Business Secretary Vince Cable has opened an innovation centre for smart transport technology in Milton Keynes today.
The Transport Systems Catapult’s ‘Imovation Centre’ (combining Intelligent Mobility and innovation) plans to make road journeys more efficient through the adaption of new technology and infrastructure.
Speaking at a special media preview of the Centre in Milton Keynes, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable said, “Britain has a long history of transport innovation; from the shipbuilders who paved the way for globalisation, to the railways, that underpinned the industrial revolution.
This new innovation centre will ensure the UK is well placed to profit from the increased demand for high-tech transport solutions – creating jobs, supporting businesses, and driving economic growth.”
Operated by the Transport Systems Catapult, the Imovation Centre will model, test and trial new ideas, including driverless vehicles, fuel-efficient truck designs as well as telemetry and electrical power built into roads.
Steve Yianni, Chief Executive of the Transport Systems Catapult said, “Intelligent Mobility harnesses new technologies to create seamless journeys, where transport is smart and connected, and delays and congestions are a thing of the past. The Imovation Centre will take the brightest solutions to the most pressing transport challenges, and help make those ideas a commercial success.”
The Transport Systems Catapult will directly contribute £712 million in economic value to the UK during its first five years (2013-2018). The ‘smart transport’ sector is estimated by the organisation to be worth £90bn per year to the UK by 2025.
Following the official opening by Dr Cable, staff at the centre provided a series of demonstrations and simulations of some of the projects already being worked on, including the LUTZ Pathfinder programme of driverless vehicles. Key players from the transport industry and members of the media were also able to tour the facilities and see examples of the centre’s modelling and computer visualisation capabilities.
