UK Government Invests £1.4 Million in Innovative Transport Projects

The UK Department for Transport has announced the winners of a £1.4 million competition aimed at transforming the transport sector, promoting innovation, and fostering a greener future.

The Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) program has awarded funding to organizations and academics with innovative ideas for sustainable and efficient transport solutions. This year’s competition focused on local transport decarbonization, maritime decarbonization, and emerging technologies such as AI and drones.

Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult, said “Innovation in transport can unlock many benefits for society, the economy and the environment. The Transport Research and Innovation Grants programme has been supporting high-potential innovators for a decade, through funding and dedicated business support, helping them realise their commercial potential. This year’s TRIG competition drew a fantastic response from innovators, with the ‘critical and emerging technologies’ challenge proving to be especially popular.”

One of the standout winners is Vox Aeris, a company developing technology to reduce harmful pollution across transport networks using sound waves and music vibrations. This innovative approach has the potential to significantly improve air quality and reduce emissions.

Selene Sari, founder and CEO of Vox Aeris, said”We are beyond excited to be a TRIG 2024 winner. This support will be pivotal for developing our technology, assessing feasibility with refined prototypes and engaging early stakeholders. We look forward to collaborating with Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport. The financial backing, expertise, and network support we’re receiving will be crucial for us to advance to the next stage. Having such robust support early in our journey will enable us to move faster and connect with networks that would otherwise be challenging to bring together.”

Previous TRIG winners, such as OpenSpace, have demonstrated the program’s impact on the industry. OpenSpace used digital twinning and AI to create a real-time simulated environment of St Pancras station, improving operations and enhancing the passenger experience.

The TRIG program has a strong track record of supporting innovation in the transportation sector, funding over 430 projects that have ranged from improving rural connectivity to exploring hydrogen-powered vehicles.