Over the past decade, the Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) scheme has provided hundreds of projects with crucial financial support to stimulate the development of new technology solutions and enable innovators to try out new ideas. More than £15 million has been invested over that time, helping to spur on economic growth around the UK. 

On 23rd October 2024, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the winners of the latest £1.4 million TRIG competition. In all, some 32 pioneering projects were granted a share of the money to help drive innovation and revolutionise the UK transport sector. 

“Innovation is the driving force behind our transport system” 

This latest round of the TRIG programme gave organisations and academics the opportunity to win as much as £45,000 in funding for their innovative ideas. 

The scheme is geared towards aiding the development of sustainable and forward-thinking alternatives and furthering the Government’s aim of making the UK’s transport networks cleaner, greener, and more efficient. 

For this year’s edition of the competition, proposals were sought that focused on local transport decarbonisation, maritime decarbonisation, and emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence. 

In the words of Aviation, Maritime and Security Minister, Mike Kane: “Innovation is the driving force behind our transport system and these winning projects are leading the charge by creating cutting-edge solutions that could offer so much benefit for all. 

“With sustainability at the core of this year’s competition, we’re helping to shape the future of transport – making travel cleaner, safer and more efficient for everyone.” 

So, what projects were successful in attracting a share of the latest funding? 

Among the “visionary designs” granted this year’s available TRIG funding, the DfT cited such examples as an air purification product to combat pollution, as well as a pedestrian management system aimed at improving road safety. 

The startup Vox Aeris was awarded a grant through the programme on the strengths of its invention that aims to use sound waves and music vibrations from a speaker to lower harmful pollution across transport networks. 

Vox Aeris founder and CEO, Selene Sari, said her organisation was “beyond excited” to have been a winner in the programme. 

She explained that the support would be “pivotal for developing our technology, assessing feasibility with refined prototypes and engaging early stakeholders… having such robust support early in our journey will enable us to move faster and connect with networks that would otherwise be challenging to bring together.” 

A complete list of the most recent TRIG winners can be viewed on the GOV.UK website. 

Our transport consultants stand ready to aid the success of your projects 

Assisting the goals of both public and private sector organisations since 1997, Transport Planning Associates (TPA) continues to advise a broad range of clients in relation to their transport planning and infrastructure requirements. 

To benefit from the guidance and expertise of professional and innovative transport consultants and support the success of your projects, please enquire today to your closest TPA office.