CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies 2 – UK Funding Programme

The programme will support the UK CAM sector to accelerate its technological capabilities and demonstrate CAM operations as commercially viable. It focuses on high value market segments in the early commercialisation of these technologies, whilst ensuring these are safe and secure for all. The aim is to fund feasibility studies for early commercial CAM opportunities, enabling organisations to create business cases for deployment opportunities in high value areas. Business cases must allow investment decisions or highlight existing barriers preventing deployment. Proposed deployments must operate commercially without safety drivers at a specified location in the UK. The portfolio approach seeks a variety of projects across different sectors, markets, technological maturities, service types, geographies, deployment domains, vehicle types, technologies, and types of project collaboration.

The CAM Pathfinder programme is a UK government initiative designed to position the UK as a first mover in Europe for Connected and Automated Mobility products and services. Innovate UK will invest a minimum of £1.5 million for up to eight projects, subject to the quality and number of applications received. The funding is in the form of a grant, with requests ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 per project. Projects must last between six and nine months and commence no earlier than 1 April 2026, finishing by 31 March 2027.

Eligible organisations leading a project include UK-registered businesses of any size, local authorities, or transport authorities, while academic institutions cannot lead or work alone. Collaborations are encouraged, including businesses, research organisations, charities, not-for-profits, public sector organisations, and technology providers. Effective collaboration requires separate legal entities with no overlapping significant ownership and clear rationale for the partnership. Non-funded partners and subcontractors are permitted, including overseas entities if justified, though UK subcontractors are preferred.

Projects funded under this competition must focus on feasibility studies that result in detailed business cases for CAM services. These services could include off-highway vehicles, freight and logistics vehicles, personal mobility vehicles, public transport vehicles, or specialist service vehicles. The studies must quantify job opportunities, productivity benefits, and supply chain impacts while engaging with regulators and technology developers to ensure market readiness. Limited technology trials are permitted only to support the investigation or provide data for the business case.

Certain project types are excluded, including those producing system- or sub-system-level business cases that do not deliver CAM services, technology feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development projects, projects related to rail, air, or waterborne craft, and those using micro goods vehicles or indoor/pavement-based robots. Projects must comply with subsidy control legislation and may be subject to funding caps based on organisation size. Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity may share up to 30% of total eligible project costs if the lead is a business or 50% if led by a local or transport authority.

For every successful project, a detailed closeout report must be presented to Zenzic, reviewing the business case, outcomes, and next steps before the final payment is released. This programme emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance, and the potential for early commercial deployment of CAM services, aiming to secure the UK’s competitive advantage in this emerging sector.

For more information, visit GOV.UK.