Welcome to ICAV. See the latest news and opportunities in the emerging Driverless Vehicle sector.
We are proud to say that our ICAV, has been growing from strength to strength and attracted both national and international attention. I can never wait to share the latest exciting news and opportunities in this emerging space.
Don Dhaliwal, Conigital, Lead Partner @ICAVcluster
Latest News
Audi Skysphere concept is shape-shifting, self-driving roadster
The new machine, revealed at the Monterey Car Week, is the first of three ‘sphere’ EV concepts that the German manufacturer will present over the coming months. The Skysphere is an electric two-door convertible that was developed around the principles of Level 4 autonomy, which means the car can drive unaided on roads equipped with the necessary infrastructure. Read More
Amazon steps up automotive data development with UK hire
Blue Intelligence Is Applying biotechnology to autonomous valet parking technology
Starship Technologies’ delivery robots are coming to more college campuses
Starship Technologies is expanding its footprint, deploying dozens of its pint-sized six-wheeled delivery robots on college campuses this fall. Each robot is electric, has a trunk that can fit about 20 pounds of cargo, and has a number of embedded cameras that can be used to identify obstacles and help guide it to its destination. Read More
Ford and Bosch will test smart parking technology in a Detroit garage
The city of Detroit, in partnership with both Ford and Bosch, is about to open a new Smart Parking Lab. It’s a real-world environment to test future autonomous technologies that could be used to refine autonomous valet parking into a product. The facility will also enable these companies to test if it’s possible to introduce automatic smart charging into the system. Read More
Innoviz and Whale Dynamic partner on LiDar-enabled autonomous driving platform
Innoviz Technologies has announced Whale Dynamic will equip its autonomous driving system with solid-state InnovizOne LiDAR sensors. Whale Dynamic’s autonomous driving (AD) platform identifies and interprets vehicles’ changing environments to provide intelligent driving suggestions. It’s equipped with drive-by-wire technology. Read More
Los Angeles, There’s a New Self-Driving Car Company in Town: Meet Motional
Motional has announced it wants to more than double its number of employees in the state, and most of them will work in Los Angeles as human operators for self-driving cars that will learn, how to drive themselves. Until Motional gets the required permits from the California DMV, the self-driving car fleet will have to always have human drivers behind the wheel. Read More
Visit our Blog to read More Articles.
Member Requests
Conigital are searching for beta testers and early adopters of our product suite. If you would like to be involved in our Driverless vehicle and MaaS trials. Please register your interest here
Featured Events
August 20th, 2021 – Future Flight Cafe: Safe zone system for autonomous flight. Join this event to hear about project SafeZone – a world first real-time aerodynamic information system for autonomous flight in urban areas. To develop the project further, the team seek: UTM data service providers and/or communications experts; 5G experts; platform developers; airports; drone port and/or infrastructure developers. Register Here
August 24th, 2021 – Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22 Briefing Event. Through Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22, 20 female entrepreneurs will be awarded with a cash injection of £50K each, as well as a bespoke package of business support, coaching and mentoring. Join the briefing event to learn more about the scope for this competition, the application process and support available for applicants. Register Here
COVID 19 EVENT NOTICE
Following recent developments with the global pandemic relating to COVID-19. A number of events are being canceled, deferred or being made online. Please check directly with event organisers to the state of your event.
