The sustainable mobility revolution
Over recent years, the global demand for transporting people and goods has increased significantly, opening up new opportunities and substantial challenges. New service offerings are being developed, with new characteristics requiring innovations in all areas of the transport system.
Venue: Cranfield University, Vincent Building
Time: 1830 - 2100
Book: This event is organised by our alumni volunteer ( Emmanuelle Clement EMBA 2007), please book your place here, drinks and buffet will be provided.
Driverless cars used to be confined to the realm of science fiction, but now they are coming to a road near you. From reducing the number of accidents, to improving emissions compliance and easing congestion, the driverless revolution has begun with trials in UK locations. The UK’s first driverless car, which has been designed to help commuters, shoppers, and the elderly travel short journeys will be introduced in Milton Keynes.
Cranfield University has been awarded funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the South East Midland Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to commence building a £55m campus infrastructure development for transport systems and intelligent mobility research, innovation and education – comprising a new teaching and training facility and a ‘living lab’ roadway traversing the north/south axis of the campus!
The intelligent mobility industry is expected to be worth £900 billion globally by 2025 and is currently growing by 16 per cent a year. This is just the start. As the technology gets cheaper, the driverless car future will increasingly become a reality.
This event will address how innovative driverless technology, education and training and strategic collaborations are key to addressing the multiple transport sector challenges and enable the smarter, greener and more efficient movement of people and goods around the world.
Speakers
Transforming how we travel
Neil Fulton, Programme Director, Transport Systems Catapult
Neil leads the Automated Transport Systems Business Unit, tasked with accelerating the introduction of various levels of automation of transport into increasingly complex environments. Examples of this work include the LUTZ Pathfinder autonomous vehicles that will be launched into Milton Keynes during 2015.
Professor John Miles, Chair of Transitional Energy Strategies at Cambridge University
John leads the Transport area of MK:Smart and a strategic consultant on matters of Energy and Transport at Arup. His research focuses on innovative solutions to predictions for increased traffic flow to make our movements simpler but more effective in the future.
Alex Burns (Executive Master of Business Administration 1999) Chief Executive, Millbrook Proving Ground
Alex is an experienced leader in high performance engineering. Driverless cars are only permitted on private test facilities such as Millbrook, the leading vehicle test, validation and engineering service provider based in Bedfordshire.Future testing at Millbrook Proving Ground will ensure the South East Midlands remains at the forefront of the smart city agenda.
Developing sustainable economic growth
Hilary Chipping, Acting CEO, South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP)
Hilary leads on the delivery of large scale infrastructure strategies, as well as co-ordinate projects which underpin the growth and future success of the South East Midlands economy.
South East Midlands is playing a pivotal role in pioneering a scheme which looks set to revolutionise the transport infrastructure not only locally but nationally and, potentially, internationally.
Working in collaboration with local authority and private sector partners, SEMLEP is committed to delivering the strategic infrastructure and skills projects that are essential for economic growth in the South East Midlands area.
Providing skills, research and innovation for the 21st-century
Ian Chapman, Head of Regional Engagement and Corporate Projects, Cranfield University
Ian provides a central function and focus for the University regarding the management and development of corporate and strategic engagement with existing and potential partners in the greater SE Midlands region. A critical aspect of this activity is to identify, build and develop partnerships and collaborations for medium and long term infrastructural development for the University in line with the University Corporate Plan and Campus MasterPlan.
Once again, it is the South East Midlands leading the way, with key industries, companies, business leaders and universities coming together to fly the flag for the area and show the rest of the world just what can be done by pooling extensive knowledge and resources.