The Venturer project, which was funded by a £5m UK government grant, ended in June, but the founding members have formed the Venturer Alliance to continue to offer clients their expertise and capabilities in the field of CAVs.
The alliance consists of Atkins, which led the research project; AXA UK; BAE Systems; Bristol City Council; Bristol Robotics Laboratory; Burges Salmon LLP; Fusion Processing; South Gloucestershire Council; University of Bristol; University of the West of England; and Williams Advanced Engineering.
Together, these companies and institutions aim to continue to support the ongoing design, testing, trialling, integration and deployment of CAVs on the UK transport network and explore the potential impact of CAVs on UK society and infrastructure.
Its services will include performing trials, providing access to the technology to support the testing and development of CAVs both simulation and real-world testing and advise on the deployment of CAVs.
Nathan Marsh, chair of the Venturer Alliance board and intelligent mobility director at Atkins, said, “The Venturer partners have an established pedigree and proven success working together to overcome the barriers to the adoption of connected and autonomous vehicles in the UK.
“The Venturer Alliance builds on the important work carried out by the Venturer project to establish the west of England as a centre of excellence for the safe, user-led trialling of CAV technology.”
By Illya Verpraet
