UKCAAR launches to accelerate academic research for automotive innovation
20 October 2025
- New Council unites academia and industry
- First funding competition opens 20 October 2025
- £330,000 total in grants for Feasibility Sprints
The UK automotive sector is set to benefit from a powerful new academic collaboration platform with the launch of the UK Council for Automotive Academic Research (UKCAAR).
UKCAAR strengthens the vital links between academia, industry, and government to drive forward the UK’s transition to zero-emission mobility. With the UK’s universities consistently ranked among the world’s best, UKCAAR harnesses this intellectual capital to identify key research areas and provide foresight on future disruptive zero-emission technologies.
To mark its launch, UKCAAR is introducing its first Feasibility Sprint, a competitive funding opportunity designed to support bold, early-stage research projects that advance sustainable mobility.
Funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), the funding encourages collaborative proposals between academic institutions and industry partners.
Feasibility Sprints aim to support projects that align with the government’s DRIVE35 strategy, focusing on three core themes: zero-emission vehicle technologies, manufacturing competitiveness, and future vehicle innovation.
Projects must demonstrate strong potential to contribute to the UK’s net-zero goals while fostering meaningful academic-industry partnerships.
A total of £330,000 is available through this round, with individual projects eligible for funding of between £30,000 and £90,000. Each project must include at least 50% in-kind match from an industry partner and be led by a university.
Applications open today, 20 October 2025, with a submission deadline of 21 November 2025. Successful projects will commence on 1 January 2026 and conclude by 31 July 2026.
Steve Sapsford, UKCAAR Lead at the APC said:
“We invite UK-based academic institutions to lead project proposals, together with UK or international industry collaborators, where they are connected to UK benefits. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of UK mobility, receive support from the APC and DBT, and contribute to the development of cutting-edge zero-emission technologies.”
UKCAAR activities
Beyond funding, UKCAAR will host a range of initiatives to foster collaboration and insight, including the Future of Technology event and debate series and publication of insight papers.
Expert leadership
Formerly known as the Academic Advisory Group, UKCAAR is composed of leading academics and experts from across the UK’s top institutions, including:
- Professor Chris Brace, IAAPS, University of Bath (Chair)
- Professor Frances Wall, University of Exeter (Co-chair)
- Professor Alasdair Cairns, University of Nottingham
- Martin Dowson, WMG, University of Warwick
- Professor Juliana Early, Queens University Belfast
- Professor Zhongyun Fan, Brunel University London
- Deepak Farmah, Coventry University
- Paolo Favino, Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
- James Gaade, The Faraday Institution
- Professor Colin Garner, Non-Executive Director, APC
- Dr Russ Hall, WMG, University of Warwick
- Dr Charlotte Hoskin, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Professor Felix Leach, University of Oxford
- Professor George Mavros, Loughborough University
- Professor Phillip Mellor, University of Bristol
- Professor Greg Offer, Imperial College London
- Neale Ryan, Innovate UK
- Professor Alex Taylor, Imperial College London
- Professor Patricia Thornley, Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University
- Professor Derrick Holliday, University of Strathclyde
For guidance or questions, interested parties can contact [email protected] or [email protected].
More information about the Feasibility Sprints can be found here