Fifteen innovators with early-stage technologies that address maritime decarbonisation challenges have been selected to take part in a new business support programme backed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Connected Places Catapult.

The ‘Ideas Elevator: Maritime’ will see each organisation develop novel concepts to help the maritime sector meet national net zero targets and contribute to the Government's clean energy ambitions.

The programme will support small to medium sized companies and academic institutions with disruptive new technologies and ideas, at technology readiness level (TRL) 1 (basic principles observed and reported) to 2 (technology concept or application formulated), to come forward to meet one of five challenges.

Ultimately, up to five projects from the ‘Ideas Elevator: Maritime’ will be fast-tracked to interview for the Transport Research and Innovation Grants 2026 programme. If successful, selected companies will receive up to £45,000 to continue with the development of their ideas.

The successful projects aim to address a wide range of maritime-related decarbonisation challenges, including the safe and scalable adoption of future maritime fuels, improving vessel energy efficiency and supporting ports in the transition to net zero.

The organisations selected are:

Aeralung Technologies
Algaenic
Alranga
Cygnus Atratus Enterprises
Helix8
Hycomplate
KA Engineering Group
Kuasar UK
Liverpool John Moores University
London South Bank University
SEMS Technologies
Trackgenesis
University of Birmingham
University of Nottingham
University of Wolverhampton

The cohort will receive expert feedback on concept development, pitch deck development support and training, and an opportunity to attend a pitch day to present ideas to a panel of DfT, industry and Connected Places Catapult representatives.

“The maritime sector is vital to the UK economy, but it is also a significant contributor to carbon emissions. The Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets an ambitious aim for UK domestic maritime to reach zero fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This presents a huge opportunity for innovators in the maritime sector to bring forward new technologies to support decarbonisation.

“By delivering the Ideas Elevator we are giving innovators with an early-stage idea the opportunity to quickly validate initial thinking and a clear path for taking the idea further towards commercialisation and impact.”

Sameer Savani, Transport Managing Director at Connected Places Catapult