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.

813 billion

passenger kilometres travelled in Great Britain in 2024.

640,000 jobs

supported by the UK’s rail industry.

Busiest ever year

for UK aviation in 2025.

86%

of international UK freight is moved by sea.

Driving change in transport

We support the UK transport sector to test, validate and scale innovation across rail, aviation, highways, maritime and integrated transport systems.

Explore case studies on recent projects driving change in the transport industry, including:

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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

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 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
Carbon busting materials specialist set to scale
Article

Carbon busting materials specialist set to scale

Low Carbon Materials is preparing to increase production of its concrete and asphalt additives by more than 20 times, following participation in an accelerator delivered by Connected Places Catapult.
Show us your demonstrations in the field; investors advise freight innovators
Article

Show us your demonstrations in the field; investors advise freight innovators

Venture capital and angel investors gave advice to SMEs developing technology as part of the Freight Innovation Fund.

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?

Latest news

A port scene shows cargo ships, trucks, and stacked containers. An airplane is flying overhead against a sunset sky, with city skyscrapers visible in the background.
News

£1.8 million awarded to projects at the cutting edge of transport innovation

Shapeshifting trailers and ‘swarm robotics’ are amongst a host of new ideas being chosen to help tackle some of the UK’s most pressing transport challenges, like improving the efficiency of freight and decarbonising maritime.
New Wave of Funding Targets Barriers in Vehicle Stops, Travel Assistance, and Transport Information
News

New Wave of Funding Targets Barriers in Vehicle Stops, Travel Assistance, and Transport Information

The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) Scaling Innovation Programme has launched its second round of funding today.
An artist impression of a HS2 train at a platform
News

HS2 launches new Innovation Accelerator to support the railway’s reset

HS2 Ltd is turning to some of the country’s most innovative tech specialists to bolster the ongoing work to get HS2 back on track.

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…