Just one month remains for UK automotive companies to submit entries for the prestigious SMMT Award for Automotive Innovation 2014.
Now in its fifth year, the Award – sponsored by GKN and supported by The Times – recognises new UK-born technologies with the capacity to leave a lasting impression on the whole industry for years to come. Ford Motor Company took the crown last year with its efficient, yet powerful, 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which now features in more than 100,000 cars and vans across the country.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The Award for Automotive Innovation is just one example of the work SMMT is doing with its members and government to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of global vehicle development. With less than a month now remaining to submit entries we are looking for genuinely exciting concepts which have the potential to transform the wider automotive industry.”
UK automotive businesses invest billions every year in automotive R&D; in 2013, industry committed £1.9 billion to furthering the technologies that have seen the UK position itself high in the global automotive hierarchy.
The deadline for entries is midnight on 12 September. A shortlisting process will follow, after which successful entrants will present their innovations to a panel of industry experts. The winner will be announced at the SMMT Annual Dinner on 25 November in front of more than 1,000 leading industry figures. As a first for the Award, shortlisted entrants will this year have the opportunity to present their innovation at the 2014 Automotive Engineering Show, as part of the Advanced Engineering UK Group of events, on 12 November.
For full details and to enter, visit the Award website: www.smmt.co.uk/aai. Any queries should be directed to innovationaward@smmt.co.uk.
