In an attempt to make Arizona the vanguard of self-driving car research and development, Gov. Doug Ducey and Intel Corp. announced Thursday they are launching an Institute for Automated Mobility that will bring government and private industry together.
The institute will combine the three state universities, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Commerce Department and companies working on automated cars, trucks and drones, officials said.
The Commerce Authority is committing $1.5 million initially; $1 million more will come from the Transportation Department. Intel will make its own undisclosed financial contribution to the institute, officials said.
“The Institute for Automated Mobility will bring together global industry leaders, a public-sector team and the brightest minds in academia, focused on advancing all aspects of automated vehicle science, safety and policy," Ducey said in a statement. "Arizona is committed to providing the leadership and knowledge necessary to integrate these technologies into the world’s transportation systems.”
Ducey created the institute via an executive order and announced it Thursday evening at the DesTechAZ technology conference in Scottsdale.
