case_studies
Catalysing and scaling innovation in UK freight and logistics
Explore the impact of the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund accelerator, delivered by Connected Places Catapult.
Catalysing and scaling innovation in the UK freight ecosystem
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Freight and logistics are fundamental to the UK economy, but the sector faces persistent structural barriers to adopting new technologies, such as uncertainty about performance, integration and return on investment.
In recognition of the barriers, the UK Government set out a long‑term commitment to transform the freight system through the Future of Freight Plan in 2022. As part of this commitment, £7 million was allocated to the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund to provide targeted support to accelerate innovation adoption in the sector.
About the programme
The Freight Innovation Fund (FIF) Accelerator is delivered by Connected Places Catapult on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) to support late-stage freight innovations to move closer to commercial adoption.
By combining live trials in operational freight environments with tailored business, investment and market development support, the programme helps SMEs reduce adoption risk, generate credible evidence, and strengthen their route to market.
Success to date:
● 39 SMEs supported across four cohorts (2023 to 2026) to deliver 44 live trials, testing their solutions in real-world environments.
● Participating SMEs have raised £102m private investment.
● Supported SMEs have created 59 new FTE jobs.
TUAL – leveraging trials to secure investment for scale
TUAL, a participant in Cohort 3 of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator, developed deployable powerbank technology to support the transition of commercial fleets to electric vehicles.
Through trials with Wincanton and IKEA, TUAL demonstrated two use cases: a portable ‘Rescue Charger’ to extend vehicle range and support fleet operations, and a ‘PowerUp’ charging system providing high‑power charging at grid‑constrained sites. These solutions enabled increased fleet utilisation and reduced reliance on fixed infrastructure and costly upgrades.
Following the trial, TUAL secured £1.5 million in venture capital funding from a consortium of three investors to further develop its technology and expand commercialisation across the UK and Europe. Read more about TUAL here.
Catalysing and scaling innovation in the UK freight ecosystem
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File size: 28.32Mb
Download Report
Programme
Freight Innovation Fund
The Freight Innovation Fund is a multi-faceted programme funded by the Department for Transport, focussed on accelerating the adoption of commercial ready solutions to address challenges in the UK’s freight and logistics sector.
The objective of the Freight Innovation Fund is to support SMEs to trial, validate and scale technologies that address some of the most pressing challenges in the freight and logistics sector, ranging from decarbonisation and wastage to efficiency and upskilling of staff, while convening industry, government and innovators around shared challenges.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has dedicated £10m to the programme to support SMEs through the Accelerator Programme and Freight Innovation Cluster from 2023-2026.
“We know how crucial the freight industry is to keep Britain moving, and how important it is that transport is equipped to face modern-day challenges.
“Our funding will allow businesses to start trialling their revolutionary technology on our roads, ports and railways, meaning they can make an immediate difference and help grow the economy.”
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather
Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator
More than 44 SMEs supported to deliver trial plans
39 SMEs supported to deliver 44 real-world trials
Across 4 cohorts from 2023 to 2026
The Accelerator supports late-stage SMEs (around TRL 5–6) for 6 months, where they can access between £100,000-£150,000 in funding to trial their solutions in live freight environments with selected industry innovation partners.
Technologies trialled include lightweight trailers inspired by the aerodynamics of racing cars, sensors designed to improve the well-being of staff working at ports, and environmentally-friendly electric trailers, which can be pulled along by bikes.
The programme has strengthened industry understanding of how emerging technologies address real operational challenges in the transportation of goods and management of the supply chain. SMEs have reported clearer routes to market, commercial traction and follow‑on funding opportunities linked to accelerator trials.
Find out more about what to expect from the Accelerator programme through our previous open calls for cohort 3 and cohort 4.
Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator cohort four brochure
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“The Freight Innovation Fund enabled us to work side by side with the teams at Associated British Ports and The Bristol Port Company to refine Athena with real feedback from the people running day-to-day operations.
“That experience helped us build a flexible workforce management platform that genuinely supports accurate planning, safe staffing and operational confidence for ports. Both partners have since moved to commercial contracts, and the platform’s success has already resulted in new partnerships with further UK operators and with major global operators overseas.”
Cato Davies, Co-founder and CEO of Ensemble Analytics – a previous beneficiary of the Accelerator
Meet the innovators
Find out more about how the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator is helping innovators transform the freight and logistics sector.
Previous Accelerator Partners
The Freight and Logistics Innovation Network (FLIN) brings the sector together to enable and accelerate innovation, tackling fragmentation and helping new solutions move faster from idea to adoption across modes in freight and logistics.
Through FLIN, organisations connect through targeted matchmaking, structured mentoring, shared insights, and practical routes to funding, pilots, and commercial partnerships that turn collaboration into delivery.
FLIN is open to SMEs, larger operators, technology providers, academia, investors, and public sector bodies who want to collaborate, shape the future of freight, and scale innovation with the right partners.
Stories from the Freight Innovation Fund
Article
Collaboration and new thinking encouraged by i3P – the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership – are helping major project clients improve productivity.
News
Help with commercial propositions, deployment planning and investor readiness is on offer to UK innovators looking to grow their business.
Opportunity
The Freight Innovation Fund: Venture Growth Programme is designed for ambitious innovators with commercially ready solutions, helping them strengthen their commercial proposition, prepare for scale and unlock new growth opportunities.
News
Automated port systems and aerodynamic lorry designs feature among the latest companies selected for the accelerator programme.
Article
Marine technology specialist RAD Propulsion – a participant of two Catapult-led programmes – recently secured £4.4 million of investment, and is looking to achieve £25 million annual revenue within the next three years.
Article
Data management specialist Zizo expects to make £1 million from its AI platform in the next year; created with help from the Freight Innovation Fund accelerator.
