Summary

The Department for Transport (DfT) has identified innovation as a key enabler to achieving its priority outcomes of growth; greener, safer and healthier transport; and improving transport for people. It plans to spend approximately £1.1 billion on activities to support innovation between 2022-23 and 2029-30. In particular, DfT could better define how its innovation activity can support the full range of outcomes the department wants to achieve. In doing so, it must be clearer on how much risk it is willing to take, collect the data and information it needs to manage and assess its activity, and help progress activity from early stages through to commercial readiness.