OREANDA-NEWS. The Proving Factory consortium, of which Tata Steel is a leading member, has been shortlisted for the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' annual Award for Automotive Innovation.

The award recognises new and existing products, technologies or innovations, developed within the UK, which demonstrate exemplary research and development and have the potential to transform the automotive industry.

The Proving Factory, a ?22 million manufacturing initiative in the UK's South Yorkshire and Midlands regions, will help develop groundbreaking green technologies to power the cars of the future. It will take low-carbon vehicle technologies designed by small high-tech British companies and university research departments and prove their viability in production to increase their chances of being adopted by major motor manufacturers.

To be considered for the SMMT's automotive innovation award, organisations have to demonstrate what makes the initiative unique and innovative, the benefits it is delivering to the industry and wider society, evidence of commercial viability and information on how it might fare in the current global automotive climate.

Richard Jones, Tata Steel's Proving Factory project manager, said: “Our work in The Proving Factory is already beginning to show how Tata Steel, Productiv and our other partners can be a driving force in bringing low-carbon vehicle technologies to market. To have reached the shortlist of these awards is something the whole team can be proud of, and we look forward to the next round.”

Richard Bruges, Chief Executive of Productiv, the other Proving Factor consortium member cited in the award nomination, said: “The Proving Factory concept is a vital initiative in filling a gap in the automotive industry. This has already been recognised by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in the industrial strategy, and we are delighted this has now been recognised at industry level too, through these prestigious awards.”

The winner will be announced at the SMMT Annual Dinner on November 26.