Milton Keynes selected as site for £150m Transport Systems Catapult centre
Wed 10 July 2013
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The Technology Strategy Board has announced that Milton Keynes has been chosen as the site for a new £150m centre which will help to foster the development of a more efficient transport system. The Transport Systems Catapult will aim to help UK transport businesses develop new technology by providing ‘virtual test environments’ in which innovations in transport systems can be modelled.
It is one of seven planned technology and innovation centres across the UK; part of a £1bn public and private sector initiative by the Technology Strategy Board to drive technology innovation across a wide range of sectors.
David Willetts, universities and science minister, said: “The Transport Systems Catapult will put Milton Keynes at the forefront of exploiting the huge growth opportunities in a sector estimated to be worth up to £900bn by 2025. The Catapult will establish the UK as a world leader in transport systems, creating new technologies that can be exported across the world, boosting growth. New systems will also help businesses get access to real time information so they can travel more efficiently, reduce lost time and save money.”
Up to £50 million of funding for the centre over 5 years will come from the Technology Strategy Board. Further funding will come from private sector business and collaborative research and development projects. The total funding is expected to be around £150 million.
Ease of access for the transport community, a skilled experienced pool of talent, and the availability of high quality businesses were the reasons given for the location choice.
For further details, please visit the Transport Catapult website.
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