Eleven UK-based SMEs offering solutions to freight and logistics challenges have been shortlisted to develop their innovative systems through the Freight Innovation Fund accelerator.
This is the fifth cohort of businesses welcomed onto the accelerator since its launch in 2023. The Freight Innovation Fund is delivered by Connected Places Catapult on behalf of the DfT.
Each SME selected for the accelerator programme receives up to £10,000 to develop a detailed trial proposal.
The next phase of the accelerator will see up to eight of the SMEs selected to trial their solutions at a port or logistics hub, with further funding awarded of up to £100,000 each.
The eight will trial their solutions with one or several of the following industry partners: GXO Logistics, Port of Tyne, Portsmouth International Port, Shoreham Port, Twentyforty, and Welch Group.
SMEs chosen for the programme have addressed one of three industry challenges covering renewable energy systems, autonomy in freight and logistics operations, and supply chain resilience – plus an open call for innovations with a positive impact on nature, efficiency or safety.
The 11 SMEs are:
- Aeroflow, which has created an aerodynamic HGV that ‘shape-shifts’ to improve fuel efficiency, increase range and lower emissions.
- Aurrigo, which has an autonomous baggage and passenger transport solution which is being trialled for port cruise operations, to improve efficiency and safety, and ease congestion.
- BioBright, which has built a data platform to detect pollution and oil leaks at ports, combining autonomous sensors with water quality monitoring.
- BuildPrompt, which has created an AI platform to make better safety decisions in freight, by analysing root causes of incidents and identifying trends in data.
- Clearquote Technologies, which has developed an automated solution to detect damage and defects on commercial fleets to reduce unreported issues and increase safety.
- Dynamique, which has created an aerodynamic ‘boat tail’ for HGV trailers, to reduce drag by up to 9% and fuel consumption by 4%.
- HyperGen, which has developed a compact, multi-fuel Micro Turbine Generator to provide overnight electric charging for vehicles such as forklifts.
- MHTech Energies, which has created Smart Depot Share to enable multiple electric HGVs to share one depot charging point efficiently, forecasting each vehicle’s energy needs.
- Moonbility, which has built a Disruption Impact Platform for road freight operators and multimodal networks to calculate the effect of delays, and provide interventions.
- Paua Tech, which has developed a charge point booking integration service for electric vehicle fleet operators, to improve charging certainty and accelerate freight electrification.
- TOGL Energy, which has developed an AI-driven energy orchestration platform for commercial electric vehicle fleets and depot operators, to demonstrate scheduling optimisation.
Sameer Savani, Connected Places Catapult MD for transport, said: “Freight is the invisible engine of the UK economy. Every product on a supermarket shelf, every component delivered to a factory and every parcel arriving at our front doors depends on an efficient, resilient freight system.
“The businesses joining this latest cohort are tackling some of the sector’s biggest opportunities and challenges, from decarbonisation and automation to energy management, safety and operational resilience.
“By backing ambitious innovators and giving them the chance to develop trials of their solutions in real-world environments, we’re helping accelerate technologies that can strengthen UK supply chains, boost productivity and support sustainable economic growth.”
“Since its launch in 2023, the accelerator has supported SMEs on 44 real-world trials, with alumni raising more than £105m in investment and creating 59 jobs.
“I’m excited to see what this latest group can achieve as they work alongside industry partners from across the freight and logistics sector.”
