National Centre for Accessible Transport: Scaling Innovation Programme

Overview

Throughout their programme we use the term disabled. They choose the term disabled consciously and based on the social model of disability. This model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference.

The Opportunity

The ncat Scaling Innovation Programme offers any organisation, individual, or entrepreneur the chance to tackle evidence-based challenges identified through ncat’s research, as well as an open call for those working on accessibility innovations in the transport sector. Up to 15 participants will be selected, with funding of up to £150,000 available per applicant.

The amount of funding available depends on your innovation’s maturity level, which is explained in more detail in the application guidance. Applicants will also be asked how they have involved disabled individuals in developing their solutions. The aim is to embed innovative, future focused solutions into the transport system and improve accessibility.

Running from March to August 2025, the programme offers funding, business and technical support, and access to the ncat consortium’s expertise.

The Challenges

The challenges they’ve set for the Scaling Innovation Programme are evidence-based, as they have come from disabled people’s experience, insights and expertise which has shaped ncat’s research so far.

1: Physical barriers in the street

Solutions to overcoming barriers around the street environment. To include the fixed infrastructure (e.g. pavement and furniture) and non-permanent street obstacles (e.g. signs, parked cars).

2: Interactions with other people

Solutions around improving interactions between transport staff, the public and Disabled people. A specific focus should be around transport interactions and experiences including assistance, boarding and alighting and booking and ticketing.

3: Open Call

In addition to the two challenge areas, Scaling Innovation includes an ‘Open Call’ for ideas that improve transport accessibility for disabled people but fall outside the defined challenges. These submissions will be reviewed using the same criteria, though priority will be given to projects addressing the two challenges. Future competitions will tackle different challenges, offering more opportunities for innovative solutions.

Maturity Levels & Funding Allocation

Scaling Innovation will provide up to £1.5m funding to individuals and organisations working on solutions that tackle identified transport accessibility challenges..

Your idea addressing the challenges or open call will fall into three categories subject to the following funding amounts:

1. Proof of concept/feasibility studies are eligible for funding up to £50,000. The proposals aim to kickstart early product development. These early-stage projects act as a launchpd for innovative concepts. Applications to follow-on funding to be further developed.
2. Pre-demonstrators can receive up to £100,000. These proposals focus on advancing technology development and support the validation of technologies, bridging the gap between research and full-on trials. Would involve integration, iterative design, and simulated environment testing.
3. Trials can receive up to £150,000. These proposals focus on developing a solution in a real environment, understanding scalability.

Eligible funding costs may include salaries, equipment, materials, consumables, R&D and prototyping, consultance and expertise, and travel and subsistence. See guidance for further details.

Eligibility criteria

Scaling Innovation encourages applications from both individual applicants and consortia. In the case of a consortium, a lead must be identified for contractual reasons and they must complete the application form.

They would particularly welcome applications from D/deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and for individuals or entrepreneurs with lived experiences of disability.

To be eligible:

• They require that the lead organisation is UK registered.
• You must demonstrate alignment to your chosen challenge or their open call.
• The competition is open to organisations of any size, including academia, Research and Technology Organisations (RTO), industry, charities, central and local government, etc.