The Freight Innovation Fund is a multi-faceted programme funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), the fund’s accelerator programme is focussed on fast-tracking the adoption of commercial ready solutions to address challenges in the UK’s freight and logistics sector.
Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 – Cohort 5 – Connected Places Catapult
About the programme
The 5th Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator will support SMEs through a two‑phase programme:
- Phase 1: Up to 12 SMEs will be selected to join a 5 week Trial Design phase, each receiving £10,000 to develop a detailed trial proposal.
- Phase 2: Up to 8 SMEs will then be selected to deliver real‑world trials over a 5 month period, with each receiving up to £100,000 in additional trial funding. SMEs will be required to match-fund 30% of the total project cost.