Connected and autonomous vehicles 2

Key Features

Businesses can apply for a share of up to £35 million to research and develop connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to £10m

Opens: 22nd Aug 2016

Closes: 9th Nov 2016

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of this competition is to come up with technical solutions for connected and autonomous vehicle features that provide real-world benefits to users. This includes how these vehicles will work as part of a wider transport system. Innovate UK are seeking proposals where the commercial benefit is clear.

The competition is split into 4 streams.

Stream 1

Innovate UK are looking to fund a large-scale challenge to develop and demonstrate a vehicle operating at SAE level 4 automation (‘high automation’).  For more about SAE Levels, click here.

Projects must

  • develop and demonstrate a vehicle completing a safe end-to-end SAE level 4 journey (at least 10 miles) on public roads
  • undertake the journey in a variety of conditions
  • demonstrate some aspect of zero-occupant driving capability as part of the journey
  • undertake rigorous vehicle and system testing
  • integrate security by design and demonstrate a rigorous assessment of cyber threats and vulnerabilities
  • consider how the vehicle will operate as part of a transport system and how it helps meet the needs of the trial area
  • show a clear route to market and revenue in the near term

Projects are expected to be primarily industrial research with some work packages being experimental development.

Funding & Project details for Stream 1

  • £15 million to fund a large-scale challenge in Stream 1 (one or two projects maximum)
  • your project may focus on industrial research or experimental development
  • successful project(s) are expected to last 18 to 30 months and to have total project costs of £15 million to £30 million

Streams 2 & 3

Innovate UK are looking to fund industry-led collaborative research and development (R&D) projects and technical feasibility studies. These projects should focus on one or both of the following areas:

  • connectivity
  • autonomy