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
361
Projects funded
£12.2M
funded
16
TRIG funding calls

01. TRIG Announcements

02. 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

03. 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

04. History of TRIG

05. Success stories

06. News & updates

Results found
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Article
Meet the innovator using virtual reality to improve driver safety
Heavy goods drivers are among the beneficiaries of new safety training developed using virtual reality.
News
Applications open for Transport Research and Innovation Grants
Innovators with ideas to address the UK’s most pressing transport challenges are encouraged to apply