Transport Research and Innovation Grants 2025
Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) 2025 supports early stage, high-risk research and development projects with up to £45,000 in grant funding.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
21/05/2025
Registration Closes
20/06/2025
Award
Up to £45,000 in grant funding (no matching fund required); collaborative space for innovators and DfT policy teams to work together on shared goals; monthly cohort-level business support; alumni community opportunities.
Organisation
DFT
The Department for Transport and its delivery partner Connected Places Catapult support innovators through Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme. TRIG helps develop new ideas to shape a more inclusive, environmentally responsible, and cohesive transport system across the UK.
Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) 2025 supports early stage, high-risk research and development projects by:
- Awarding up to £45,000 in grant funding (no matching fund required)
- Offering a collaborative space for innovators and DfT policy teams to work together on shared goals.
- Providing monthly cohort-level business support
- Engaging with a rich Alumni community for further peer-to-peer support and networking
- Following a low burden application process
Projects must have an innovative concept for transport, at technical readiness level (TRL) 2-4 (basic research: proof of concept/small scale prototype), which will be fully delivered and deployed in the UK.
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Who can apply?
- Only UK registered organisations
- Public, private or third sector organisations of any size (including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises), universities, and research and technology organisations.
Consortia are welcome but not required. (Please note that the lead applicant will be responsible to receive and distribute the grant.)
Previous TRIG applicants and winners can apply, providing they apply with a different innovation.
Organisations must not exceed the Minimum Financial Assistance threshold as a result of TRIG funding.
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- An innovative concept for transport
- Technical readiness level (TRL) 2 – 4 (basic research- Proof of concept/small scale prototype)
- Projects must be fully delivered and deployed in the UK
- Projects must begin on 1 October 2025 and are expected to finish by end February 2026; final project report must be submitted by 13 February 2026.
- Attendance at the launch event in November 2025 is expected
- Attendance at the TRIG Showcase event in March 2026 is expected and highly recommended
Up to 40 projects will be funded up to £45,000 each; this can cover 100% of project costs.
Applicants will receive 60% of funding up front and 40% upon completion. -
The DfT recognises critical technologies as a driver of transformation within the entire UK’s transport sector. As mobility demands evolve and global pressures such as climate change and digitalisation intensify, the DfT acknowledges the role critical technologies play across all transport modes. For this reason, ‘Critical technologies’ is a cross-cutting theme for this TRIG competition. This means that the competition will consider funding ideas aligned to the theme and applied to any of the three main challenges: maritime decarbonisation, freight innovation, and the open call.
Each challenge section has a Critical Technologies sub-section that highlights the critical technology focus for that challenge, although it is not limited to these technologies. Funding is available for 7 projects that align with this cross-cutting theme. These projects will sit within any of the three main challenge areas, supplementing the funding already allocated to that challenge.
Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, position and navigation technologies, drone technology, robotics, Quantum technologies, connectivity on the move, smart vehicles connectivity, and smart infrastructure technologies are in scope. See the challenge specification document for full details.
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Challenge 1: maritime decarbonisation
Around 15 projects driving rapid decarbonisation to meet the Net Zero targets in the maritime Industry while advancing the government’s clean energy ambitions.
Challenge 2:
Freight InnovationAround 10 projects enhancing efficiency and resilience within a multimodal freight system, aiming to stimulate economic growth, ensure value for money, and reduce environmental impact.
Challenge 3:
Open CallAround 8 projects which fall outside the targeted challenges, but have potential to make meaningful impact on the UK’s transport system and with DfT’s priorities. We are particularly interested in seeking solutions which address the following areas: decarbonisation, connectivity to support economic growth and social inclusion but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
See the challenge specification document for full details of each individual challenge.
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Application support webinar
On Thursday 29 May at 13:00, Connected Places Catapult and DfT will be hosting an Application Support & Information webinar: click here to register. It will cover an overview of this year’s TRIG programme, the challenge areas, and offer support and guidance on the application process. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and seek support to help build a successful application.
Challenges Q&A sessions
Connected Places Catapult and DfT will be hosting three Q&A sessions: click here to register for a place. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions about the challenge specifications and seek support to help build a successful application.
- Open call and critical technology | Date: 3 June | Time: 12:00
- Maritime Decarbonisation | Date: 5 June | Time: 10:00
- Freight Innovation | Date: 5 June | Time: 10:00
If you have any question about the application, please contact the team on trig@cp.catapult.org.uk.