What is TRIG? 

The Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) is the Department for Transport's flagship early-stage innovation programme, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult. Each year TRIG funds bold, novel ideas from across the UK to tackle the transport sector's hardest problems — from decarbonisation and resilience to mobility access and network optimisation. 

The 2026 open call is live, and this session is the final push to engage potential applicants before the deadline. 

The role of digital twins in transport 

Transport is one of the most complex, interconnected systems in the economy, and digital twins are fast becoming one of the most powerful tools the sector has to model, test and improve it. Whether the challenge is simulating freight flows, planning resilient infrastructure, predicting passenger demand or stress-testing policy interventions before they reach the real world, digital twin capability is increasingly central to how transport innovates. This year's TRIG round places digital twins front and centre. 

Session focus & speakers 

A joint session with the TRIG delivery team and DfT, structured around what the programme is, what DfT needs from it, and how digital twin innovators can get involved: 

• Isabelle Tibayrenc, Connected Places Catapult — overview of TRIG: how the programme works, what we're funding, and how to apply 

• Tom Pond, Department for Transport — DfT's strategic priorities and the transport challenge areas where digital twin capability is most needed 

• A previous TRIG cohort innovator (TBC) — a short reflection on going through the programme and what came next 

• Live Q&A with all speakers 

Who should join, and why

Digital twin developers, researchers, SMEs, academics, transport professionals and anyone working at the intersection of data, simulation and the built environment. If you're considering a TRIG application - or know someone who should be - this is your last chance to put questions directly to the programme team and DfT before the open call closes. 

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