Vox Aeris awarded Most Innovative Idea by the Department for Transport
🏅 Vox Aeris Receives Department for Transport Award for Most Innovative Proven Idea
We’re honoured to have received the Most Innovative (Proven) Idea Award from the Chief Scientific Adviser of the Department for Transport, Professor Sarah Sharples.
This recognition was part of the TRIG Showcase event in Leeds, which brought together selected projects supported by the Transport Research and Innovation Grant programme 2024-2025. Our work focused on improving air quality in underground transport environments.
A sincere thank you to the teams at Connected Places Catapult and DfT for supporting early stage innovation and providing a platform for practical climate technologies to gain traction.
We’re excited to keep pushing forward and making clean air solutions more accessible in transport systems.
Full Award Statement by the Department for Transport:
Award for Most Innovative (Proven) Idea
Awarded to: Vox Aeris
This award celebrates the most innovative proven idea in the TRIG programme and is awarded to Vox Aeris for their work tackling subway air pollution through advanced filtration technology.
Vox Aeris explored how to reduce harmful particulates in underground environments by studying airflow patterns and developing a filtration system that can operate efficiently within the constraints of subterranean transit. Through over 20 prototypes, acoustic agglomeration methods, and rigorous environmental analysis, the team created a smart, energy-efficient system tailored to underground operations.
The project evolved from a home air purifier concept into a public-health-driven transport solution, engaging with transport authorities and using stakeholder insights to shape and validate the final design. The team also evaluated the commercial and health benefits through cost-benefit analysis and market research.
This is a brilliant example of scientific creativity grounded in practical application, showcasing how novel thinking can lead to real-world, scalable solutions that align with DfT's ambitions for cleaner, healthier transport networks.