Teesside Digital Trade Testbed
Pioneering the future of global trade from Teesside International Airport
The Teesside Digital Trade Testbed is the UK's first real-world environment for testing, validating and deploying cutting-edge digital trade solutions. Located at Teesside International Airport and backed by £3.5m in Freeport Seed Capital, the Testbed is transforming how goods, data and services move across borders - making trade faster, safer and more sustainable.
Hear from Professor Olugbenga Akinade and Professor David Hughes about how the Teesside Digital Trade Testbed is shaping the future of global commerce.
Transforming trade through technology
Global trade is increasingly complex. Post-Brexit customs burdens, fragmented systems, and rising compliance costs are slowing down supply chains, increasing costs, and creating friction at borders. Traditional, paper-based processes are no longer fit for purpose in a world that demands speed, transparency and trust.
The Teesside Digital Trade Testbed addresses these challenges by enabling businesses, government and technology providers to co-develop and trial interoperable, trusted and intelligent digital trade systems - all within a live, operational freeport environment.
Our vision
Our vision is for the Teesside Digital Trade Testbed to become the UK's centre of excellence for digital trade innovation, bridging research, regulation and real-world application.
We are building the Digital Trade Mesh - a network of interoperable systems where data, goods and services flow securely, transparently and efficiently across global supply chains.
This is not a single platform, but a collaborative ecosystem where emerging technologies converge to redefine how trade works. The mesh integrates:
Physical assurance
Document assurance
(for example, digitally signed, tamper-proof trade documents)
Interoperable data standards
Trust authorities and registries
Reliable systems and AI-driven analytics
What we offer partners
By working with the Digital Trade Testbed, your organisation can:
Test and deploy
digital trade technologies in a live, operational environment.
Trial autonomous freight corridors
with remote operations and trusted living data.
Collaborate on use cases
that support global standardisation and regulatory alignment.
Access business support programmes
to help adopt and scale digital trade solutions.
Contribute to global impact,
shaping the future of trade through innovation and policy.
Benefits to your business
Reduce costs
Automate manual processes and minimise errors.
Enhance efficiency
Accelerate clearance and improve supply chain visibility.
Boost security
Leverage verified data and digital identities.
Drive sustainability
Integrate ESG metrics and carbon tracking.
Access funding and support
Participate in SME support programmes and innovation pilots.
Workforce development
Real results, proven impact
Explore how the Teesside Digital Trade Testbed is delivering real-world impact for businesses. From streamlining supply chains to deploying AI-powered trade solutions, our case studies highlight practical innovations that drive growth, boost efficiency and support sustainable trade.
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Get in touch
Whether you're a freight operator, tech innovator, policymaker or SME, we invite you to co-develop the future of digital trade with us.