with more than £14m in investment.
The grant is delivered in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult (CPC), the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport and place leadership.
A renewed grant funding agreement with the CPC will begin from 01 April 2024 to ensure the continued delivery of TRIG programmes.
Achievements and innovations in sustainable urban mobility will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
