Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that Zeta Controls Limited from Bicester, Prodrive Automotive Technology (Europe) Limited from Banbury and Oxford University have won bids for the Government’s Automotive Supply Chain Funding Initiative (AMSCI).

The three Oxfordshire organisations are among 12 projects around the country awarded a total of £73m, with a further £140m raised from match funding for private sector lenders. All bids are subject to due diligence.

Zeta Controls Limited has been offered £3.75m funding as part of the ‘Indigenous Sustainable Manufacturing Supply Chain for Solid State Lighting’ project. Prodrive Automotive Technology (Europe) Limited received its offer as part of the ‘Niche Luxury Vehicle Cluster Supplier Capacity Building’ programme and Oxford University for its role in the ‘Proving Integrity of Complex Automotive Systems’ project.

The funding was offered in the second round of the AMSCI initiative which is part funded by the Government's Regional Growth Fund and delivered in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board, Birmingham City Council, and Finance Birmingham on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

With available finance of up to £125 million, the initiative was established in December 2011 to help existing UK supply chains grow and achieve world class standards, while encouraging major new suppliers to come and manufacture here in Britain.

The Chancellor announced additional funding of £120M for two further AMSCI rounds in the 2012 Autumn Statement.

The Competition Brief for these new rounds (AMSCI Rounds 3 and 4) has been published on the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) website www.innovateuk.org.

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For further information contact:

Michael Williams on 01865 816082 or 07818 238238 or michael.williams2@oxfordshire.gov.uk