SMMT News

SMMT welcomes launch of automotive technology centres

23 December 2004 #SMMT News

The Department of Trade and Industry has announced the launch of two new centres of excellence to promote innovation and R&D in key areas of automotive technology. The Low Carbon and Fuel Technology Centre and the Transport Telematics for Sustainable Mobility Centre of Excellence will look to help establish the UK at the forefront of ‘smart’ transport and low carbon vehicle technologies.

The bodies were set up following recommendations made by the DTI Automotive Innovation and Growth Team Report published in 2002. Both centres will receive funding from DTI as part of the Government’s business support programmes for innovation. The centres will be expected to become commercially sustainable within three to five years.

Commenting, SMMT Chief Executive, Christopher Macgowan said, ‘This is another positive step for the future of the automotive industry in the UK. We all know that innovation, research and development are central to competitive advantage. These centres will help encourage new investment and ensure that UK-based automotive companies are best placed to exploit the global opportunities for cleaner vehicles and technologies’.

DTI announced the appointment of launch directors for each of the new centres. Geoff Callow, managing director of TEC Ltd will be the launch director of the Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technology Centre and Phil Pettitt, Manager for ITS at QinetiQ, will be launch director of the Transport for Sustainable Mobility Centre of Excellence.

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