The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that it has invested in the ‘Transport Decarbonization Demonstrators programme’ to help local authorities and businesses to develop green travel schemes.
Any UK business can apply for up to £500,000 to run innovative trials that tackle local transport challenges on-the-ground.
Half of this £2m fund will be reserved for rural areas, supporting them in unlocking the benefits of technology and innovation to tackle challenges, such as access to jobs and reducing loneliness.
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The competitive grants will be awarded and delivered by Innovate UK – part of UK Research and Innovation and the UK’s national innovation agency, which helps businesses grow and develop new technologies.
Mark Biddle, executive director of 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 are delighted to be working with the Department for Transport to invest £2m in innovation projects aimed at not only reducing emissions, but also building key partnerships between local authorities and businesses which will ensure maximum impact.”
As part of the government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the ‘Transport Decarbonization Demonstrators programme’ announcement is intended to drive decarbonisation at the local level, and will contribute to reaching zero emission vehicles by 2035. This will require 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030.
The ‘Transport Decarbonization Demonstrators programme’ will open on 27 November 2023 and close on 8 January 2024; businesses can apply online.
Achievements in sustainable public transportation will be celebrated at the second annual CiTTi Awards on 21 November 2023 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table today!