The UK Government has unveiled four new funding initiatives worth £36.5 million to accelerate the development of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technologies across the country.
The four new funds – Mobilise, Demonstrate, Enable and Feasibility Studies – aim to accelerate the development of mobility solutions across road, maritime, logistics, manufacturing and aviation sectors as part of the CAM Pathfinder Programme.
Delivered by Innovate UK and Zenzic, the initiative builds on a decade of public–private collaboration in self-driving technology and forms a key part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Former Minister of State for Industry Sarah Jones said the investment would help Britain seize a growing economic opportunity. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the CAM sector could add £66 billion to the UK economy and create more than 12,000 vehicle manufacturing jobs.
Jones added that the new funds are designed not only to support innovation but to prepare for large-scale deployment. Alongside financial backing, the Government is pushing forward with the regulatory foundations needed for commercial rollout under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, with the first passenger pilots expected to begin next spring.
Expanding the CAM ecosystem
The new funding follows an initial £18 million round announced in July for 37 projects, including trials of autonomous buses, self-driving pods and robotic port handlers.
Zenzic Programme Director Mark Cracknell said the latest round would “further strengthen the nation’s reputation as a global leader” in developing and deploying next-generation transport systems. He added that it would also open up opportunities for new entrants to the UK’s growing CAM supply chain.
In an interview with Zag Daily earlier this year, Cracknell described CAM as a key enabler of “embodied AI.” This refers to the deployment of artificial intelligence in physical systems across transport, logistics and defence, highlighting the sector’s potential to anchor Britain’s leadership in real-world applications of AI.
According to the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the CAM industry could be worth £42 billion by 2035 and create 38,000 jobs.
Officials say the Pathfinder programme is central to achieving that ambition by turning the UK’s research strengths into deployable, revenue-generating technology.
