MaaS Investment Fund: Pre Interest Registration now open
In its 2018 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to a £2 million investment fund, over three years from 2019-20, to support the testing of the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept in Scotland. This concept has the potential to transform the way we use transport – making public and shared transport options as desirable as owning our own car.
At its core, MaaS will provide people with easy, digital access to travel information, allowing them to make more informed decisions on journey choices. This includes solutions to gather personalised travel requirements into a single travel app for example, or perhaps a service to allow unlimited access to multiple transport providers via a monthly user fee.
MaaS has the potential to support the Scottish Government agenda for a healthier, more sustainable Scotland. By providing integrated and more comprehensive travel information, these services can empower people to use alternative travel methods, encouraging them out of cars and private car ownership, and in doing so reduce both carbon emissions and congestion.
Project Criteria
The fund will be open to applications either on an individual or consortia basis from any organisation(s) from private, public and 3rd sectors. Proposals could address a known issue, be co-created or an individual solution, or be seeking support from Transport Scotland for further development. It would be advantageous for applications to demonstrate the following:
• Undertake your project within Scotland, covering one or more of the following thematic areas – Rural, Islands & Community; Tourism; Tackling inequality, Accessibility and Mobility; and delivering to wider government agendas of healthier, more sustainable, greener Scotland
• Deliver on Scotland’s wider public transport network(s) – that is any traditional, active travel or emerging transport options
• Have a Minimum Viable Product/Solution ready for testing/trial/ implementation/demonstration within the year of the funding award
• Comply with Scottish legislation
• Be compatible with, or working towards integration with, existing Scottish public transport smart technology infrastructure/specifications (e.g. cEMV, Mobile and ITSO)
Timelines
• March – Consultation events (Glasgow and Perth)
• 26th April – Pre interest registration opens
• 14th May – Glasgow drop-in session
• 17th May – Edinburgh drop-in session
• 21st May – Perth drop-in session
• 29th May – Pre interest registration closes
• End June – Full Briefing & Competition Opens
• End August – Competition closes
• End November – Applicants notified, year 1 contracts awarded
Pre Interest Registration
Following on from the recent MaaS Investment Fund Consultations in Glasgow and Perth, MaaS Scotland will be coordinating a Pre Interest Registration process on behalf of Transport Scotland. This will assist those interested in potentially applying to the MaaS Investment Fund later this year. The preregistration process, which will run until end May, aims to simplify any future application to the Investment Fund, providing an opportunity for early engagement with Transport Scotland and assisting you with pre-assessment of your project, including MaaS potential, application suitability and stakeholder engagement.
Submissions to the Pre Interest Registration should be made via the link below and should be completed before 29th May 2019.
Drop In Sessions
By way of further assistance, three drop-in sessions have been arranged to provide an opportunity to discuss your proposals directly with representatives from Transport Scotland and MaaS Scotland. Appointments will be confirmed on a first come first served basis and sessions will run on the following days.
• 14th May Glasgow (Transport Scotland, Buchanan House, Glasgow) 1000-1600
• 17th May Edinburgh (Apex Haymarket Hotel) 1100-1600
• 21st May Perth (Station Hotel, Perth) 1000-1600
If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, please contact Alastair McInroy ([email protected]).
Frequently asked questions:
Q: I am interested in submitting a proposal into the MaaS Investment Fund when the competition opens in June. Is it a requirement to complete a Pre Interest Registration before doing so?
A: No. The registration of interest phase is not compulsory and not submitting at this stage will have no impact on any future submissions to the Investment Fund.
Q: Will anything submitted during the Pre Interest Registration phase impact my chances of success when the competition opens?
A: No. The Pre Interest Registration phase is designed to facilitate early engagement with Transport Scotland and generate initial feedback. These discussions will not impact any future proposal to the Investment Fund.
Q: I am currently pulling together a proposal but I am unable to provide all information outlined in the Pre Interest Registration form. Should I still submit at this stage?
A: Yes. Transport Scotland acknowledges that not all project details will be established at this stage and that some ‘gaps’ may exist. However, we encourage you to submit as full a proposal as possible to maximise the value of early discussions.
Q: How do I find potential partners to work with?
A: In the first instance there are many MaaS related organisations listed on the MaaS Scotland members page, however if you are still seeking a suitable partner, please contact [email protected] with an outline of your submission and the type of partner you are looking for, and Transport Scotland and MaaS Scotland will endeavour to assist with introducing potential partners links where known.
Q: What if I can’t make any of the drop in dates?
A: We would encourage you to complete the pre-registration form as best you can in the first instance, however please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Q: What levels of funding will be available?
A: The allocated fund is £2 million spread over 3 years, starting the financial year 2019/2020. Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis and subsequent award will be indicative of criteria match and fund availability.
Q: Who can apply for the fund?
A: Consortia or individual applications from Public, private and 3rd sector are welcomed.
Q: How will the funding be awarded?
A: Awarded funding will depend on application assessment and weighted against how well your project matches the fund criteria. These criteria are outlined in the pre-registration documentation and will be included fully in the application documentation. Awards will be made on a sliding scale (between 30-70%) on the application amount, depending on meeting of the criteria. Only applications from 3rd sector, under £20,000, will be considered for 100% funding.