National Centre for Accessible Transport Scaling Innovation Programme (UK)

The amount of funding available depends on your innovation’s maturity level, which is explained in more detail in the application guidance. Applicants will also be asked how they have involved disabled individuals in developing their solutions. The aim is to embed innovative, future focused solutions into the transport system and improve accessibility.

Running from March to August 2025, the programme offers funding, business and technical support, and access to the ncat consortium’s expertise.

Challenges

• Physical barriers in the street
  • Solutions to overcoming barriers around the street environment. To include the fixed infrastructure (e.g. pavement and furniture) and non-permanent street obstacles (e.g. signs, parked cars).
• Interactions with other people
  • Solutions around improving interactions between transport staff, the public and Disabled people. A specific focus should be around transport interactions and experiences including assistance, boarding and alighting and booking and ticketing.
• Open Call
  • In addition to the two challenge areas, Scaling Innovation includes an ‘Open Call’ for ideas that improve transport accessibility for disabled people but fall outside the defined challenges. These submissions will be reviewed using the same criteria, though priority will be given to projects addressing the two challenges. Future competitions will tackle different challenges, offering more opportunities for innovative solutions.

Benefits

• Funded project opportunities
  • Funding to help you validate your idea, conduct product testing, create prototypes, and trial or test your idea or innovation.
• Business & technical support
  • Business and technical support provided by Connected Places Catapult.
• Industry events & showcase opportunities
  • Valuable networking opportunities with key decision makers.

Funding Information

• Up to 15 participants will be selected, with funding of up to £150,000 available per applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

• Scaling Innovation encourages applications from both individual applicants and consortia. In the case of a consortium, a lead must be identified for contractual reasons and they must complete the application form.
• They would particularly welcome applications from D/deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and for individuals or entrepreneurs with lived experiences of disability.
• To be eligible:
  • They do require that the lead organisation is UK registered.
  • You must demonstrate alignment to your chosen challenge or their open call.
  • The competition is open to organisations of any size, including academia, Research and Technology Organisations (RTO), industry, charities, central and local government etc.

For more information, visit Connected Places Catapult.