23 June 2026
Connected Places Catapult accelerator funds maritime decarbonisation trials
The Connected Places Catapult has opened applications for the Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime, a six-month programme offering tailored commercial support and funded trial opportunities to UK SMEs developing innovative maritime decarbonisation solutions.
This is a fund separate from UKSHORE and the CDMC and ZEVI competitions currently taking place – a different pot of money.
Up to six SMEs with solutions at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5–8 will be selected to take part. Successful applicants will receive a tailored package of commercial support – including market analysis, value proposition development, pricing strategy, financial forecasting and communications guidance – based on a detailed assessment of their business needs.
Participants will also have the opportunity to apply for up to £30,000 in funding to deliver a four-month trial of their solution with one of the programme’s delivery partners: Serco, Port of Tyne, Portsmouth International Port or the National Shipbuilding Office, with support from Maersk.
Applicants must address at least one of four industry challenges set by the programme partners:
- Serco – optimisation of sea-going fleet operations
- Port of Tyne – Scope 3 emissions tracking and reporting
- Portsmouth International Port – efficient use of excess clean energy
- National Shipbuilding Office – decarbonising shipyard manufacturing
The Clean Transport Accelerator: Maritime builds on four years of the Catapult’s Maritime Accelerator programme, which has supported 29 SMEs and delivered 11 trials to date.
To be eligible, applicants must be a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise with a solution at TRL 5–8 that addresses at least one of the challenges above. Applicants must be willing to attend a Welcome Day on 29 September 2026 and be available to take part in programme activities between September 2026 and March 2027.
Applications close at 12pm on Tuesday 28 July 2026. An application support webinar will be held on 30 June 2026, covering the programme offer, challenges, application process, scoring criteria and assessment process.
Apply here: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/register?opportunityId=69f0aacf917a3dff97e494ca
Register for the webinar: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/event/clean-transport-accelerator-2026/
Full opportunity details: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/opportunity/clean-transport-accelerator-maritime/
Enquiries about the programme and application process can be directed to:
- Iwona Wilk, Programme Manager – iwona.wilk@cp.catapult.org.uk
- Rebecca Goulding, Head of Enterprise Support – Transport – rebecca.goulding@cp.catapult.org.uk