Fast track to the automotive market for UK businesses

Innovative approaches to transport technologies will be eligible for funding in this new competition. The selection process will select collaborative R&D projects which are most likely to result in products and systems that are strong candidates for industrialisation.

Government and industry are investing around £1 billion in the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The Centre will help develop the systems and supply chains needed to manufacture the next generation of low carbon vehicles here in the UK. So the Technology Strategy Board competition is expected to act as a feeder for the Centre.

Iain Gray, the Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, commented:

“Low carbon vehicles represent a great opportunity for the UK. This competition, with its links to the new Advanced Propulsion Centre, will provide a route to bring innovative ideas to the consumer more quickly. And that has to be good for consumers, industry and the country as a whole.”

By fast-tracking some of the most promising ideas in low carbon vehicles towards full commercialisation, the competition – Building an Automotive Supply Chain of the Future – will help to maintain the UK’s reputation as a global leader in low carbon transport technology. This will in turn open up further opportunities for innovative businesses to develop and exploit this technology further.

Additional information

1. This is the tenth competition run under the Technology Strategy Board’s Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP), part of the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform (LCVIP) set up in 2007 to promote research, design, development and demonstration of low carbon vehicles in the UK. The programme aims to integrate the low carbon vehicle innovation chain, from the science base, through collaborative R&D to fleet-level demonstration.

2. The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.

3. Further details of the Integrated Delivery Plan competition (Building an Automotive Supply Chain of the Future) can be found at: https://www.innovateuk.org/IDP10

4. A free-to-attend networking event has been set up. This will provide interested parties with an opportunity learn more about the scope of the competition and how to participate. It will be held at the Motor Heritage Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire, on 5 August. There will also be opportunities for companies to do a three-minute elevator pitch or to take a space in the exhibition area to showcase their technology to over 400 senior industry delegates. To take part in this event, please register here

5. The Automotive Sector Industrial Strategy was launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday 12 July. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills