Summary

We are launching a competition with up to £19m available to invest in innovative, industry-led collaborative research, development and demonstration in the field of low and ultra low carbon vehicles.

We are funding this competition with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to strengthen UK capability and develop the UK’s supply networks for vehicle-centric technologies that can deliver a major improvement in cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

In this area the UK has the chance to build on its existing capabilities and establish a global competitive advantage and economic benefit for the UK.

We expect to invest in three to six projects. We welcome applications from any type of industry-led consortium. Strong participation from vehicle manufacturers (VMs) and/or tier 1 suppliers is expected. A partnering event has been set up to facilitate consortia building for this competition; it will be held at Warwick University, Coventry, on 4th February 2010.

Background and challenge

We established the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform in September 2007 to promote low carbon vehicle research, design, development and demonstration in the UK, to deliver:

• significant carbon emissions reduction in domestic and international vehicle markets
• faster introduction of low carbon vehicle technology and vehicles (compared with a purely market-driven process)
• a UK automotive sector including the supply chain benefiting from growing demand for lower carbon vehicles – in domestic and international markets.

This is the fourth competition under the innovation platform’s Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP). The programme aims to integrate the low carbon vehicle innovation chain, from the science base, through collaborative R&D to fleet-level demonstration.

The programme has secured over £120m of funding from the Technology Strategy Board, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Advantage West Midlands, One North East and Invest Northern Ireland.

The innovation platform has been working with key stakeholders to understand the research priorities needed to support the future developments of road vehicles to help reduce carbon emissions and therefore meet UK and EU climate change targets.

The IDP’s industry-led advisory panel has helped develop the scope of this competition. Its input has been informed by the New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team report – An Independent Report on the Future of the Automotive Industry in the UK (www.bis.gov.uk under Publications).

Key dates
Consortia building workshop, Warwick University (optional) 4th February 2010
Competition opens 8th February 2010
Briefing day, London (optional) 16th February 2010
Registration of intent to submit deadline (compulsory) 25th March 2010
Deadline for receipt of application 1st April 2010, noon
Invitation to presentation 28th April 2010
Presentation (for invited applicants) week commencing 24th May 2010
Decision to applicants 11th June 2010
Feedback to all unsuccessful applicants by end July 2010