Department for Transport
UK government department; funds Innovate UK FOAK26 transport-innovation competition.
Last refreshed: 13 May 2026
How is the UK's Department for Transport funding new transport technologies in 2026?
Timeline for Department for Transport
Innovate UK opens £9.3m rail and agritech competitions
UK Startups and Innovation- What is the UK Department for Transport responsible for?
- The Department for Transport sets policy for roads, rail, aviation, maritime, and emerging mobility sectors in the UK. It also administers infrastructure investment and innovation funding through programmes managed by Innovate UK.Source: GOV.UK
- How does the Department for Transport fund innovation?
- The DfT channels transport innovation funding primarily through Innovate UK competitions. The FOAK26 competition, for example, offered £4.3m to UK businesses developing first-of-a-kind transport technologies in 2026.Source:
- What is the Innovate UK FOAK26 transport competition?
- FOAK26 is a £4.3m Innovate UK competition funded by the Department for Transport, open to UK businesses creating first-of-a-kind transport technologies. Applications close on 24 June 2026.Source:
Background
The Department for Transport (DfT) is the UK Government department responsible for transport policy across roads, rail, aviation, maritime, and emerging mobility sectors. It sets the regulatory framework for all public and private transport operators, administers infrastructure investment programmes, and oversees sponsored agencies including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and Highways England. The DfT also acts as a major funder of applied research and innovation through competitions managed via Innovate UK, targeting de-carbonisation, connectivity, and automation in transport.
In May 2026 the DfT provided funding for the Innovate UK FOAK26 transport-innovation competition, a £4.3m programme open to UK businesses developing first-of-a-kind transport technologies, with a closing deadline of 24 June 2026. The competition sits within a broader £9.3m Innovate UK funding tranche that also covers rail and agritech. The DfT's use of Innovate UK competitions as a commercial pipeline mechanism reflects the government's strategy of de-risking early-stage transport innovation before procuring at scale.