Government pledges £16.5m in new R&D funding to boost low carbon transport innovation
Tue 06 November 2012
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The Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced a £16.5 boost for road transport CO2 reduction reserach and development. Grants will be awarded to UK businesses through a new, open competition for collaborative research and development funding, which will be managed by the Technology Strategy Board, in partnership with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The Technology Strategy Board, OLEV and the EPSRC are seeking proposals for highly innovative, industry-led projects involving low carbon vehicles that aim to achieve significant cuts in CO2 in one of four areas: internal combustion engines; energy storage and energy management; electric machines and power electronics; and lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures. Projects may also take on higher risk technology challenges to support a higher return on investment for the auto industry and aggressively attack future CO2 challenges.
The aim is to create new low carbon solutions that can position the UK at the global forefront for these specific strategic areas. Technologies must be centred on the vehicle. Projects may also take on higher risk technology challenges to support a higher return on investment for the auto industry and aggressively attack future CO2 challenges.
Proposals should demonstrate the potential to build on the UK’s existing capabilities, targeting global competitive advantage and economic benefit for the UK. Companies from outside the automotive sector, and that can bring technical knowledge and expertise to a consortium, are also encouraged to participate.
Business Secretary Cable said: “Close collaboration between industry and government, through the UK Automotive Council, will help ensure the projects this initiative funds will address important technology challenges and help to strengthen UK capability in low carbon. It’s an example of our industrial strategy in action.
The competition opens on 18 February 2013 and expressions of interest must be submitted by 27 March 2013. Applications must then be submitted by 3 April 2013. There will be a networking event to facilitate consortia building on 27 November 2012 at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon. For further information about the networking event please visit the TSB website and and look under events.
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