Transport technologies
Aerospace
Automotive
Rail
Space
Advanced Manufacturing
Electrification, energy generation and storage
Digital and Artificial Intelligence
Propulsion
Aerospace
Research assets offering investment opportunities include the Aerospace Integration Centre, and the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre at Cranfield University; and, the Institute for Aerospace Technology at Nottingham University.
Automotive
Companies could choose to invest in the Net Zero transport investment opportunity in Coventry and Warwickshire, test their vehicles at one of National Wind Tunnel test centres, or develop new manufacturing processes with experts at the National Automotive Innovation Centre.
Rail
With a supercluster containing over 600 businesses, the rail sector in the Midlands offers investors everything from manufacturing hubs to extensive supply chain expertise and innovation.
Space
For businesses in the space sector, co-locating at Space Park Leicester offers access to industry leading research facilities.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Midlands’ expertise in transport technology is enabled by its leading advanced manufacturing sector.
Electrification, energy generation and storage
The Midlands’ expertise in transport technology is enabled by its leading R&D assets in electrification.
Digital and Artificial Intelligence
The Midlands’ expertise in transport technology is enabled by its leading R&D assets in artificial intelligence.
Propulsion
The Midlands’ expertise in transport technology is enabled by its leading R&D assets in propulsion
Invest in
Transport Technologies with a university the Midlands
The Midlands is a leader in Transport Technologies, driving advancements in automotive, rail, and aerospace innovation.
With world-class research institutions and industry partnerships, the region is at the forefront of next-generation mobility solutions. It is a prime destination for transport technology investment, offering businesses access to cutting-edge R&D, skilled talent, and a thriving transport ecosystem. Companies investing in the region benefit from collaborative opportunities with leading universities and industry pioneers.
The Midlands is also pioneering sustainable transport technologies, developing low-carbon solutions for road, rail, and air travel. From electric vehicle innovation to hydrogen-powered transport, the region is shaping the future of sustainable mobility. As a hub for transport innovation, the Midlands continues to push boundaries in intelligent transport systems, automation, and smart infrastructure, making it a key player in the future of global transport.
0
%
of the world’s aerospace industry, 7% of Europe’s, and 25% of the UK’s
000
companies in the Midlands rail industry employ over 60,000 people
00
%
of all UK manufacturing is in the Midlands
Leading transport technologies assets include:
Aerospace at Cranfield University
Businesses of any size in the aerospace sector can make use of the Centre’s flight simulators and support team; dedicated laboratories for research into future propulsion, mission systems, Urban Air Mobility and robot automated assembly; over 1500m2 hangar space enabling research on full-scale aircraft and components; automated assembly rig currently using two full size A320 wings to development automated wing assembly lines of the future; Future Systems Simulator for simulation future aircraft concepts; and more. Stemming from long running collaborations with Rolls Royce and Airbus, Cranfield has everything a business could need to turn ideas into the next generation of aerospace technology.
Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingham
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) is Europe’s largest academic-based group that provides world-class research, education, and innovation to the global rail industry, with over 180 researchers and 57 live projects. The BCRRE demonstrated the UK’s first Hydrogen Train at COP26.
The National Automotive Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick
The £180 million National Automotive Innovation Centre, at the University of Warwick, in Coventry, is the single largest automotive research centre in Europe – a partnership between WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, and the Tata Motors European Technical Centre. There are over 1,000 designers, engineers and researchers at the Centre, working on a range of future vehicle and mobility solution projects. Join the SMEs, large manufacturers, and governments working with the Centre on research, production, and training.
Power Electronics and Machines Centre at the University of Nottingham
A community of over 200 academics, researchers, PhD students, technicians, administrators, and project managers support research at the Centres three purpose built labs specialising on high power, power electronics, and drives. Collaborating with the Centre gives you access to all the resources and the chance to be a part of and take advantage of the £25 million research portfolio, as companies like Siemens, BAE, and Clean Sky EU have done.
Redefining how universities and industry work together
Through pioneering co-location, joint research and technology demonstrators, Midlands universities are redefining how academia works in partnership with industry.
Beyond long-standing relationships with global companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, they have provided more than £500m (USD $670 million) of support in the past decade to SMEs working in the Midlands’ extensive transport technologies supply chain. They have also supported entrepreneurs developing new spin-out companies, products and concepts that will shape the future of mobility.
With over 2500 academics and researchers working in transport-related fields, universities in the Midlands provide the foundation for one of the world’s most significant concentrations of transport technology research and translation.
How we can help
The UK’s first University Investment Concierge Service
We are the UK’s first University Investment Concierge Service – helping provide a navigation and connection service for investors seeking to work with our region’s universities.
We work in partnership with the region’s cluster organisations, industry bodies, innovation eco-system and growth agencies.
We also connect and receive opportunities from local, regional and national government.
And our promise is simple: to help connect international investors and companies to our universities – and to promote our region’s universities to the world.
View our Transport Technologies Prospectus
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