Hydrogen tractors, self-driving cars and automotive sensors are among projects and firms collecting over £50m in government grant funding.
One of those projects is a partnership between self-driving startup Wayve and the University of Warwick for autonomous vehicle safety, which received £1.9m.
Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said: “The UK automotive sector is at the cutting edge of exploiting innovative technologies. These have the potential to create jobs, grow the economy and accelerate how we reach net zero.”
Bristol-based Zero Point Motion, a navigation chip designer, has picked up part of the government support. The startup raised £2.58m back in March 2022.
White Motorcycle Concepts, which is building bikes for emergency services, and a hydrogen tractor from Dolphin N2 and Wrightbus’ hydrogen buses, are included in the group of manufacturing tech projects.
“By supporting growth in the industries of the future, including through better regulation, we are delivering on our plan to get the economy growing and make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business,” said Jeremy Hunt, chancellor of the exchequer.
Four battery projects will share £19m from The Faraday Institution including Nextrode, which is exploring different methods to create electrodes and work on sodium-ion batteries by Nexgenna.
Innovate UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge is also dishing out £3.2m to three universities. Coventry University will take £700,000, with the rest shared between Newcastle University and University College Birmingham.
A Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence is set to be created out of the funding pot, with £5.5m for training in the sector.