Subject to completion of TfL procurement and governance processes following this Innovation Challenge, the successful applicant(s) will have the opportunity to work with TfL and its trial manager to test selected solutions for a location-driven data collection and analysis process, and to trial these with TfL customers. 
Please note that participation in the Innovation Challenge or trial does not constitute a commitment by TfL to enter into any future contractual arrangement beyond the scope of the trial.


Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the capital's transport system. TfL must cater for more than 3.6 billion passenger journeys made each year.
TfL is seeking applicants to demonstrate effective use of mobile device location data and to develop a standard process for data collection and processing. The aim is to enhance existing TfL data sets at both an individual and aggregated level, generating valuable insights into how Londoners travel and identifying opportunities for optimisation.
The TfL Go app was launched in 2020 and features a digital Tube map, network status updates, a multi-modal journey planner, and real-time bus arrival information. Customers can also sign in to view their payments and travel history, top up their Oyster cards and opt in to receive service notifications. As of November 2025, TfL Go been downloaded over 10 million times. It currently has more than 1.3 million monthly users and is growing at a rate of 30% per year. This user base provides TfL with an opportunity to generate a meaningful location-based dataset via the app.

Background

TfL wishes to understand how services can be improved by analysing users&rsquo; location data, enabling the identification of journey patterns at both individual and aggregate levels. Gaining insight into individual movements and identifying the modes of transport used&mdash;across public transport, walking, cycling, and driving&mdash;will support the creation of customer profiles and allow for tailored journey advice, ultimately enhancing customer experience. TfL confirms that data from this challenge will not be used for any charging or pricing models.
Applying privacy-enhancing technologies and techniques&mdash;such as anonymisation and pseudonymisation&mdash;to large-scale data sets will provide a comprehensive view of movement across London and inform solutions for efficiency and achieving net zero, all while protecting individual identities.
There has already been some preliminary work; in 2019, prior to the launch of TfL Go, a small-scale location data exploration was conducted with approximately 20 TfL staff members. This involved an in-house test app capturing GPS data at various levels of detail, allowing for early research into journey mapping and mode detection. TfL now intends to expand on this foundation by defining and implementing a standardised process for location data collection and generating a suitable dataset for trial purposes.

Motivation for the Challenge

TfL would like to better understand how they might make use of tools and methods built into smartphone hardware and available to an app, to collect mobile device location data at an appropriate level of granularity and process that data to prepare it for analysis. This will help TfL to quickly understand the potential of collecting high quality location data, and how it can be used to deliver greater customer and business value.
Using the successful applicants' method for data gathering, TfL requires a trial dataset to be generated that achieves the above, providing a sizeable and representative dataset to explore and test hypotheses against.
To reach these aims it is expected that a trial will need to be undertaken to demonstrate:
<ul>
<li>data collection,</li>
<li>data processing and management,</li>
<li>data validation,</li>
<li>data analysis and insight</li>
</ul>
The successful applicant will work collaboratively with a TfL-supplied partner who will run the trial and be responsible for trial recruitment and management. The size and duration of the trial is to be determined based on the required outputs, built collaboratively with the successful applicant, trial manager and TfL.
In parallel to this innovation challenge, TfL is also undertaking research into customer perceptions around location data sharing via mobile <a name="_Int_53qMO5vT"></a>apps, and specifically attitudes to sharing data with TfL. The outputs of this research will be shared with the successful applicant to help guide and shape the trial.
<h2>Challenge &ndash; Part 1</h2>
How might we define a location data collection standard process that maximises the opportunity for TfL to generate network insights and power customer-facing features, whilst minimising personal data collection?
Capture specification including but not limited to:
<ul>
<li>When to start capturing, when to stop capturing location,</li>
<li>Top/tail journey (privacy zones),</li>
<li>Location data capture underground on the TfL network.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Challenge &ndash; Part 2</h2>
How might we process, transform, and maintain the dataset defined through part 1 to ensure it is ready for analysis by TfL?
Areas to be covered include but are not limited to:
<ul>
<li>Inferred mode of travel,</li>
<li>Identification of end-to-end journeys including multi-modal travel,</li>
<li>Implementation of privacy enhancing technologies and techniques (including, but not limited to, anonymisation and pseudonymisation processes),</li>
<li>Demographic inference,</li>
<li>Ensuring separation of the aggregated and personalised datasets.</li>
</ul>
TfL would also like to understand more about the system architecture, data processing rules, and data storage, management and retention rules that a live service would require.

