Advanced Propulsion Centre UK marks a decade of innovation in automotive sector, and launches latest round of funding for SMEs   

On Wednesday 29 November, the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK hosted a celebratory reception to commemorate its 10-year anniversary. A decade of innovation.

Taking place in the House of Commons, the event featured speeches from former Business Secretary, Sir Vince Cable, the Minister for Industry and Economic Security, Nusrat Ghani MP, and host Matt Western MP, who all shared their thoughts on the past, present, and future of zero-emission automotive.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security, Nusrat Ghani said:

Together with industry we have invested via the APC over £1.4 billion in R&D in our world-leading automotive sector, creating thousands of jobs in the industries of the future, and now with our Advanced Manufacturing Plan we are building on this success even further. The APC is the product of a longstanding and fruitful partnership between government and industry, and I thank them for the crucial role they play in keeping the UK at the cutting-edge of zero-emission vehicle technology.

In celebration of its 10-year milestone, the APC is proud to announce the eighth wave of its Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP). It is encouraging micro, small, and medium-sized companies to register their interest in the programme.

Reflecting on the last decade Ian Constance, Chief Executive Officer at APC, said:

“Established in November 2013, APC was the brainchild of the Automotive Council. Providing a vital link between industry, academia, and government, our mission, which remains to this day, was to leverage the UK’s rich legacy for innovation and entrepreneurship and support the growth of a sustainable, domestic supply chain focused on developing low-carbon solutions for a rapidly evolving market.

To date we have facilitated investment of over £1.4 billion, delivering 261 programmes, projected to save 400 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing the lifetime emissions from 16.1 million cars. We have 480 active partners, from university spinouts to SMEs and volume vehicle manufacturers, and we have contributed to the safeguarding or creation of 58,000 skilled UK jobs.

And day-to-day our work continues. I am pleased to announce that the latest Technology Developer Accelerator Programme has launched. This programme has been very successful in bringing innovative companies through their initial phases of development – we have seen over £250m of private investment into those companies developing net-zero emission technology.

In addition, our 25th round of collaborative R&D (Research & Development) competition funding will officially open shortly in the New Year, and we encourage people to apply when that drops in January. This competition has been central to our achievements over the past decade.”

The TDAP funding opportunity presents SMEs with the chance to secure financial support for their innovative projects in the automotive sector, helping them commercialise their cutting-edge technologies and contribute to the growth of the UK automotive industry.

Josh Denne, Head of SME Programmes, said:

Our programme helps ambitious businesses with early-stage on or off-vehicle, low emissions innovations. We provide support at the start of their commercialisation journey, through access to finance to develop their technology, and help them understand their route to market, protect their intellectual property, and get them ‘market ready.’ We deliver the boost they need so they are better prepared, focussed, agile, and ultimately investible.