Deadline: 07-Nov-2025
The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) has launched the second round of its Scaling Innovation Programme, delivered by partner Connected Places Catapult.
Funded by the Motability Foundation, the programme is designed to create a barrier-free transport system by commissioning robust evidence, collaborating with industry, and amplifying the voices and lived experiences of disabled people.
ncat brings together leading expertise from Coventry University, Designability, RiDC, Policy Connect, WSP, and Connected Places Catapult. This consortium combines academic research, technical know-how, and policy influence with a commitment to inclusion, following the social model of disability, which identifies barriers in society—not impairments—as the source of exclusion.
The Scaling Innovation Programme transforms research into practical solutions by addressing the challenges disabled people face every day in accessing transport. This round focuses on three priority areas: vehicle stop design, travel assistance services, and access to information. The aim is to develop and test system-wide solutions that remove barriers to travel and create equal opportunities for participation in public life.
The programme is structured in three phases. In the planning phase, up to 20 projects will each receive £10,000 to prepare delivery plans and ensure meaningful involvement of disabled people. From there, 12–15 selected projects will move into the delivery phase, securing between £50,000 and £150,000 to run live trials. Finally, 8–10 of the most promising initiatives will progress to the third phase, receiving £100,000 to £150,000 each to scale pre-demonstrator and trial projects. Successful applicants will benefit not only from funding but also from expert business and technical support, along with networking and showcase opportunities with key decision-makers across the transport sector.
Applications are open to a wide range of organisations, including academia, industry, charities, research bodies, and government institutions. Both individual applicants and consortia may apply, though a UK-registered lead applicant is required. Crucially, every proposal must demonstrate strong, proactive, and ongoing involvement of disabled people throughout the project lifecycle, as this is the highest-weighted criterion in the evaluation process.
By shaping projects around lived experience and aligning with evidence from previous research, ncat seeks to inspire innovative approaches that not only build on what has already been tried but also bring fresh ideas and lasting impact. This programme offers a unique opportunity for innovators to test, validate, and scale solutions that can make transport more inclusive for everyone.
For more information, visit Connected Places Catapult.