The part East Anglia can play in developing the vehicles of the future will be the focus of businesses and academics at a summit next week.

Cleantech East and the University of East Anglia (UEA) are collaborating to host the Futuristic Transport event at the UEA Enterprise Centre, home to Adapt Low Carbon Group and Low Carbon Innovation Fund, with firms talking about how the East Anglian supply chain can support the vehicles of the future.

Among those speaking at the event will be Newmarket-based Spark EV Technology, which uses machine learning to tackle range issues with electrical vehicles, energy storage firm Connected Energy, artificial intelligence company Axon Vibe and materials specialist Coventive Composites.

Justin Ott, chief executive of Spark, said: 'Transport is an area that touches everyone's lives.

'It is incredible to see the impact that new technology is already having in areas such as electric vehicles – and we've only really just started. Thanks to their skills, experience and innovation East Anglian companies, universities and public-sector organisations are poised to accelerate change, acting as a catalyst for real transformation across the entire transport ecosystem.'

Hethel Engineering Centre managing director Simon Coward and Clive Dopson, who previously had spells with Lotus and is now a director at Hethel Innovation will introduce the event while Peter Frost, representing the Business Energy Efficiency Anglia project, will talk about some of the obstacles to facing the development of future transport infrastructure.

Mr Frost said: 'The exciting technologies and changes to society that are imminent need careful forethought and planning plus grit and determination to bring into the mainstream. This event is an ideal forum for these concepts to be discussed and solutions found. The future is electric but the transformation needs leadership and I am excited to be presenting how our project can get grant funding for small and medium enterprises to help them overcome those obstacles and transition to a low carbon future.'

Futuristic Transport takes place on Wednesday from 9am to 2pm. Talks will commence at 9.30am and tickets can be booked at https://futuristictransport.eventbrite.co.uk.