Upcoming Events
TFI Small CR&D Competition Briefing: August 17th, 2021 – Find out about the new Transforming Foundation Industries Small Scale Research and Development programme at this competition briefing.Join Innovate UK and KTN for details of the new Transforming Foundation Industries Small Scale Research and Development programme. Projects must focus on resource or energy efficiency in the foundation industries, and applicants can be from the foundation industries or their immediate supply chains. Register Here
Future Flight Cafe: Safe zone system for autonomous flight: August 20th, 2021 – Join this event to hear about project SafeZone – a world first real-time aerodynamic information system for autonomous flight in urban areas. SafeZone will deliver safer and more efficient UAVs by enabling real time information on potential hazards to inform re-routing decisions. To develop the project further, the team seek: UTM data service providers and/or communications experts; 5G experts; platform developers; airports; drone port and/or infrastructure developers. Register Here
Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22 Briefing Event: August 24th, 2021 – Through Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22, 20 female entrepreneurs will be awarded with a cash injection of £50K each, as well as a bespoke package of business support, coaching and mentoring. Join the briefing event to learn more about the scope for this competition, the application process and support available for applicants. Register Here
Future Flight Fridays: Future Flight Roadmap: August 27th, 2021 – The Future Flight Challenge is a £300m programme, jointly funded by the UK government and industry, to position the UK as a world-leader in the third aviation revolution. Join us to hear about the Future Flight Roadmap which has been developed to set the vision for the UK and identify trends and threats. Phase III of the competition will launch in September and this event will help set the context for those currently delivering a Future Flight Challenge project and those considering applying for the first time. Register Here
10th International Congress on Transportation Research: September 1st – September 3rd, 2021 – The Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers (HITE) and the Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT/CERTH) co-organize the ‘10th International Congress on Transportation Research’ (ICTR 2021), which will be held on September 1st -3rd, 2021, at the Mediterranean Hotel in Rhodes, Greece. The spotlight theme of the 2021 Congress is: ‘Future Mobility and Resilient Transport: Transition to innovation’. Register Here
Future Flight Cafe: Skybus: September 3rd, 2021 – Join this event to hear about project Skybus – a transformative mode of travel taking a “system of systems” approach. This project is evaluating the operational, technical and economic feasibility of a network of large (30-50 pax) electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Register Here
IAA MOBILITY Conference: September 7th – September 12th, 2021 – Mobility is in a state of flux and new offers are expanding the mobility mix in the city and in the countryside. New mobility carriers, technologies and players such as start-ups are appearing on the scene. And the IAA takes this development into account. Register Here
City Leaders Dialogues: The net zero road to COP26 and beyond: September 7th, 2021 – As part of this global conversation, the UK’s Connected Places Catapult has partnered with Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities on a series of Mayoral Dialogues, led by Prof. Greg Clark CBE, Chairman of Connected Places Catapult. On The Net Zero Road to COP26 and Beyond, we ask how global city leaders and stepping up to one of the biggest challenges humanity faces: a changing climate and the need to reduce global carbon emissions. Register Here
Assistive Technologies & Remote Medicine: September 7th, 2021 – Take a deep dive into Assistive Technologies and Remote Medicine with the help of speakers from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG, amica24 and Smartbox Assistive Technology. During our virtual event you will gain insight into the future of digital health, discover opportunities for industry partners, learn about the direction of assistive technology use in the UK and find out about the technology challenges and emerging solutions in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Register Here
More events can be found here
COVID 19 Grant & Support Information
COVID-19: Government guidance for employees, employers and businesses
This guidance also provides details of support available to businesses including:
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- Deferring VAT and Self-Assessment payments
- Statutory sick pay relief package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and other Grants
- New lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms
Funding Calls & Opportunities
ISCF Transforming Foundation Industry – Small Scale R&D Strand 2 – The Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge fund will work with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, to invest up to £1.5 million in innovation projects. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Projects must address the resource productivity or energy performance opportunities of the sector and its supply chains. Read More
ISCF Transforming Foundation Industry – Small scale R&D – Strand 1 – The Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge fund will work with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, to invest up to £1.5 million in innovation projects. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).Projects must address the resource productivity or energy performance opportunities of the sector and its supply chains. The aim of this competition is to improve the competitiveness of our Foundation Industry sector by helping it to become more environmentally sustainable. Read More
Global cooperation feasibility studies – Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £1.5 million to support innovative micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to carry out international feasibility studies. The aim of this competition is to increase the international engagement of innovative UK registered SMEs. It will support them in looking to establish or strengthen international research and innovation partnerships and networks and aid them to grow and scale up. Read More
