Innovate UK launches new £2 million, DfT funded competition to help decarbonise local transport

A new £2 million competition has been announced to encourage businesses and local authorities to work together to develop and trial transport schemes that cut emissions in the long term.

The Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme, delivered by Innovate UK and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), will also help to grow local economies by supporting businesses to bring new solutions closer to market.

Any UK registered business can apply for up to £500,000 to collaborate with Local Authorities and run innovative trials that consider a place-based approach to reducing transport emissions. Half of this £2 million fund will be reserved for rural areas, supporting them in unlocking the benefits of technology and innovation to tackle transport emissions and meet the needs and attributes of these unique areas. Find out more.

The trials will help to develop the green transport systems of the future while improving choice and availability of transport options for passengers.

The competitive grants will be awarded and delivered by Innovate UK – part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – and the UK’s national innovation agency, which helps businesses to grow and develop new technologies. The competition will open on 27 November 2023 and close on 8 January 2024. The competition briefing will take place on 28 November 2023.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

Taking a place-based approach to decarbonise our transport systems is critical if we are to reach our net zero targets both locally and nationally and prosper from the transition to net zero. Innovate UK is delighted to be working with DfT to invest £2 million in innovation projects aimed at not only reducing emissions but also building key partnerships between local authorities and businesses, which will ensure maximum impact.

For networking opportunities and the chance to find out more about this competition, please register to attend Multimodal Hubs: accelerating new solutions, an in-person event which will take place on 29 November.

View the announcement in full.