Government launches fund to speed up development of low carbon, efficient engine technologies
Thu 07 November 2013
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A £75 million fund has been set up by the Government to challenge businesses to come up with engine technologies that will make cars more efficient and change the way we drive in future.
The fund will enable businesses to make and test low carbon technologies that, the Government says, will keep the UK at the forefront of engine design and help safeguard up to 30,000 jobs in engine production. They will be the pilot projects of the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), which was announced in July, and will channel £1 billion investment from government and industry to fund the development of new technologies over the next 10 years.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "By 2050, very few - if any - new cars will be powered solely by the traditional internal combustion engines, so it is important that the UK car industry is at the cutting edge of low carbon technologies. The Advanced Propulsion Centre, launched as part of our Industrial Strategy, will help to position the UK as a leading innovator while securing jobs and strengthening supply chains."
Technology Strategy Board Chief Executive Iain Gray said: "The APC is a key element of the joint government-industry strategy for the automotive sector. This competition will fund a number of projects that will strengthen UK capability as well as developing the UK’s propulsion systems supply chain. As such the APC represents a new way to embed innovation further into the UK automotive sector, helping us gain a competitive edge in this industry.”
To apply for a share of the £75 million APC fund, bidders must form a group which includes at least one vehicle manufacturer, an SME and at least one supply chain company. The competition,which will support a range of powertrain technologies, will open on the 2nd December 2013, with projects expected to begin from April 2014. For information on how to apply, visit ‘Competition for Collaborative R&D Funding’.
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