The Freight Innovation Fund (FIF) is a multi‑faceted programme funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Connected Places Catapult.

Launched in January 2023, the programme supports Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises (SMEs) to develop and test greener, more efficient freight solutions through the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator and Freight Innovation Cluster.

On 7 May at 10:00, Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport will host an Application Support Webinar for the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 5.

The session will provide:

• An overview of the programme and its focus areas
• Guidance on the application process
• An opportunity to ask questions and seek support to help develop a strong application

Find out more about the Accelerator and apply here.

This webinar will take place on Zoom.

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact the Freight Innovation Fund team at FreightInnovationFund@cp.catapult.org.uk

Drop-in Sessions
We hope to answer your questions during the Application Support Webinar however, the team will also be available for two drop-in sessions following the webinar.

The sessions will take place on 13 May from 14:00-15:00 and 19 May from 15:00-16:00. These sessions will take place on Teams. Register for the drop-in sessions here.

About the programme

The 5th Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator will support SMEs through a two‑phase programme:

• Phase 1: Up to 12 SMEs will be selected to join a 5 week Trial Design phase, each receiving £10,000 to develop a detailed trial proposal.
• Phase 2: Up to 8 SMEs will then be selected to deliver real‑world trials over a 5 month period, with each receiving up to £100,000 in additional trial funding. SMEs will be required to match-fund 30% of the total project cost.

To secure access to appropriate testbed facilities, SMEs applying to the programme have the option of applying with an existing industry partner or selecting to be matched with an industry partner.

The industry partners supporting the accelerator programme are: DFDS, GXO, Port of Tyne, Portsmouth International Port, Shoreham Port, Twentyforty, and Welch Group.