Transport

Creating cleaner, safer, smarter and more resilient transport systems

The UK transport sector is under growing pressure to decarbonise, improve safety, increase resilience and deliver better outcomes for passengers and freight. But complexity, risk and market barriers can slow the adoption of new technologies and innovation at scale.

We help transport organisations and high-potential businesses overcome barriers to innovation by validating emerging technologies in real-world and highly regulated infrastructure environments, accelerating the deployment of proven solutions across the transport sector.

By connecting industry, innovators, investors and government, we help scale proven transport solutions that improve performance, productivity and long-term sustainability across the UK transport system.

delivered using active airports and rail stations for trialling new solutions.

trials delivered in 2025- 2026 alone.

raised in private investment by supported SMEs since 2019.

in actualised cost-savings for HS2 as a result from our accelerators.

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Our services

Connected Places Catapult is a proven delivery partner for transport operators, infrastructure owners, government and high-potential SMEs.

We help identify, test and scale solutions that improve transport performance, sustainability and operational resilience.

Our services for transport industry organisations and SMEs include:

Our focus areas

Photo of Sameer Savani

We have an imperative to transform the transport sector – creating systems that are more sustainable, reliable, safe and accessible to all. At Connected Places Catapult, we collaborate with the entire transport ecosystem to catalyse change.

Sameer Savani, Transport & Construction Managing Director,

Connected Places Catapult

Scaling SME growth

We work directly with high potential transport businesses in the UK to support growth and commercialisation through our projects and programmes, which aim to:

  • Help SMEs turn potential into performance
  • Reduce risk so individual businesses can scale
  • Support SMEs to compete in real markets
Meet the innovator scaling a business to make travel more accessible
Article

Meet the innovator scaling a business to make travel more accessible

Jay Shen’s start-up company Transreport provides travel assistance for disabled passengers, and has progressed from rail to aviation, secured investment, and seen significant revenue growth since engaging with Connected Places Catapult.
Meet the academic looking for industry impact on net zero
Article

Meet the academic looking for industry impact on net zero

Dawid Hanak is developing new approaches to decarbonisation as a Researcher in Residence with Connected Places Catapult

Recent projects

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Live open calls

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Have you got an innovative pilot, project or solution?

Case studies

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Interested in collaborating with us to de-risk new technologies and solutions, and implement innovation at scale?

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Latest news

A worker in a hat and vest oversees a forklift lifting a container, surrounded by containers in a shipping yard.
News

Government funding available for fresh thinking in freight

Up to £150k and specialist business support is available to innovators with ideas to solve some of the freight sector’s most pressing challenges.
ncat awards funding to innovation projects for enhancing transport accessibility
News

ncat awards funding to innovation projects for enhancing transport accessibility

Connected Places Catapult is excited to be delivering the Scaling Innovation Programme on behalf of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat), which has announced the selection of its first cohort of innovation projects.
Maritime innovators invited to step forward for new transport accelerator
News

Maritime innovators invited to step forward for new transport accelerator

Up to eight innovative companies can receive support from leading industry players to develop new technology for use in ports and on vessels.

We work closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) to drive innovation and deliver transformative projects across the UK transport sector. Our partnership enables us to support cutting-edge research, develop new technologies, and create solutions that address the most pressing challenges in transport today.

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Transport Research and Innovation Grants

The Department for Transport (DfT), in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, offers Transport Research and…