The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) is investing up to £55 million to make the UK’s connected and autonomous vehicle testing ecosystem the world’s most effective.

Here in the UK we have a strong automotive and technology heartland in the West Midlands through to Europe’s only megacity, London. Projects should look to build on these strengths, integrating existing proving grounds and public road test sites to improve capabilities and create new ones, and develop a national cluster of excellence.

This competition is part of the test bed programme for the government’s Industrial Strategy.

Project streams

UK businesses and research organisations can make applications in 3 streams.

Stream 1

In stream 1 we are looking for projects that develop a public test environment in an urban, highly-dense city location. Up to £35 million is available to support up to 2 projects.

Stream 2

For this stream we are looking to fund one controlled test facility that is representative of an urban or city environment. Examples might be a semi-controlled environment, such as a university campus or science and industry park, or a simulator that incorporates physical elements into a virtual environment. Up to £7 million is available.

Stream 3

For this stream we are looking to fund one realistic, controlled high-speed, limit-handling environment. We expect this environment to allow the creation of a diverse range of test scenarios. This may include vehicle to everything (V2X) interactions, collision avoidance and limit handling. Simulators may also be included. Up to £13 million is available.

In all cases preference will be given to projects that can deliver operational facilities and be open for business within 12 to 18 months.

A map of the defined area for test facility sites. See the brief for a full explanation.

The background

CCAV is a joint policy unit by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport. Its aim is to ensure that the UK is a world leader in developing and testing connected and autonomous vehicles.

Funding is being provided by CCAV. It is being supported by Innovate UK.

Competition information

• this competition opens on 3 April 2017
• there will be a briefing event on 4 April 2017
• the registration deadline is midday on 12 July 2017
• the application deadline is midday on 19 July 2017
• you must be a UK-based business, work collaboratively and carry out your project in the UK
• test facilities should meet specified criteria, as outlined in the competition brief

Announced in the Autumn Statement 2015, these new zones support businesses, helping budding entrepreneurs to start and established companies to grow. They offer business rates discounts and additional tax breaks, backed by a simplified local planning process.

In addition, 2 Enterprise Zones – the west of England LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and the New Anglia LEP – have expanded to benefit more places and communities.

These new Enterprise Zones bring the total to 48 in England. They will build on the success of current zones, which have attracted more than £2.6 billion of private investment and more than 700 new businesses. It means more than 29,000 jobs have been created across a range of key industries since their launch in 2012.

Local Growth Minister Andrew Percy said:

Our modern Industrial Strategy is about creating the right environment for businesses to grow – Enterprise Zones are making sure this happens across the country.

This is a key part of our Plan for Britain, creating a stronger economy that works for everyone. These 12 new Enterprise Zones will help even more businesses to set up and grow. I’m confident they will build on the success we’ve already seen over the past 5 years.

Support for growing business

Enterprise Zones are central to the government’s Industrial Strategy. They will help businesses up and down the country seize the opportunities presented by leaving the European Union.

Each Enterprise Zone is unique, building on the strengths of each area. They support some of the country’s most vital industries including manufacturing, technology and renewable energy.

The zones going live include:

• M62 Corridor Leeds City Region: in a boost to the Northern Powerhouse, the Zone will capitalise on the area’s strong manufacturing industry and focus on digital technology, automotive engineering, textiles and glass making

• North Kent Innovation Zone: with 3 sites covering Ebbsfleet Garden City, Kent Medical Campus and Rochester Airport Technology Park, the Zone will focus on the life sciences sector

• Brierley Hill: a new tech office hub for the Black Country will support development of Britain’s advanced manufacturing heartland in the Midlands Engine; it will have easy access to surrounding industrial sites as well as central Birmingham, national and international connections

• Cornwall Marine Hub: located over 3 sites at Hayle, Tolvaddon and Falmouth Docks, the Zone will establish Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as a global centre for the marine renewable energy sector

Further information

The Enterprise Zones launching were announced at Autumn Statement 2015 and are:

Northern Powerhouse

• M62 Corridor (Leeds City Region LEP)
• North East Round 2 (North East LEP)
• York Central (York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP)

Midlands Engine

• Brierley Hill (Black Country LEP)
• Loughborough and Leicester (Leicester and Leicestershire LEP)

South West

• Cornwall MarineHub (Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP)
• Dorset (Dorset LEP)
• Heart of the South West (Heart of the South West LEP)
• An extension to the West of England LEP Enterprise Zone

South East and East

• Enterprise M3 (Enterprise M3 LEP)
• Enviro-Tech (Hertfordshire LEP)
• Newhaven (Coast to Capital LEP)
• North Kent Innovation Zone (South East LEP)
• An extension to the New Anglia LEP Enterprise Zone

Businesses basing themselves on Enterprise Zones can access a number of benefits:

• business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business over a 5-year period
• generous enhanced capital allowances (tax relief) worth millions to businesses making large investments in plant and machinery
• 100% retention of business rate growth for the Local Enterprise Partnership, to enable them to fund development on the Enterprise Zone