£10m TSB funding for low carbon vehicle R&D
Fri 12 July 2013
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The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is to invest in innovative R&D projects which are most likely to bring strong products and systems to market, and successful projects could be fast tracked for commercialisation. The competition, which opens in September and will act as a feeder into the recently announced Advanced Propulsion Centre, will provide a route to bring innovative ideas to the consumer more quickly.
Iain Gray, chief executive of the TSB, said that through the low-carbon vehicle Integrated Delivery Programme the aim is to integrate the low-carbon vehicle innovation chain in the UK from the science base through collaborative R&D to fleet-level demonstration.
The initiative supports the one billion-pound commitment from the government and automotive industry for an Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) announced by Business Secretary, Vince Cable, and Professor Richard Parry-Jones (who co-chair the Automotive Council) which aims to research, develop and commercialise the technologies for the low-carbon vehicles of the future in the UK. Both initiatives are underpinned by the joint government and industry automotive sector industrial strategy also announced this month.
Projects for the TSB competition must be collaborative and business-led. Companies working outside the automotive sector that can bring technical expertise and knowledge to a consortium are particularly welcome. Total eligible project costs are expected to be between £2m and £5m. The majority of funding will be allocated to proposals for industrial research attracting funding of up to 60% of project costs, although elements of experimental development (attracting funding of up to 35%) are expected in some cases. Projects are expected to last between 18 and 36 months.
The competition will be broadly open to all on-vehicle technologies. The final selection of projects by an independent assessment panel will include a review of the following five portfolio areas:
• electric machines and power electronics
• energy storage and energy management
• lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
• internal combustion engines
• other disruptive technologies.
A networking and partnering event will be held on 5 August 2013 at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon, to highlight the main features of the competition, and facilitate consortia-building.
The competition opens on 4 September 2013. The deadline for registration is at noon on 6 November 2013 and the deadline for applications is at noon on 13 November 2013. A briefing event will be held on 17 September 2013.
For more details, please follow the associated links.
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