Innovate UK Smart Grants: August 2021 – UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. Whilst projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas are welcomed, this is not a requirement, as we are also keen to support projects in other areas. Read More
Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22: Round 13 – The aim of this competition is to find women with exciting, innovative ideas and ambitious plans that will inspire others. The awards are for female founders, co-founders or senior decision makers working in businesses that have been operating for at least one year. Applicants must be confident, with the support of an award, that they can make a significant contribution to a pressing societal, environmental or economic challenge through their innovative project. Read More
Automotive Transformation Fund Expression of Interest: Round 13 – The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is a new Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) programme that aims to establish a competitive and sustainable UK supply chain. It offers a share of up to £1 billion of funding for capital and associated industrial research projects. This will be to support the industrialisation of a high value, electrified automotive supply at scale in the UK. Read More
Analysis for Innovators (A4I) Round 6 – The aim of this competition is to match the best UK scientists and cutting-edge facilities with businesses that have analysis or measurement problems. Your proposal must describe a measurement or analysis problem, that will help improve your businesses productivity or competitiveness and an estimate of the value to your business of solving it. Read More
Driving the electric revolution – building talent for the future – The aim of this competition is to fund several ideas that quickly fill immediate gaps in skills, talent and training for the power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) industry. Your proposal must deliver a clear game-changing intervention, which would realistically and significantly meet a UK PEMD talent requirement. In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. Read More
KTN-iX challenge: Upcycling Protective Plastics from Offshore Wind Farms – The Innovation Exchange programme is working alongside Ørsted to help them reach out to potential innovators that might have solutions involving the upcycling of Transition Piece (TP) covers. The challenge may find a suitable solution in an award to more than one provider. Read More
Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2021 to 2022, round 3 – The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme allows a UK registered business or not-for-profit organisation to partner with a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, RTO or Catapult. Each application must be led by a knowledge base, working with a business partner. Read More
ISCF smart sustainable plastic packaging: business-led R&D – Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £7 million from the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Programme in innovation projects. These projects must have the potential to significantly impact the 2025 UK Plastics Pact targets in the long term, and address widely known problems related to plastic packaging for consumer products. Read More
Innovate UK SMART grants May 2021 – Smart is Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing and commercially viable innovative or disruptive ideas. All proposals must be business focused. All applicants are required to complete the EDI survey. Applicants are also prompted to consider EDI as part of the application process. Read More
More funding can be found here
Featured Jobs
KTN: Knowledge Transfer Manager – Zero Emission Mobility Infrastructure – The role is to define, deliver and/or support programmes of work focused on enabling innovative solutions in zero emission infrastructure to be embedded in the transport system. Provide innovation support to companies working in zero emission mobility infrastructure and associated industries, driving knowledge transfer between the science base and industry, promoting networking and enabling innovation. Apply
KTN: Knowledge Transfer Manager – Global Alliance – The Knowledge Transfer Manage- Global Alliance will deliver KTN’s global programmes that foster the advancement and exploitation of UK research and innovation for the strategic objectives of growing the UK economy and/or tackling global development needs. Key accountabilities of the role include: An active team member responsible for the successful and timely delivery of KTN’s international project portfolio, with particular responsibility of Global Expert Mission, Lead the delivery of individual Global Expert Missions to key partner countries of the UK. Apply
WMCA: Land and Property Asset Surveyor – WMCA is looking for a Land and Property Asset Surveyor to join our Asset Management Team and take responsibility for the provision and coordination of an effective asset and property management service. The role reports to our Head of Strategic Assets and ensures that the surveying aspects of the West Midlands Combined Authority land and property assets are discharged effectively and that assets are effectively managed by ensuring the quality of residential and commercial managing agent service. Apply
WMCA: Thrive at Work Engagement Manager – As Engagement Manager, you will be lead champion for good workplace and workforce wellbeing, heading up a small but perfectly formed team to deliver the Thrive at Work programme. The engagement arm of the programme team is primarily focused on registering employers for Thrive at Work, who are then supported through the programme by the accreditation arm of the team. Collectively, this works as a seamless unit that drives systematic improvements in workplace well. Apply
Catapult: Finance Analyst – This role will primarily provide commercial, technical, and financial expertise to key internal stakeholders. Reporting to the Group Commercial Accountant you will be responsible for working with keymembers of the Finance team and other departments within the business to help the company deliver its projects to budget and forecast. This role is based in our Milton Keynes office. Apply