The Challenge

<ul>
<li>Use a smartphone app with iOS and Android versions to collect data,</li>
<li>Any trial will not be run through TfL Go, (although if successful, the technology/solution could be licensed for integration into TfL Go),</li>
<li>Data should be corroborated with travel diaries, led by TfL&rsquo;s trial manager</li>
<li>Integrate with a collection Application Programming Interface (API) or similar, to be specified during the trial,</li>
<li>There must be facility to port data directly into TfL's datastore so that TfL can use the data for further analysis,</li>
</ul>

Functional Requirements

<ul>
<li>Determine the suggested accuracy of location data to support desired outcomes; TfL wants to understand how granular this must be, to achieve required performance,</li>
<li>Identify individual trips, including information such as start and end point, time taken, inferred mode, trip type etc,</li>
<li>Provide options for TfL to access algorithms and models used for analysis at the end of the trial,</li>
</ul>

Technical Requirements

<ul>
<li>Process data in accordance with UK data protection legislation,</li>
<li>Provide pseudonymised data or anonymised and cleaned/store in appropriate way,</li>
<li>Provide a subset of the data (to be agreed with TfL) in the data&rsquo;s raw form,</li>
<li>Delete data in line with the retention rules, defined as part of the project in collaboration with TfL's Information Governance team. TfL may retain anonymised or aggregated outputs from the trial for audit, transparency, and future planning purposes.</li>
</ul>

Operating Conditions

The trial solution should not:
<ul>
<li>Require integration into TfL Go or be another travel app/Journey planning application,</li>
<li>Include a full insights analysis of the data,</li>
<li>Deliver app features for TfL Go or propose specific uses of the location data for personalisation of customer-facing features or business insight.</li>
</ul>

Out of Scope

Successful applicant(s) will work with TfL to trial their solution(s). Any consideration of further adoption will be subject to business need, funding availability, TfL governance approvals, and the outcome of any future compliant procurement process.
The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:
<ul>
<li>Support from Innovate UK Business Connect,</li>
<li>Support in the development of a prototype or pilot,</li>
<li>Technical support,</li>
<li>Invitation to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events,</li>
<li>A potential business collaboration,</li>
<li>Investor introductions (if investment is required),</li>
<li>Support if any Innovate UK or similar competitions are relevant.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div></div>
</div>

Rewards & Market Opportunity

Applicants should outline the expected costs for this trial including development, integration with trial running, data processing and analysis, and, if appropriate, IP licensing costs (for the trial period only).

Cost Requirement

<ul>
<li>Launch of the Challenge Statement/Market Sounding Questionnaire: 6th January 2025</li>
<li>Deadline for respondents: 15th February 2026</li>
<li>Shortlisted applicants will be notified: 27th February 2026</li>
<li>Challenge pitch day for shortlisted applicants: Week commencing 23 March 2026 or Week commencing 30 March 2026.</li>
<li>Shortlisted applicants notified of the pitch result: Week commencing 6 April 2026 or Week commencing 13 April.</li>
</ul>
Next steps and timelines for delivery of the trial will be agreed with the successful applicant(s); however, the project must be complete by 31 March 2027.

Timescales

The successful applicant(s) must be:
<ul>
<li>Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs.</li>
<li>UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base.</li>
</ul>
TfL is open to applications for part of the challenge / trial scope and will consider these where there is the opportunity to pair applicants to ensure the full scope can be delivered. Joint applications to deliver the full scope of the challenge are welcome.
Applicants will be assessed on:
<ul>
<li>Relevance to the defined challenge</li>
<li>Benefit of implementation</li>
<li>Feasibility/economic viability</li>
<li>Innovative nature</li>
<li>Ability to participate in a trial in line with expected timescales determined by TfL</li>
<li>Credibility of applicant company</li>
<li>Coherence of the proposed business model</li>
<li>Development potential</li>
<li>Maturity of the solution</li>
<li>Suitability for the intended geographic market</li>
<li>Understanding of, and compliance with, UK data protection legislation</li>
</ul>
At the pitch day, a selected panel of assessors will review and score your application. The panel of assessors will meet and agree a consensus score. Successful applicants will be selected by TfL. Success will be based upon total consensus scores, a portfolio approach and capacity within the challenge holders to carry out the projects
The successful applicant(s) must adhere to TfL&rsquo;s Cyber Security, Privacy, and Network requirements. Applicants are expected to be International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant, and submissions should indicate ISO/IEC 27001:2022, 31000 or any other certification. At pitch stage, applicants will be provided with Cyber Security and Privacy questions and expected to submit written evidence of compliance alongside the pitch.

