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:

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
Autonomous boat scale-up charts rapid growth
Article

Autonomous boat scale-up charts rapid growth

Online Oceans received Catapult support to build autonomous work boats, and is now attracting investment and starting to generate a profit.
Quiet operation propels sales of electric motors for boats
Article

Quiet operation propels sales of electric motors for boats

Marine technology specialist RAD Propulsion – a participant of two Catapult-led programmes – recently secured £4.4 million of investment, and is looking to achieve £25 million annual revenue within the next three years.

Recent projects

A busy train station platform with people walking and automated ticket barriers in the foreground under a large arched roof
Project

Station Innovation Zone

We’re working with Network Rail and SMEs to test new technologies in live station environments. This helps SMEs grow, reduces risk for rail partners, and improves the passenger experience.
Connected Airport Living Labs
Project

Connected Airport Living Labs

The Connected Airport Living Labs is designed as a network of collaborative partnerships between Connected Places Catapult and UK airports, through which UK-based SMEs can test and demonstrate their late-stage innovative solution in a live airport environment.
Several white trucks are lined up in front of stacked shipping containers at an industrial location during sunset.
Project

Freight Innovation Fund

The Freight Innovation Fund is a multi-faceted programme funded by the Department for Transport, focussed on accelerating the adoption of commercial ready solutions to address challenges in the UK’s freight sector.

Live open calls

Connected Airport Living Lab: 2026/27 Programme
Opportunity

Connected Airport Living Lab: 2026/27 Programme

Connected Airport Living Lab is a six-month challenge-led opportunity for UK-registered SMEs to develop, test or demonstrate innovative technological solutions in a live airport environment.
Hydrogen End-to-End Dashboard: Digital platform creation (NAVIGATE)
Opportunity

Hydrogen End-to-End Dashboard: Digital platform creation (NAVIGATE)

Connected Places Catapult is inviting proposals for the design, development, and deployment of NAVIGATE, a data-led integrated digital platform to support strategic decision-making across the UK zero-emission aviation ecosystem.
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.

Have you got an innovative pilot, project or solution?

Case studies

Making Rail Accessible: Reducing Travel Anxiety with Digital Support at Bristol Temple Meads
Case Study

Making Rail Accessible: Reducing Travel Anxiety with Digital Support at Bristol Temple Meads

Through the Station Innovation Zone, Journey Alerts trialled their app-free digital support service.
Stations as spaces for placemaking
Case Study

Stations as spaces for placemaking

Understanding local experiences, challenges and opportunities in operating community-focused offerings from stations
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.

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

Latest news

Bus software contract awarded to scaling Catapult-backed company
News

Bus software contract awarded to scaling Catapult-backed company

Data driven mobility specialist Alchera Technologies has signed a contract with Norfolk County Council to supply a system to help improve bus reliability.
Exterior view of Glasgow Airport terminal building with white taxis lined up in the designated pick-up area, showcasing Glasgow Airport's accessibility features.
News

Search begins for innovators to improve airport operations and passenger experience

Up to £30k each and access to expert commercial support is available to innovators that can help airports understand passenger sentiment and asset performance.
An aerial view of a docked ship in a port
News

Early-stage clean maritime solutions selected to receive business support

Innovative organisations have been chosen for the inaugural Ideas Elevator: Maritime.

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…