From innovation to impact: where can the UK truly scale CAM technologies?

The UK has built a strong reputation in Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM), supported by world-class research, testing infrastructure and a growing innovation ecosystem. But as the sector matures, the challenge is no longer just about enabling innovation – it’s about translating that innovation into commercial scale and economic impact.

To do that effectively, the UK needs clarity on where to focus.

Our latest report, UK CAM Technology Growth Strategies, takes a technology-led view of the sector to identify where the UK is best positioned to lead – and how those strengths can be converted into real-world deployment.

Why a technology-led approach matters

CAM is often discussed as a single market opportunity. In reality, it is made up of multiple, interdependent technology domains – each with different levels of maturity, competitive intensity and commercial readiness.

A broad, sector-wide strategy risks spreading effort too thin.

This report instead breaks the ecosystem down into its core technology components to understand:

  • Where the UK has deep existing capability
  • Where there is clear growth potential
  • Where targeted support could unlock near- and mid-term growth

By focusing at this level, the report moves beyond high-level ambition and towards prioritised, evidence-based decision-making.

Four priority technology areas for UK growth

The analysis highlights four key areas where the UK is particularly well positioned to scale capability and capture value:

Automated Driving Systems (ADS)

At the heart of CAM, ADS integrates perception, decision-making and control. The UK’s ecosystem—spanning software development, AI, systems integration and testing—positions it to play a key role in developing and deploying these complex systems.

Radar

As a core sensing technology, radar plays a vital role in enabling safe and reliable automated driving – particularly in challenging environmental conditions. The UK has established expertise across sensing technologies and signal processing, creating opportunities to strengthen its role in next-generation perception systems.

Drive-by-wire

Drive-by-wire systems – where traditional mechanical controls are replaced with electronic interfaces are fundamental to enabling automation. The UK’s capabilities in safety-critical systems, control engineering and integration provide a strong foundation for growth in this area.

Virtual Simulation tools and Digital Twins

Virtual environments that replicate real-world systems are becoming critical to the development, testing and validation of automated vehicles. The UK’s strength in simulation, modelling and complex systems engineering positions it well to lead in this space—particularly as demand grows for scalable, cost-effective validation.

From capability to commercialisation

Having technical strength is only part of the picture. The report also considers how these capabilities translate into commercial opportunity.

This includes assessing:

  • The pathway from R&D to deployment
  • Where investment and policy support can accelerate adoption
  • How innovation can be aligned with industry demand and real-world use cases

The result is a clearer view of how these priority technologies can move beyond pilots and trials into repeatable, scalable solutions.

Supporting smarter investment and collaboration

A key aim of the report is to support better decision-making across the ecosystem.

For policymakers, it provides insight into where targeted intervention can deliver the greatest return.

For industry, it highlights where to align capability, investment and partnerships.

For investors, it offers a clearer understanding of where the UK presents credible, scalable opportunities within CAM.

Ultimately, this is about enabling a more coordinated approach: where innovation, infrastructure and investment are aligned around shared priority technology areas.

Explore the findings

The UK CAM Technology Growth Strategies report sets out a focused view of where the UK can lead—and what it will take to scale.

👉 Download the full report here: https://zenzic.io/insights/