articles

Minister meets innovators on freight demonstration event

Current and future participants in the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator gathered earlier this month to hear from Government Minister, Lilian Greenwood.

October 22, 2024

“It’s an absolute pleasure to play a small part in championing the doers and thinkers, innovators and innovations here today,” remarked Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP to an audience at Connected Places Catapult on Thursday 10 October.

The event marked the unveiling of cohort three of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator and heard about the achievements of cohort two.

“All around us are people and things that shine with a bright future for freight and logistics; a future that builds on the intrinsic value of the sector that offers so much to the UK,” she added. “Freight and logistics matter: their contribution to the economy matters, and their contribution to lives and livelihoods matters.”

The Minister continued that freight and logistics help make the country’s economy more interconnected, more reliable and resilient, and more environmentally sustainable too. “This is ambitious, it's challenging, and will require innovation to get there,” she added.

“To those who innovate or support innovation, I have a simple message: the Government values you, we will support you, and I will champion your work at every possible opportunity.”

Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP

The event welcomed 10 SMEs to the latest round of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator. Each will receive funding to undertake large scale trials of their technology with a commercial partner, alongside business growth and investment coaching offered by the Catapult.

The event also showcased companies from the previous cohort; with representatives from each firm speaking about their involvement in the programme and their recent achievements; with several demonstrating their systems during a networking event.

The Minister thanked the industry partners for their input to the programme, and described the latest cohort’s innovative solutions as being “truly exciting, and offering huge promise”.

She added that the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator has a track record of success, with the first cohort of nine SMEs leveraging an additional £97 million of new investment since 2022.

The Minister also recognised the work of the Freight Innovation Cluster at Connected Places Catapult. “Innovation is a team game, and the Cluster's work leads the way in bringing together people and organisations across the freight and logistics sector,” she said.

“The Cluster provides inspiration, aspiration and partnership – so if you aren't already, please do reach out to the Catapult and get involved.”

Minister reflects on the programme’s success

As she left the building, the Minister was asked for her thoughts on how great the prize could be for innovating in freight and logistics.

“It's so important,” she replied. “Freight and logistics are an enabler for everything we want to do, and it is really important that we innovate to find new, more efficient ways to operate as it offers potential to drive economic growth, tackle issues around air quality, and contribute to us having greener transport.”

Lilian Greenwood added that many of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator cohort she met had told her how important the grant and support of Connected Places Catapult have been key to their development.

She added: “Having the opportunity to put on proper trials, to partner with commercial firms, and to see the way in which they can scale up and grow their business are all really exciting.”

The SMEs selected to join the third cohort of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator are:

Botanic Energy

Ecomar Propulsion Ltd

Gaussion

GoMetro

GPC Systems Ltd

Innervated Vehicle Engineering

RailX

RAD Propulsion Ltd

TUAL

XeroE Sustainability Logistics Ltd

Find out more about the 10 firms in the latest Freight Innovation Fund cohort. Download the cohort brochure.