Funding

Transport Research and Innovation Grants

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) bridge the early stage, proof-of-concept funding gap in transport innovation, where small investments can de-risk emerging solutions

Impact of TRIG

434Projects Funded

£13.6in funding

17Trig Funding Calls

TRIG Announcements

A logistics hub featuring trucks, shipping containers, a cargo ship, and an airplane in flight during sunset serves as the perfect backdrop for the TRIG 2022 event.

News

Cutting-edge transport projects receive £1.4 million to encourage innovation and deliver growth

32 pioneering projects granted a share of £1.4 million to drive innovation and revolutionise the UK transport sector. Ideas will boost economic growth by creating jobs – sparking further innovation and cementing the UK’s position as a global leader in green transport.

A cargo ship, freight train, and plane transport goods at a busy shipping port, with containers, cranes, and other logistics equipment visible against a sunset sky, showcasing the latest in transport research and innovation.

News

Self-driving delivery boats to benefit from £1.8m future transport fund

A total of 41 of the UK’s most visionary organisations will share the Government’s £1.8m Transport Research and Innovation Grant for 2023.

News / Government investing almost £1 million in transport tech start-ups

An elderly man with sunglasses and a hat takes a photo with his phone while sitting at a tram stop. A red tram is approaching in the background.

News / TRIG: Accessibility winners announced

An aircraft is being refueled by a fuel truck at night in a snowy airport. There is a person next to the truck, and the plane's engine is visible in the foreground.

Programme / Preparing UK airports for zero emission aircraft

A red double-decker bus is driving across a bridge at sunset, with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the background. The sky is partly cloudy.

Event / A-TRIG – Application Support & Information Webinar

What is trig?

The Department for Transport (DfT), in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, offers Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) to fully fund proof-of-concept research projects in support of innovative ideas or concepts that facilitate a better transport system.

The TRIG Programme aims to:

Foster innovation to improve UK transport.
Generate growth in the transport sector.
Build links between policy teams in DfT and innovators.
While the competition encourages applications with innovative ideas across all areas of transport as part of our traditional open call, some grant funding gets ringfenced for projects addressing areas like COVID-19 Recovery and Resilient Transport Systems, Maritime Decarbonisation and Future of Freight challenges (as per the TRIG 2021 call).

Eligibility and scope

TRIG is open to SMEs, universities, and large businesses. The competition is designed to offer small amounts of funding via a simple and accessible application process that will suit innovators needing a cash injection for research and development work. Proposals should all prove an innovative concept, taking an idea typically from TRL 2 (basic research) to TRL 4 (proof of concept/small scale prototype).

TRIG is open to public, private and third sector organisations in addition to universities and research and technology organisations.

Mandatory requirements for entry:

Your organisation must have a UK registered office
We will consider proposals from consortia. However, the lead applicant who will receive the funding must be identified
Applicants submitting more than one competition entry need to demonstrate the ability to deliver the projects concurrently

Why apply?

Funded innovation

Up to 100% funding to develop your innovation

DfT Collaboration

Gain insight from policy teams at the DfT

Business support

Support from Catapult experts and business coaches

Network

Join a cohort of like-minded innovators, sharing ideas and exploring new opportunities

Solution Showcase

Opportunities to pitch your technology to industry experts and senior representatives from the DfT

TRIG competitions are designed to de-risk the development of novel technology and will support the most promising and beneficial products as they launch within their intended markets.

Key features of TRIG:

It is 100% funded
Technical and commercial oversight is available from DfT, Connected Places Catapult and their partners
Participation in workshop activities with other projects and Government organisations is encouraged
Follow on support is available from the Connected Places Catapult, including the chance for SMEs participating to enter their SME development programme
The opportunity to take part in showcasing events designed to attract onward investment and collaboration

Success Stories

Read the Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) Project Outcomes

TRIG 2022 Compendium

File type: pdf

File size: 45.68Mb

Download Report

TRIG 2021 Compendium

File type: pdf

File size: 29.3Mb

Download Report

TRIG 2020 Compendium

File type: pdf

File size: 19.92Mb

Download Report

TRIG 2019 Compendium

File type: pdf

File size: 19.24Mb

Download Report

News & Updates

News

Cutting-edge transport projects receive £1.4 million to encourage innovation and deliver growth

Article

TRIG support helps maritime innovator develop fuel saving ship sail

Hundreds of promising start-up companies have been supported by the Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme, which is hosting a showcase in Birmingham to celebrate its 10th anniversary. One grant recipient finding success is George Thompson of GT Wings.

Article

TRIG funding helps delivery drone firm to take off

Article

Gearing up for a push on last mile eco-logistics

Climate technology firm Kale AI is on a mission to accelerate the growth of sustainable deliveries in cities carried out by light electric vehicles, and is developing software to optimise route planning with financial support and networking provided by Connected Places Catapult.

A panel of seven people, six seated and one speaking while gesturing with a pen, are engaged in a discussion on stage about innovation technology, with a black curtain backdrop and a screen to the left.

Article

Innovators urged to demonstrate true value of their technologies

Commercial challenges of accelerating innovation and winning contracts were topics of conversation at an event convened by Connected Places Catapult.

A group of ten people, some holding certificates, pose for a photo indoors at what appears to be an award ceremony or formal gathering for Transport Research & Innovation Grants.

Article

Celebrating successful starts in developing transport innovation

Five awards for excellence have been handed out to innovators involved in the Transport Research & Innovation Grants programme.

A woman with curly hair, wearing a dark blazer and white blouse, smiles in front of a large jet engine.

Article

Meet the Academic taking a holistic view on aviation’s route to net zero

Converting aircraft to run on cleaner fuels will certainly help the aviation sector get closer to net zero, but airport operators and countries around the world must also make binding commitments to more sustainable infrastructure, says Professor Nazmiye Ozkan.

A rail yard at dusk showing multiple freight trains on parallel tracks, with illuminated lights and distant hills in the background.

Article

3Squared: Filling spare capacity on freight trains

Hundreds of promising start-up companies and university teams have received funding through the Transport Research and Innovation Grants programme in recent years. In the fourth of a series of profiles about grant recipients finding success, we speak to Jason Durk, principal consultant of rail software firm 3Squared.

A woman in a blue blazer leans on a metal railing inside an industrial facility, with machinery and equipment visible in the background.

Article

Meet the academic detecting bridge defects using an instrumented train

Efforts by a senior lecturer at the University of Surrey to analyse complex data generated by a measurement train could help to improve structural engineers’ understanding of when bridges need attention.

Article

Materials Nexus: discovering new products

Hundreds of promising start-up companies and university teams have received funding through the Transport Research and Innovation Grants programme in recent years. In the third of a series of profiles about grant recipients finding success, we speak to Dr Jonathan Bean, chief executive of materials discovery company Materials Nexus.