This year’s transport, research and innovation grant program has been introduced by the UK government. Jesse Norman, the technology minister, has announced that currently, 67 projects who are involved in innovative transport technology development are being funded, receiving a share of the pot, which is just under £2 million. As disability workers on the Gold Coast, we are always keen to see new innovations that will help make the lives of disabled people easier, and transport is always a problematic issue.
67 Projects
Of course, not all of the 67 projects focus on disability, but it is pleasing to see that many do, including one which is looking at navigation apps for people with disabilities travelling around. It’s also good news that not all of the projects are based in London, giving smaller communities access to some of the funding, which will do local good at the same time. Only one in five projects are actually based in the capital.
Benefits are Far Reaching
Another app that is being developed focuses on visually impaired people and uses augmented reality to help them navigate to train stations. The aim of the app is to create walking routes that make navigating safe for those who have visual impairments, and is being brought to the table by Makesense technology. Although some projects do not focus entirely on disabled passengers, the benefits they could offer almost by accident will benefit people. For example, using remote-controlled robots for deliveries could mean that people no longer have to struggle outside to collect vital items, and the project looking at using drones for hard-to-reach areas to deliver packages could also provide a vital lifeline for those less abled people.
Previous Project Winner
The program was launched in 2014 and has been renewed on an annual basis costing over £12 million and funding more than 300 innovative projects. There are a few areas of focus that technology companies are able to enter projects under, and this includes maritime decarbonisation, the future of freight, local transport, decarbonisation, and improving the rail passenger experience, which is, of course where the bulk of the disabled community will see benefits and transport resilience to severe weather and flooding. The last category could also provide support to those with transport difficulties, especially if the weather prevents them from getting out of the house to collect vital supplies like medication and food.
Most of the companies seeking funding are start-ups or university groups, and the grants are provided in partnership with Connected Places Catapult. The chief executive officer of this company, Nicole Yates, OBE, said, “By getting funding into innovative start-ups, we are creating jobs of the future and growing vital areas of the economy. Transport Research and Innovation Grants support high-potential innovators in developing their ideas into new products and services. In addition to an injection of funding, companies that join the TRIG cohort benefit from access to experts from Connected Places Catapult to help them on their journey to commercialisation.”