National Highways Hazard Protection on Roads Accelerator

Apply to the National Highways Hazard Protection on Roads Accelerator and receive up to £90K to push the boundaries of your technology.

The National Highways Hazard Protection on Roads Accelerator is a programme delivered by Connected Places Catapult that aims to stimulate innovation around the challenge of further helping to protect road users in England from hazards. This accelerator programme invites SMEs to address this challenge through the development of innovative solutions. For this accelerator, we see hazards as any circumstance on roads that drivers may not have anticipated and will need to react to.

This programme will be run in two stages. In stage one, up to 10 SMEs will be selected to work with National Highways, Connected Places Catapult and Tier 1 suppliers to design trials that address one of the programme challenges, over a 3-month period. The SMEs can be awarded up to £15K – £30K of funding during this phase to cover their costs. Following a down selection, approximately 5 SMEs will be awarded up to £60K in stage two to deliver their trials over a 5-month period.

Alongside the trialling of their solutions, the SMEs will be guided through a bespoke programme tailored to their requirements, which could include procurement readiness, product development support and business modelling coaching. These activities will be co-designed with each SME to support them in growing their businesses and adapting their propositions to National Highways’ requirements.

Programme Challenges

1: Gathering data about hazards on roads

2: Streamlining hazard responses

3: Improving driver notification of hazards

4: Improving testing of hazard detection technology

5: Influencing drivers to reduce unsafe behaviour

Learn more about the challenges here

What's on offer to SMEs

• Funding Opportunities
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Business Development
• Technical Support
• Procurement Support
• Solution Showcase

Am I eligible for this progamme?

At the point of application:

• You must be a micro or small to medium sized enterprise (< 250 employees)
• You must be a UK registered company*
• Your innovative solution will preferably be at least TRL 6
• You must be able to address one or more challenge statements with your solution
• You must be willing to complete a development, testing or demonstration of your solution in a real or relevant environment
• You must be willing to travel on occasion to face-to-face meetings and events

*This is a requirement to unlock trial funding

How to apply 

Apply here. 

Applications close midnight 31 December 2023.