The 14th / 15th January two-day event this week organised by SMMT Foresightvehicle on behalf of the Low Carbon Fuel Cell KTN proved a “sell-out” with over-subscribed interest unfortunately leading to a number of late-registering delegates being disappointed and having to be put on the list to attend the follow-up event now being planned.

The symposium on Low Carbon Power Systems Configuration & Deployment and Energy Storage Solutions was deemed by those attending to be very successful and on each day over 75 registered guests attended the presentations and workshops from across industry, academia, Government, RDA and stakeholder interest groups.

Of particular interest were presentations from Andrew Everett of Technology Strategy Board and Cliff Funnell on TSB and FP7 explaining how to access the many new funding opportunities and from Dr Viv Stephens of CENEX on the RDA funded AWM Niche Vehicle funding programme – further details of which can be accessed via SMMT Foresight Vehicle website www.smmtforesightvehicle.org.uk and www.lowcarbonfuelcellktn.org.uk

Presentation from Robin Haycock gave useful insight from BERR and NAIGT perspective whilst a number of technical presentations updated participants on ongoing projects at University of Manchester, Brunel University and Loughborough University. Also  case studies from industry including MIRA who hosted the event at their Nuneaton facility proved to be most informative with a lively question and answer session being chaired by Nick Barter.

Most importantly and of particular interest, SMMT Foresight’s Nick Barter with Pat Selwood led workshops during each afternoon session where delegates were invited to propose projects and consortia that would be developed with assistance from SMMT Foresight for submission to the funding bodies. Over the two days 17 specific projects were outlined which will now be coordinated and progressed with assistance of SMMT Foresight. Details of these projects can be accessed at the SMMT Foresight website and those wishing to make additional proposals or to join existing proposed consortia are invited to contact Pat Selwood at: pat@smmtforesightvehicle.org.uk

Similarly those who missed this important information and networking event are invited to contact Brian Lawrence SMMT Foresight Project Manager brian@foresightvehicle.org.uk  to register their interest and get further information of SMMT membership, future Low Carbon automotive events and publication dates of the new SMMT Foresight Technology Roadmap and to get themselves on the Low Carbon Fuel Cell KTN mailing list to avoid missing the further Low Carbon Automotive events now being planned by SMMT Foresight