The UK government has announced a further £150m (US$201m) in funding for the CAM Pathfinder program to help grow the nation’s connected and automated mobility (CAM) industry. The program aims to address the challenges of bringing CAM vehicles to market and will run until 2030.
A total of £18m (US$24m) has already been committed to support 37 projects this year, with details on the individual projects and the funding programs to be unveiled over the coming weeks.
The government’s recently released industrial strategy outlined ambitions to create over 38,000 jobs and a CAM industry worth over £42bn (US$56bn) by 2035. Ministers see the CAM Pathfinder program as being key to realizing the industry’s potential.
The government’s industrial strategy document says, “To address the complexities in commercializing CAM vehicles, we will increase funding to our CAM Pathfinder program with a further £150m until 2030, provided in partnership with Zenzic and Innovate UK. Working closely with government, these organizations deliver a globally unique offer, match-funding R&D grants to the UK CAM sector including for dual-use technologies and connecting industry players with international opportunities. This funding is underpinned by the world-leading Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which paves the way for self-driving vehicles to be used safely and securely on British roads by removing the need for a safety driver. Alongside full implementation of the act by 2027, the government is also enabling commercial pilots of bus- and taxi-like services from spring 2026. We are also playing a leading role in harmonizing international regulations on self-driving, including through the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. This will enable our companies to compete and export globally.”
The CAM Pathfinder program is delivered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), supported by Zenzic and Innovate UK.
Zenzic was created by the government and industry to champion the UK CAM ecosystem and lead the UK in accelerating the self-driving revolution, with the goal of ensuring a safer, more secure, sustainable and inclusive transportation future. The organization aims to position the UK at the heart of the global CAM ecosystem by leveraging the power of innovation, through collaboration, to promote and enable UK organizations to play an impactful role in the future of mobility.
Mark Cracknell, program director at Zenzic, said, “Innovation in CAM is more than just developing new technology, it’s a driver of investment, exports and skilled jobs across the country. From local suppliers to global exporters, the sector is creating real-world impact by building a more sustainable, inclusive and future-ready transport future, and the extension of CAM Pathfinder will be key to ensuring we continue to build on this success while ensuring the UK remains a world leader in the development and deployment of CAM solutions.”
Projects funded by CAM Pathfinder must demonstrate that the cutting-edge technology or mobility solutions being developed can help industries become safer, sustainable, inclusive and more productive.
In related news, read about the CAM Innovators Day, delivered by Zenzic and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), where global leaders in connected and automated mobility (CAM) came together to drive innovation, tackle key challenges and accelerate the rollout of self-driving technology.