Approval given for ‘world leading’ intelligent transport centre

The Nuneaton based centre, innovITS-Advance, is the result of a collaboration between innovITS, Mira and TRL, backed up with £6.5million funding support provided by Advantage West Midlands. Described as 'a truly world class facility', the construction of the first phase is expected to open to customers from the automotive and telecommunications industries in the late Spring of 2010. Phil Pettitt, innovITS' ceo, said: "Intelligent transportation systems offer significant potential to improve the quality of life and sustainability of road transportation throughout the world. To date a major obstacle to the realisation of products based on these technologies has been the lack of a dedicated, safe, secure and comprehensively equipped testing infrastructure in which crucial development efforts can take place. The creation of innovITS – Advance, in collaboration with Mira and TRL, aims to remove this roadblock to progress and unlock the benefits of a safer, more fuel-efficient, and sustainable future for transportation." Martyn Mangan, automotive cluster manager, Advantage West Midlands, added: "The creation of this comprehensive intelligent transport test facility is a genuine world first that cements the West Midlands' position at the centre of the UK automotive industry. Once completed, innovITS Advance will attract global companies wishing to use its leading edge technical facilities to the region, make a significant contribution to the economy and spur development activity in this crucial new area of technology." The new innovITS – Advance centre will provide a secure testing environment, configurable with a wide range of communications and navigation technologie. Vehicle, highway, telecoms and navigation system innovations will be tested and developed in what has been described as 'a highly controlled manner and in complete safety.'