Background
We are witnessing unprecedented advancements in science and technology, and the business models that will underpin resultant transport services, both of which will profoundly change our transport systems. The Industrial Strategy aims to make the UK a world leader in the way people, goods and services move now and in the future, with the potential to achieve a safer, cleaner and more user-centred transport system. T-TRIG enables government and industry innovators to learn together, making future investments in transport technology more cost effective.
In the last six years, the Department for Transport has provided £5.4m of grants to support over 170 projects, from across the breadth of the transport technology spectrum. The programme has delivered great successes, including using advanced carbon capture technology to decarbonise marine shipping, allowing electric vehicles with surplus energy to share and trade with others in the vicinity and the development of a machine learning model to detect potholes. To date, more than £25m of follow-on investment has been secured by organisations after delivering successful T-TRIG projects – a return of £5 for every £1 invested by government.
T-TRIG is open to all businesses and academic institutions who are seeking funding to undertake early stage feasibility studies.
Competition Scope
There are three challenges within the T-TRIG 2020 programme:
1) Open call – The purpose of the open funding call is to seek innovative ideas that have the potential to address a UK transport challenge, across all modes and technology areas.
2) Decarbonising the Transport System – We are seeking projects that demonstrate innovative technological solutions to deliver decarbonisation from well to wheel, including the infrastructure, vehicles, and systems, both in the UK and overseas.
3) COVID-19 Recovery – The department is seeking innovations that seek to aid in the COVID-19 Recovery within the transport sector, looking at transport modes, passengers and staff.