Eligibility & Assessment Criteria

TfL may document, analyse and summarise the outcomes of any trial delivered under this Innovation Challenge.
Any outputs from the trial may be used to inform future strategies, specifications, market engagement or procurement documentation.
Participation in the trial will not provide any applicant with a guaranteed or preferential position in any future procurement, and any future requirement will be subject to a separate, open and competitive process, where required.
TfL is subject to transparency and equal treatment obligations under Procurement Act 2023.
Where TfL undertakes a future procurement that is informed by the outputs of this trial, TfL will ensure that relevant, non-confidential information derived from the trial is made available to all bidders as part of that future procurement process, to ensure fairness and open competition.

Trial Outputs and future procurement

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with the applicant. Any successful applicant will be required to give TfL a perpetual royalty-free ground IP licence to utilise applicants background IP for the purpose of the trial. Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the successful applicant(s) and TfL.
Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the successful applicant(s) and TfL.
Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the successful applicants and TfL. This would be expected to be after company selection. All entries are treated as confidential and only shared with Innovate UK and TfL, however if the applicant is concerned about sharing IP, it is suggested that details of IP are not disclosed. Instead, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed.
Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.
The contract between TfL and the successful applicant will contain appropriate data protection provision.

IP & Potential Commercial Route

Information provided within this Challenge Statement and the associated PIN/EME (&ldquo;the Early Market Engagement documents&rdquo;) does not purport to be comprehensive or verified by TfL or its advisers. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by TfL or any of its officers, employees, servants, agents or advisers with respect to the information or opinions contained in the EME documents. Any liability in respect of such representations or warranties, howsoever arising, is hereby expressly disclaimed but nothing in the EME documents shall exclude or restrict liability for fraudulent misrepresentations.
TfL reserves the right without prior notice to amend the information provided, including, but not limited to, changing the timetable, the scope and nature of the procurement and the procurement process. In particular, TfL reserves the right to issue circulars to interested parties providing further information or supplementing and / or amending the procurement process. In no circumstances shall TfL incur any liability in respect of any changes. This will be subject to the requirements of public law and applicable UK procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023, associated regulations, and TfL&rsquo;s Procurement and Contracting Policy.
TfL reserves the right without prior notice not to follow up the EME documents in any way or with any interested parties. TfL also reserves the right to terminate this process at any time without awarding a contract. TfL will not enter into a contract based solely on the responses to the EME documents and no information contained within the EME documents or in any communication made between TfL and any interested party in connection with the EME documents shall be relied upon as constituting a contract or representation that any contract shall be offered.
Direct or indirect canvassing of the Mayor, any members of the Greater London Authority, employees, directors, board members, agents and advisers of TfL and any of its subsidiaries by any person concerning the EME documents or any related procurement process and any attempt to procure information from any of the foregoing concerning the EME documents may result in the disqualification of the person and / or the relevant organisation from consideration during the market engagement or for any associated procurement. This exercise does not part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any particular approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent.

Legal Notice

This Challenge Statement is asking applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions - Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property &ndash; each with a limit of 300 words.
Optionally, supporting documents can be attached to this application. We recommend that supporting documents are limited to those which are directly relevant to the Innovation Challenge. Examples of useful additional documents include product images or short specification sheets, slide decks detailing the solution and/or company background, or solution case studies.
We recommend that you complete this in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle &ldquo;Stage Complete&rdquo; for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your submission once you have clicked &ldquo;Submit Idea&rdquo; at the bottom of the Summary page.

Application & Technical Guidance

TfL is committed to open government and to meeting their legal responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Accordingly, all information submitted to a public authority may need to be disclosed by the public authority in response to a request under the Act. TfL may also decide to include certain information in the publication scheme, which TfL maintains under the Act.
If an interested party considers that any of the information included in their Challenge statement responses response is commercially sensitive, it should identify it and explain (in broad terms) what harm may result from disclosure if a request is received, and the time period applicable to that sensitivity.
Interested parties should be aware that, even where they have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, TfL might be required to disclose it under the Act if a request is received.
Interested parties should also note that the receipt of any material marked &lsquo;confidential&rsquo; or equivalent by TfL should not be taken to mean that TfL accepts any duty of confidence by virtue of that marking.

Define and Implement a Location Data Collection Process and Generate a Test Data Set to Help Improve Multi-Modal Journeys

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

This challenge is brought to you by:

Define and Implement a Location Data Collection Process and Generate a Test Data Set to Help Improve Multi-Modal JourneysCopy Link

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

This challenge is brought to you by:

Define and Implement a Location Data Collection Process and Generate a Test Data Set to Help Improve Multi-Modal Journeys