University of Warwick: Core Technical Assistant – The postholder will assist in setting-up experiments and laboratory equipment, maintaining core infrastructure and facilities, reorganising of laboratory and office space, and issuing and disposing of chemicals. On a day-to-day basis, the core technical assistant will be working in the teaching laboratories. This is a varied role which may also require working across the research and teaching teams, to support the provision of a safe working environment. Apply
Conigital Group: Cloud Architect – Reporting to the CTO, you will translate business needs to technical requirements and specifications for cloud-based portfolio of products, while improving the efficiency and operations of SaaS products. You will support technical review and have a passion to design and improve digital solutions to be deployed at scale. Apply
ICAV Cluster: Motion Planning Engineer (Autonomous Driving) – As a Motion Planning Engineer, you will be responsible for the development of environment modeling, motion planning, and behavioral prediction algorithms, and software that enables an autonomous vehicle to interact with its environment. You will have the chance to work with expert team & implementing these algorithms on high tech hardware that will allow you to explore algorithms that were traditionally too costly on edge computing systems. Apply
More jobs can be found here
Top Jobs
Conigital: ROS Developer – Conigital is looking for a ROS Developer to support ongoing development. Reporting to the AV Team Lead, the data scientist will be working within a successful and motivated team. As a specialist in ROS one will have to devote her/his expertise to leverage the current development in the field of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) development. You should be experienced in Robotic Operating System (ROS), ROS1 & ROS2, various sensors, navigation, control system, and robot programming. Expertise in sensor integration, sensor data acquisition, sensor data synchronisation and sensor data processing for modular integration is required. Apply
WMCA: Head of Business Operations – As the Head of Operations, you will responsible for managing and implementing the organisation’s strategic and operational plans. While delivering our business plans, you will be proactive, efficient and effective in terms of managing finance, developing team members and services further. This is a significant leadership role within Midlands Connect and as such you will be expected to be a visible leadership role model representing the organisation’s views in senior meetings and cross-organisational forums. Apply
KTN: Marketing and Events Lead – This role is responsible for leading a team of talented communications and events managers, in delivering exceptional engagement activity that drives positive change. This role will ensure that KTN’s clients and partners receive the highest quality of partnership and service – and that we build on KTN’s excellent reputation with the organisations and people KTN work with. Apply
WMCA: BI Reporting Specialist – As BI Reporting Specialist, you will enhance the Design and Development team and its ability to deliver a complete customer-focused service to the organisation for all its Business Intelligence needs, be a go-to person, provide advice and support where needed and help to deliver excellence in all areas, helping to uphold a service focused, customer centric approach. As an advocate for reporting, you will need to maintain, support and develop the WMCA reporting expertise. Apply
ICAV Cluster: Data Scientist [AI and Optimisation Specialist] – ICAV Cluster is looking for an AI and Optimisation Specialist, You will be working on Multi-objective Optimization projects in the transport and energy sectors using Metaheuristic Algorithms. You will be working with our technical lead deploying and integrating our propriety EAs algorithms to explore a variety of datasets to drive greater value and business insight supporting near Realtime decision making in dynamic situations. Apply
Conigital Group: Software Engineer – Reporting to the Tech Team Lead, you will take responsibility for developing key aspects and functions that form the backbone of our product portfolio (ConOP™). This includes development at different Technology Readiness Levels, writing functions to analyse data sets, develop prototypes releases of software (for pilots to prove concepts), and “glue” systems together to integrate different business applications. Apply
ICAV Cluster: Vehicle Integration Engineer – Reporting to the Technical Director, the Vehicle Integration Engineer Will Lead and drive forward the definition and implementation of a vehicle x-by-wire interface that will be used to integrate with a vehicle automation platform. The x-by-wire solution will be designed to be configurable across several target vehicles. The role is not just about developing the software but also about defining and integrating the electro-mechanical mechanisms and interfaces with existing vehicle systems (e.g. introducing epas, e-braking etc). Apply
More jobs can be found here
About ICAV
The International Connected Autonomous Vehicle (“ICAV”) cluster has been set up to support new and existing businesses enter the growing Connected Autonomous Vehicles (“CAV”) market. KPMG research indicates that the CAV market has the potential to add £51 billion per year to the UK economy by 2030, create 320,000 new jobs and prevent 25,000 accidents saving 2500 lives per year. Find the latest Market Forecast report by Transport Systems Catapult here. ICAV are based at iCentrum, part of Innovation Birmingham, the UK’s third oldest science park and a base for the region’s growing Tech community.
Become ICAV Member Today
ICAV membership offers great value enabling you to be part of a growing business network of international industry professionals and technology companies in the CAV sector. With annual membership starting at £145 + VAT you can attend all our events and our partners’ events for free or a discounted price!
Find out more about Associate Membership or Founder Membership.