The UK Government has announced £36.5m in new funding to accelerate the development of connected and automated mobility (CAM) technologies, as part of its wider £150m CAM Pathfinder program.
Four new funds – Mobilise, Demonstrate, Enable and Feasibility Studies – were officially unveiled at a launch event held at the University of Warwick on October 9. These initiatives are designed to support UK-based projects focused on developing world-first mobility solutions and reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in transport innovation.
The funding will be delivered through Innovate UK and Zenzic, and builds on previous CAM Pathfinder initiatives, including the Enhancements and Feasibility Studies programs launched earlier this year, which together account for £18m in funding. This latest announcement brings the total committed to CAM Pathfinder so far to £58m.
According to former Minister of State for Industry, Rt Hon Sarah Jones MP, the potential economic impact of the CAM sector is significant. “Industry reports from the SMMT suggest that connected and automated mobility has the potential to generate a staggering £66bn for the UK economy and more than 12,000 jobs in vehicle manufacturing alone,” she said.
“We want to help businesses seize that opportunity with both hands and that’s why we introduced the CAM Pathfinder R&D program over the summer, strengthening a partnership with industry that’s seen hundreds of millions of pounds invested in CAM technologies and services,” she added.
Jones confirmed that the new competitions will open in autumn, with funds to be distributed in the next financial year. But she emphasized that support for the sector goes beyond financial backing: “It’s about creating the right regulatory environment, too. That’s why my colleague, the Transport Secretary, is accelerating regulations for automated passenger services.”
Jones pointed to California as a model for what the UK hopes to achieve. “We want to take a leaf out of California’s book where self-driving Jaguar I-Paces are ferrying people across the streets of San Francisco and Los Angeles. We want to do the same thing in the UK with commercial pilots launching from next spring.”
The CAM Pathfinder program focuses on areas where connected and autonomous technologies could have the greatest commercial impact – including logistics, maritime, manufacturing, and aviation – rather than just personal vehicle use.
Mark Cracknell, program director at Zenzic, said the new funds offer significant opportunities for businesses: “This announcement will provide a major boost to businesses across the UK who are already part of, or seeking to break into, the CAM supply chain.”
He highlighted the value of trials already underway: “Trials of autonomous port handlers, public buses and self-driving pods have already received funding from the Enhancements fund, as have over a dozen Feasibility Studies bringing together some of the brightest minds from across academia and industry, and these three new funds will further build on this success.”
Cracknell urged interested organizations to engage with the program. “They will ensure UK organizations continue to play an impactful role in the future of mobility, while providing a real boost to the economy, so we would encourage any business interested in getting involved to get in touch with us and find out more.”
The CAM Pathfinder initiative forms part of the UK Government’s broader Industrial Strategy, supporting innovation, productivity and long-term economic growth through high-tech infrastructure and research investment.
