CAM Pathfinder: Demonstrate | Deploy UK self driving services with up to £20 million in grant funding

CAM Pathfinder Demonstrate Grant Support

Programme:Innovate UK

Awards:£500k-£2m

Geographical Scope:national

Beneficiaries:private

Key Features:UK businesses can apply for grants to demonstrate connected and automated mobility services in real-world settings, proving safety, user value and commercial readiness.

Key information at a glance

Funder: Innovate UK
Funding type: Grant
Total pot: Up to £20,000,000
Status: Open
Opens: 20 October 2025, 9:30am UK time
Closes: 17 December 2025, 11:30am UK time
Award size per project: £500,000 to £2,000,000 grant funding request
Project length: 12 to 24 months
Who can lead: UK registered business
Collaboration: Single applicant or collaboration
Apply via: Innovation Funding Service

Strategic objectives CAM Pathfinder Demonstrate

Provide robust evidence that self driving services can meet user needs safely and reliably
Refine operational models and interfaces between technology providers, operators and authorities
Build public trust through transparent safety and assurance practices
Create pathways for commercial rollout that deliver measurable UK economic benefit

Funding and award size CAM Pathfinder Demonstrate

Total competition funding: up to £20 million allocated across a portfolio of strong projects
Per project grant request: between £500,000 and £2,000,000
Eligible costs and rates: follow standard Innovate UK rules for industrial research and demonstration. Set a realistic budget and justify value for money in line with the competition brief.

What assessors look for

Clear use case with quantified demand from riders, shippers or local stakeholders
Safety case and assurance proportionate to the operating domain
Commercial model and route to revenues, including pricing, utilisation and cost assumptions
Consortium strength and access to test environments, facilities and insurance
Credible delivery plan, milestones, risk management and value for money

Scope - CAM Pathfinder Demonstrate

CAM Pathfinder: Demonstrate funds in-service demonstrations of self driving passenger or goods services in defined UK locations. Projects should validate safety, service design, operational performance, customer experience and the commercial model required for sustained operation. The focus is on deploying mature technology to generate real usage data, evidence business cases and accelerate routes to market.

Eligibility CAM Pathfinder Demonstrate

Lead organisation: must be a UK registered business
Project structure: can be a single applicant or a collaboration with other UK partners
Delivery location: work must be carried out in the UK with clear UK exploitation plans
Readiness: technologies should be sufficiently mature for safe, real-world demonstration

Deadlines and how to apply

Opens: 20 October 2025, 9:30am UK time
Closes: 17 December 2025, 11:30am UK time
Prepare your application early. Ensure your scope alignment, eligibility, project costs, delivery plan, risk register, and exploitation strategy are complete and consistent.

Benefits to applicants

Accelerated market entry by proving a viable service model in real conditions
Investor confidence through operational KPIs and user evidence
Partnerships and credibility with authorities, operators and supply-chain players
UK profile and leadership in the growing CAM market

Grants Roadmapping, built for CFOs

Get a focused, funder-ready plan in 2 to 4 weeks. We benchmark your pipeline, map the best fit UK and EU calls to your technical and commercial milestones, and produce a clear bid calendar with go or no go decisions, owners, and dates. One team, one point of accountability. Global Reach. Local Expertise.

What you get

Portfolio scan and eligibility fit across Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, Eurostars
12 month call calendar, deadlines and funding rates, with quick scoring
Consortium gap analysis and partner shortlist
Bid plan with responsibilities, timeline, and compliance checks
Optional end to end writing, submission, and audit readiness

“A good roadmap removes the noise. CFOs get a realistic bid calendar, not false hope. We align funding to the business plan so teams move quickly and stay compliant.”
Dr. Chrysi Karagiannaki, R&D Tax Consultant, FI Group UK

Book a free 20 minute discovery call about Grants Roadmapping using the button below.

Book Discovery Call

Grants Roadmapping, built for CFOs

What you get

Portfolio scan and eligibility fit across Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, Eurostars
12 month call calendar, deadlines and funding rates, with quick scoring
Consortium gap analysis and partner shortlist
Bid plan with responsibilities, timeline, and compliance checks
Optional end to end writing, submission, and audit readiness

“A good roadmap removes the noise. CFOs get a realistic bid calendar, not false hope. We align funding to the business plan so teams move quickly and stay compliant.”
Dr. Chrysi Karagiannaki, R&D Tax Consultant, FI Group UK

Book a free 20 minute discovery call about Grants Roadmapping using the button below.

Book Discovery Call

Frequently asked questions - CAM Pathfinder: Demonstrate

Use this section to verify compliance quickly and to shape a high scoring bid for Innovate UK’s Connected and Automated Mobility competition.

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