Sectors
Transport & Mobility
The global push for zero-emission transport and smart mobility has never been stronger.
Transport is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions worldwide, and tightening regulations, net-zero commitments, and shifting consumer expectations are reshaping how people and goods move.
Grant funding for Transport & Mobility
Governments and investors are racing to support breakthroughs in electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous systems, hydrogen fuel, and sustainable logistics. For innovators, this creates a rare window: strong policy backing, growing demand, and substantial public funding for technologies that can prove themselves at scale.
Grant funding helps bridge that gap, giving businesses non-dilutive capital to take on technical risk and move faster. Here’s how it can support your work:
- Finance ambitious transport projects (EV, hydrogen, etc.) without sacrificing equity, allowing you to focus on innovation in zero-emission technology.
- 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.
- Join consortium projects with industry leaders, cities, or research bodies through funded programmes, accelerating development of standards and interoperable systems in mobility.
- 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.
Funding in the UK
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.
Funding in the EU
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
Open Medical: €800k Grant from EUREKA Eurostars for Health Technology
Open Medical Ltd, a London-based digital health company, develops cloud-based software to optimise patient care and workflows. Its flagship platform, Pathpoint®, is widely adopted across NHS Trusts and internationally.
Total Funding: €800k
AlphaLoops: IUK Smart Grant funding for exciting FinTech
AlphaLoops is a fintech startup transforming how asset managers handle compliance and due diligence. Their AI-powered “agentic co-pilot” automates the completion of complex documents like RFPs and DDQs — cutting processing time from 40 hours to under 5.
Total Funding: £307k
Transport & Mobility themes for grant funding
Decarbonising transport and developing new mobility solutions are central to UK and EU net-zero ambitions. Projects aligned with one or more of the following areas are well placed to secure 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 giga factories.
- 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:
| Programme | Funder | Grant value | Stage | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK funding | ||||
| Sector competitions, e.g. zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure, connected and autonomous vehicles, sustainable aviation | Innovate UK | Varies by competition | Feasibility to demonstration | UK businesses |
| Growth Catalyst | Innovate UK | Up to £2m grant + equity | Scale-up | UK SMEs with investor backing |
| European funding | ||||
| Eurostars | EUREKA | Varies by country | Collaborative R&D | SMEs in an international consortium |
| Innowwide market feasibility | EUREKA | €60k | Market feasibility | Single applicant with international subcontractors |
| EIC Pathfinder | European Innovation Council | Up to €4m | Early-stage research (TRL 1–4) | Consortia, incl. UK |
| EIC Transition | European Innovation Council | Up to €2.5m + €50k booster grants | Validation (TRL 4–6) | Single applicants or consortia, incl. UK |
| EIC Accelerator | European Innovation Council | €500k–€2.5m grant + up to €10m equity | Scale-up | Start-ups and SMEs (UK: grant only) |
| Pillar II Cluster 5: Climate, Energy & Mobility collaborative calls | Horizon Europe | Varies, often multi-million | Collaborative R&D | Consortia of companies, universities and cities, incl. UK |
| Other funding options are also available. Grant values are indicative and vary by call. | ||||
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.”
Alex Chalkley
Transport Sector Expert
Ready for the next steps?
Our team’s experience spans automotive engineering, intelligent transport systems, and logistics, we understand the language of both tech innovation and policy in mobility.
Find out how we can help you navigate and win the grant funding you need to drive forward your mobility innovation.
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