£25 million boost for self-driving technology: apply for funding

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) has up to £25 million to invest in up to 4 pilot schemes for self-driving vehicles.

Funding is for pilots of self-driving passenger vehicles which include at least a 6-month trial in a public or semi-controlled setting. Trials should have a clear commercial focus, with potential to become an enduring service.

CCAV was set up by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport to help ensure the UK is a world leader in developing and testing connected and autonomous vehicles.

It is investing £150 million, match-funded by industry over 5 years, into cutting edge technologies. Trials are already under way in Bristol, Coventry, Greenwich and Milton Keynes.

Projects must pilot viable business opportunities

Projects should aim to test and validate:

• the technologies against a clear user need

• public acceptance of the technologies

• the business models that will deliver the service

They should focus on a viable and sustainable business opportunity that could be introduced as a service from the early 2020s.