Sectors
Transport & Mobility
The global push for zero-emission transport and smart mobility has never been stronger.
Governments and investors are racing to support breakthroughs in electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous systems, hydrogen fuel, and sustainable logistics.
Grant Funding for Transport & Mobility
- Fuel Clean Tech R&D: Finance ambitious transport projects (EV, hydrogen, etc.) without sacrificing equity, allowing you to focus on innovation in zero-emission technology.
- Bridge to Market: Leverage grants to move new mobility solutions from lab to real-world pilots – with government backing to de-risk trials of vehicles, infrastructure, or software platforms.
- Partnership Opportunities: Join consortium projects with industry leaders, cities, or research bodies through funded programmes, accelerating development of standards and interoperable systems in mobility.
- Market Validation: Government grant awards signal confidence in your technology (be it an AI driving system or new battery tech), providing credibility and attracting follow-on investors or customers.
The UK is heavily investing in green and smart mobility. The government has reaffirmed a 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars and backed it with a £4.5 billion funding package to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure (Charged, 2025). This massive investment – alongside initiatives like the Industrial Strategy’s Drive for Zero Emission Transport – underpins the UK’s drive to be a world leader in clean transport and autonomous mobility.
Across Europe, sustainable transport is equally paramount. Horizon Europe’s Climate, Energy and Mobility stream (Cluster 5) dedicates about €15 billion to innovative transport solutions (UKRO, 2024), funding breakthroughs in electric mobility, battery systems, hydrogen fuel, smart logistics, and more, all in line with the EU’s Green Deal goal of climate-neutral mobility by 2050.
Success Stories
Transport & Mobility themes for grant funding
- Zero-Emission Vehicles & Electrification: Electric cars, vans, buses and the supporting battery and charging technologies. (Driven by policies like the UK’s 2030 petrol/diesel phase-out and the EU’s 2035 ban on combustion cars, with funding for EV innovation and battery gigafactories.)
- Connected & Autonomous Mobility: Self-driving vehicle systems, vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, and advanced driver assistance. (Supported by UK initiatives via the Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles and EU programs for cooperative intelligent transport systems.)
- Sustainable Transport & Logistics: Greening public transport and freight – including hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles, e-mobility for rail and marine, smart logistics management, and modal shifts to reduce emissions. (Aligned with the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan and EU strategies for smart and sustainable mobility under the Green Deal.)
- Advanced Aerospace & Urban Air Mobility: Next-gen air transport like electric/hybrid aircraft, drones, and urban air mobility services. (Backed by schemes such as the UK’s Jet Zero initiative and EU partnerships like Clean Aviation, aiming to decarbonise air travel and develop new mobility modes.)
Transport & Mobility: Programmes and Funders
Companies driving innovation in mobility can leverage a broad spectrum of grant programmes and funding agencies, including:
- EIC Accelerator – A major EU funding route for pioneering mobility startups (for instance, those developing new vehicle tech or transport AI can secure up to €2.5M in grant plus equity from the EIC to scale their solution).
- EIC Pathfinder & Transition – EU grants supporting visionary early-stage research (Pathfinder) and the maturation of technologies (Transition). These are ideal for high-risk, high-reward projects in areas like novel vehicle materials, futuristic transport concepts, or AI for traffic management.
- EUREKA Eurostars – International grant programme for R&D-focused SMEs collaborating across countries. Mobility and automotive SMEs often use Eurostars to work with overseas partners on joint innovation (e.g. developing a new EV component or mobility software, with each partner funded by their national agency).
- Innovate UK sector competitions: Dedicated calls by Innovate UK targeting transport challenges – examples include competitions for zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure, connected and autonomous vehicle trials, or sustainable aviation technology. These sector-specific grants support projects aligned with government initiatives like the Faraday Battery Challenge or Future Flight.
- Innovate UK Investor Partnerships – Blended funding where Innovate UK co-invests with venture capital in high-growth potential companies. Mobility startups (e.g. in ride-sharing tech or EV charging solutions) can benefit by receiving grant funding alongside private investment to propel growth.
- Horizon Europe (Climate, Energy & Mobility) – Collaborative EU projects uniting companies, universities, and cities to advance transport innovation. Horizon Europe funds large-scale R&D consortia working on topics like smart mobility systems, battery recycling, hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and cross-border transport solutions. These projects can provide multi-million euro grants and foster international partnerships in the mobility sector.
Winning Grant Funding for Transport & Mobility
Achieving success in grant funding for transport and mobility requires not only a great technology but also alignment with broader goals like sustainability and safety. Our team’s experience in this sector spans automotive engineering, intelligent transport systems, and logistics – we understand the language of both tech innovation and policy in mobility.
Contact us to schedule a no-obligation consultation and find out how we can help you navigate and win the grant funding you need to drive forward your mobility innovation.
Alex Chalkley
Director
