CAM Pathfinder: Demonstrate

Overview

The CAM Pathfinder: Demonstrate programme funds UK-registered organisations to advance close-to-market Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technologies. The aim is to support the development of products and enabling services that can be demonstrated and validated in representative environments, proving enhanced capability and unlocking commercial opportunities. The programme positions the UK to secure first-mover advantage in Europe for CAM deployment, focusing on safe, secure, and commercially viable solutions in high-value market segments.

Scope

‍Projects should develop CAM products and enabling services that:

• Reach a technology readiness level suitable for demonstration and validation (TRL 5–6, MRL 4–5)
• Actively engage potential customers or operators
• Demonstrate clear commercial opportunities supported by market understanding
• Include development, integration, validation, verification, testing, and pilot production as needed
• Address on-vehicle and off-vehicle innovations, including sensors, compute systems, automated driving software, connectivity, cybersecurity, mapping, AI/ML tools, and safety assurance services

Projects that primarily trial existing CAM technologies, focus on early-stage feasibility, or are intended for air, rail, maritime, military, micro goods vehicles, or indoor applications are not eligible. Projects must be conducted in the UK with results exploited in or from the UK.

Key themes and topics

• On-vehicle innovations supporting self-driving vehicle deployment
• Vehicle perception and localisation (camera, LiDAR, RADAR, IMU, PNT systems)
• Vehicle control systems, drive-by-wire, electronics integration
• Automated Driving Systems (ADS) software and on-board compute
• Connectivity, data storage, cybersecurity, and mapping
• AI/ML-based development tools, virtual tools, and digital twins
• Safety case development, verification, validation, and audit
• Manufacturing development, pilot production, and scaling of solutions
• Demonstrating customer engagement, market readiness, and commercial potential

Project duration

9–18 months, starting by 1 June 2026 and ending by 30 November 2027.

Award value

‍£500,000 – £2 million per project.

Funding rates

• Industrial research: up to 70% for micro/small, 60% for medium, 50% for large organisations
• Experimental development: up to 45% for micro/small, 35% for medium, 25% for large organisations
• Non-economic research organisations: up to 100% of eligible costs (or 80% FEC for Je-S registered academic institutions)
• 3.5% industrial contribution payable to Zenzic

Eligibility criteria

• Lead organisation: UK-registered business of any size (academic institutions, non-profits, charities, CICs cannot lead)
• Collaborators: UK-registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profits, public sector organisations, RTOs
• Non-funded partners allowed, including overseas organisations
• Subcontractors permitted, including overseas if justified
• Projects must demonstrate effective collaboration (no partner >70% of eligible costs, separate legal entities, no common controlling shareholders above thresholds)
• Projects must comply with Subsidy Control and State Aid rules, and all animal research must meet UK welfare standards