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 striding forward with walking deliveries
Article

Meet the innovator striding forward with walking deliveries

Joey Grigg and colleagues from Osta Studios have designed a walking delivery cart to transform last mile logistics, with support from the Transport Research and Innovation Grants programme.
An aerial view of a HS2 site preparing for major motorway bridging works
Article

Cracking the productivity challenge in infrastructure

Collaboration and new thinking encouraged by i3P – the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership – are helping major project clients improve productivity.

Recent projects

HS2 Accelerator Programme
Project

HS2 Accelerator Programme

HS2, working with Connected Places Catapult and in partnership with the Department for Transport, delivers the HS2 Accelerator Programme. It enables innovators to work with HS2 to develop technologies that solve real infrastructure challenges and improve efficiency
Flying taxi drone going through the city
Project

Air Mobility Ecosystem Consortium (AMEC)

The Air Mobility Ecosystem Consortium (AMEC) project formed the third phase of the Government Future of Flight challenge, which ran from 2022 through to 2025.
close up view of data on mobile phone
Project

AI in Transport

The Department for Transport (DfT), in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult, recognises the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of the UK’s transport system.

Live open calls

Rail Growth Support Programme
Opportunity

Rail Growth Support Programme

The Rail Growth Support Programme is a capability-building programme for mid-to-early-TRL innovators with solutions applicable to challenges in the railway sector, supporting SMEs to understand the progression route for their solutions.
Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime
Opportunity

Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime

The Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime is a six-month programme supporting SMEs developing innovative solutions for maritime decarbonisation.
Airport security worker observes a bag scanner on screen whilst passengers walk through a security archway
Opportunity

HADeS 2026 Competition

Building on the success of the HADeS (High Assurance Detection Systems) innovation call in 2025 the Department for Transport (DfT) is launching HADeS 2026.

Have you got an innovative pilot, project or solution?

Case studies

Supporting innovators to make transport operations safer
Case Study

Supporting innovators to make transport operations safer

How Connected Places Catapult helped the SME Rhevia to trial its radar and AI technology, delivering insights and improving safety on roads and in workplaces.
Transforming manual asset verification from two weeks to 35 seconds at HS2
Case Study

Transforming manual asset verification from two weeks to 35 seconds at HS2

AI company, BuildPrompt, were partnered with the high-speed rail programme through the HS2 Accelerator to create a solution designed specifically for infrastructure delivery.
Harnessing AI to enhance passenger experience
Case Study

Harnessing AI to enhance passenger experience

The AI in Transport Enhancing Passenger Experience competition, a collaboration between the Department for Transport (DfT) and Connected Places Catapult, aimed to find innovative ideas that embed responsible AI into a resilient transport system, in alignment with the UK government’s vision.

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

Collection of images related to transport, featuring a train, plane, busses and cars, e-bikes

Latest news

Maritime innovators chart a course for cleaner transport
News

Maritime innovators chart a course for cleaner transport

Six innovators have been selected for a six-month programme supporting cleaner maritime solutions.
New tech funding gives UK aviation security a lift
News

New tech funding gives UK aviation security a lift

Nine high-potential UK businesses will be developing smart airport technologies to enhance security screening at UK airports through the High Assurance Detection Systems (HADeS) 2026 programme.
New support for freight and logistics innovators to commercialise validated solutions
News

New support for freight and logistics innovators to commercialise validated solutions

Help with commercial propositions, deployment planning and investor readiness is on offer to UK innovators looking to grow their business.

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…