Join the freight
A leading initiative in the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund programme, brought to you by Connected Places Catapult
Join the clusterFREIGHT INNOVATION CLUSTER
The Freight Innovation Cluster (FIC) is a robust network of members operating in the freight industry, which regularly engage and work collaboratively towards joint opportunities.
With more than 180 organisations, encompassing industry, academia, local authorities and larger players, the Freight Innovation Cluster is far from being only a community. It presents itself as a vibrant environment where member organisations connect, showcase their challenges, seek solutions through meaningful commercial partnerships, as well as co-design joint processes and ventures.
What is an innovation cluster?
An innovation cluster often refers to a group of organisations geographically located in the same area, sharing the same industry focus, and interacting in a collaborative, yet competitive, way.
The Freight Innovation Cluster revolutionises the way clusters operate. Its strategic focus on the Government’s freight strategy and commercialisation, rather than being a limitation, represents an opportunity and enables it to act as a catalyst, convening the freight sector and reducing the barriers to innovation. FIC’s goal is to create a solid ecosystem of places and solutions, that, powered by togetherness and collaborative innovation, can become the backbone of the UK freight industry.
The freight Innovation Cluster is a catalyst for:
1 Engagement
FIC is a suitable environment for members network, establish compatible professional relationships, share challenges, and seek ad-hoc support.
2 Upskilling
Relationship building, and innovation showcasing brings knowledge into the cluster. Members can learn from each other and mutually upskill, leading to a win-win scenario.
3 Matchmaking
It can happen with the help of the Innovation cluster programme manager who facilitates new dialogues. Matchmaking can also happen organically and sustainably.
4 Delivery of Tangibles
Support members with the delivery of impactful tangibles, including advancement of innovative products, growth in capital, support to internationalisation, and exporting. Finally, economic development more widely.
The Freight Innovation Cluster is committed to raising awareness around the breadth of opportunities this industry offers. By changing the narrative around the sector, FIC hopes to more attractive to professionals of all ages, and more accessible across all societal sects. Finally, FIC encourages equity, diversity, and inclusion within the industry.
FREIGHT INNOVATION CLUSTER
How to join the cluster
1
Join the Freight
Innovation Cluster
2
Diagnostic call and pre-
programme questionnaire
3
Ready for engagement
4
Engagement in activities, progression programmes and open calls
Spotlight
AECOM is a worldwide provider of technical consultancy services with over 50,000 staff, operating in many market sectors and has been recognised as the world’s largest Transportation consultancy. AECOM’s Freight and Fleet Team offers a complete multi-modal service of freight research, feasibility, master-planning, fleet transition, performance review, site development and behavioural change programmes for the public and private sectors, delivering sustainable freight solutions with specific emphasis on measures that can have positive carbon outcomes.
Aidrivers, the global specialist in AI-enabled autonomous solutions across industrial mobility has recently joined hands with Ashok Leyland India to produce electric terminal truck designed for port operations. The electric terminal truck designed for port operations will be India’s first autonomous electric terminal truck for port operations and will help in delivering resilient, productive, and efficient operations while reducing carbon footprint for sustainable logistics. Aidrivers is currently seeking new partners (ideally British ports) to trial its new solution.
Afshin Mansouri is a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management in Brunel Business School (BBS). He Is currently working with a colleague at Cranfield University, to explore the environmental impact of the competitive behaviour of online grocery retailers in home deliveries. The latter aims to be achieved through the development and design of a lab experiment in which participants play the role of online grocery retailers.
Net zero as a target is well-defined but the journey to get there is not. Many businesses are grappling with where to start or how to make progress on this journey. Trace is a climate tech platform that can help you on the journey to Net Zero; measure and manage your emissions whilst unlocking the power of your workforce to realise your targets.
NETWORK
Join the freight
innovation cluster
Join an exciting networking of innovators
with disruptive technologies in freight.
What is the criteria?
TRL 3-9
Must have focus in freight
Must be based in the UK
Must be willing to engage
