Funding Competition: SBRI – Accessible Solutions for Disrupted Journeys (UK)

Your solution must support a targeted user group, listed in the specified themes in the scope section. The user group may experience hesitance or barriers accessing and using the UK’s transport networks. This will enable them to continue their journeys in a safe and comfortable way.

Your solution can, taking into consideration the users needs and preference:

• minimise or remove any discomfort by providing interim support for possible disruption
• make available one or more alternative ways to complete the journey
• return back to the starting point of the journey

The preferred solution must allow journeys to continue as closely as possible to the original plan. It must match the user requirements, whilst minimising the effort, discomfort and anxiety for the traveller. They welcome solutions which can be used across multiple transportation modes or throughout the whole, door-to-door, journey.

Your project must:

• develop a solution which can provide a near-instant request or application, be used in real-time, or be a pre-emptive solution
• develop the solution with a targeted accessibility, or inclusivity perspective embedded within it
• consider how the proposed solution will benefit or impact other aspects of accessibility and inclusivity
• identify how you will engage with the target user group for the duration of the project, in order to provide feedback
• state whether your solution will be used for single or multiple transportation modes
• detail how the solution complies with UK accessibility standards, guidance and legislation, if required

Specific Themes

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

• people with physical disabilities
• people with mental health conditions
• people with learning disabilities
• people who are neurodiverse
• age inclusion
• personal safety
• gender inclusion
• people with caring responsibilities
• access and inclusion for other barriers

Project Size

• Projects can range in size up to total costs of £250,000, inclusive of VAT.

Projects they will not fund

They will not fund projects that:

• are not original in scope and duplicates someone else’s work
• do not consider the solution from an accessibility, or inclusive perspective
• do not have a solution that will benefit the UK transport networks
• could have a detrimental impact on other transport users
• do not specify how they intend to engage with the target user group throughout the length of the project
• do not address how any potentially negative outcomes, such as on the environment or society, would be managed
• do not evidence the potential for their proposed innovation to generate positive economic or societal impact
• would directly duplicate other UK government or EU funded initiatives you have already been funded to deliver
• are covered by existing commercial agreements to deliver the proposed solutions

Who can apply?

• Your project
  • Projects must:
    • start on 1 June 2024
    • end by 31 March 2025
    • have a maximum duration of 10 months
    • deliver user engagement throughout the duration of the project
• Applicant
  • To lead a project, you can:
    • be an organisation of any size
    • work alone or with the subcontracted skills and expertise of others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations, or the third sector (charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups)
  • This competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian or Belarusian entity as lead or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian or Belarusian source.
• Use of animals in research and innovation
  • Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

For more information, visit Innovate UK.