Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2025
Applications close 9 June, 23:59
What is the Freight Innovation Fund?
Funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered through Connected Places Catapult, the Freight Innovation Fund is a multi-faceted programme which will accelerate the adoption of commercially ready solutions into the sector.
About the Accelerator Programme cohort 4 (2025-26)
The Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator will support up to 15 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to develop a trial to test their solutions in real-world environments to help solve pressing challenges within the freight sector.
Following the first stage where up to 15 SMEs will be selected for the programme and receive £20,000 to develop a detailed trial proposal, up to 10 will then be selected by the DfT and Connected Places Catapult to receive further up to £130,000 to deliver their trial via a pre-commercial Pilot & Trial contract.
To foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership, SMEs are expected to contribute 30% of the total project cost as matching funds.
SMEs have two options when applying to the programme:
- Apply to be matched with an industry partner
Connected Places Catapult will work with industry partners, who will provide access to testing environments and internal expertise. They will also play an active role in the SME selection as part of the due diligence process. The industry partners supporting the accelerator programme include DFDS, DHL, Port of Tyne, Portsmouth International Port, Welch Group, Wincanton and Veterans into Logistics. If you would like to get additional details about the programme partners, their motivations, potential trial facilities and resources available, please click here. - Apply with your own Industry Partner
We also welcome applications from SMEs who already have a partner they wish to trial their solutions with and can offer access to testbed facilities.
Key dates
8 May
Applications Open
22 May
Application Support Webinar
9 June
Application Deadline
27 June
Shortlisting results
w/c 7July
Technical and Business Due Diligence
w/c 14 July
Commercial Due Diligence
w/c 11 August
Cohort selection
26 August
Welcome Day
March 2026
Demo Day
Application Support Webinar
We hosted the Application Support Webinar on 22 May which includes an overview of the programme, challenges, guidance on the application process and live Q&A. Watch the recording below.
Drop-in sessions
Register to join one of two drop-in sessions, on 28 May and 3 June, to ask any questions you may have.
Programme Challenges
Learn more about the challenges here
Challenge 1: Planet-focused freight
Challenge 2: Circular design
Innovations and interventions targeting decarbonisation and nature’s health in order to climate-proof the inter-modal freight sector.
This may include, but is not limited to:
- Fossil fuel free technologies
- Green energy charging hubs
- Data sharing platform
- Sustainable modal shift technologies
Solutions and services adopting circular design principles to allow the freight sector to reuse, retrofit, recycle and upcycle vehicles, machines, technologies and waste.
This may include, but is not limited to:
- Low-Carbon retrofit technologies
- Retrofitting hubs
- Circular supply chains
- Material innovation
Challenge 3: Freight optimisation & efficiency
Challenge 4: People in freight
Next generation technologies to make inter-modal logistics and freight less wasteful, more efficient and collaborative.
This may include, but is not limited to:
- Dynamic load-matching
- AI predictive analytics
- Automated logistics platforms
- Smart freight corridors
Innovations, trainings and services that shape healthy, diverse, inclusive and safe workplaces and communities.
This may include, but is not limited to:
- Planet-Focused training methods
- Net zero upskilling
- Health & safety
Why apply?
02
Trial Support
This could include, but is not limited to trial design training, deployment support, trial monitoring and evaluation support.
03
Investment Support
One-to-one sessions with an experienced investment coach.
04
Marketing Support
One-to-one sessions with an experienced marketing coach.
05
Demonstration Day
An opportunity to showcase the success of your trials and meet investors, industry leaders, Government and academia at the end of the programme.
06
Business Development
Business development opportunities and introductions to potential customers.
07
Opportunities to showcase your innovation projects to industry experts and representatives from DfT
Am I eligible for this programme?
At the point of application:
- You must be a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME).
- You must have a registered UK company address.
- You must have operations in the UK.
- You must have an innovative solution at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5+.
- You must be willing to test in a real-world environment.
- You must be able to address one the accelerator challenge statements with your solution.
- You must be VAT registered.
How to apply?
To apply to the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Cohort 4, please register through the link below. As part of your application, you will have to submit an indicative trial proposal with the associated costs and requirements. If you are successful in your application, you will further refine your proposal with your programme partner.
Please read the following supporting documents carefully before submitting your application.
Supporting documents
Point of contact
If you have any questions about the programme and application, please contact our Freight Innovation Fund Team, FreightInnovationFund@cp.catapult.org.uk
Funded by:
Delivered by:
Industry Partners
Equality & Diversity
Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport are collecting equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) data as part of the application process to promote and ensure equality of access for the programmes it delivers. This data will help us monitor the performance of efforts to promote ED&I in research and business innovation. All personal data will be processed in accordance with current UK data protection legislation, including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
Connected Places Catapult are part of the Catapult Network Inclusivity in Innovation Charter
Funding information
*The DfT will provide up to £20,000 to the 15 selected SMEs to support the development of their trial proposals. Following this, up to 10 SMEs will be awarded up to £130,000 each to deliver their trials. The exact amount awarded will depend on the scope and requirements of the submitted trial proposal.
Connected Places Catapult will procure these services under a pre-commercial Pilot & Trial contract. The funding does not constitute a grant and will therefore not be subject to Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) regulations. Further details can be found in the application guidance.
To foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership, SMEs are expected to contribute 30% of the total project cost as matching funds. For instance, if the total project costs is £100,000 you should apply for £70,000 in funding from the Freight Innovation Fund programme and contribute £30,000 as matching funds.
Designed to be in-kind, the matching fund could include but is not limited to:
- Labour costs
- Overheads
- Materials costs
- Capital usage (property, equipment, facilities)
- Subcontractor costs
- Travel and subsistence costs
- Other costs – Workshop/lab usage charge outs, training costs, preparation of technical reports, market assessment, licensing in new technologies and patent filing costs of new IP.
Fee payment structure:
Trial Design: £20,000
Trial Delivery: Up to £130,000
- 60% payable at the start of the Trial Delivery phase
- 40% payable upon completion of the programme
You will be required to provide evidence of match funding.
