News & views

2 July 2026

Members and directors of LBV recently enjoyed a highly insightful visit to MIRA Technology Park, one of the UK’s most significant automotive and mobility innovation assets.

Hosted by Jack Bartlett and Lindsey Randell, the visit provided LBV members with a detailed overview of MIRA’s history, scale, capability and future ambitions.

Originally established in 1946 as the Motor Industry Research Association, MIRA has evolved into Europe’s largest automotive technology park, with around 1,000 acres, more than 100km of test tracks, over 40 laboratories and a growing cluster of businesses working across mobility, autonomy, AI, battery technology, software and advanced engineering.

The visit highlighted the UK’s continuing strength in research, development and engineering excellence, while also exploring the ongoing challenge of commercialising and scaling innovation within the UK.

Members discussed the importance of creating a stronger investment and support ecosystem to ensure that UK-developed technologies can be retained, developed and commercialised here.

A key theme was MIRA’s role as a shop window for UK innovation, providing companies with access to specialist facilities, testing capability, collaboration opportunities, talent and room to scale without the need for major upfront capital investment.

Members also took part in an extensive tour of MIRA’s impressive facilities and test track, gaining first-hand insight into areas including autonomous vehicle testing, simulation, passive safety, hydrogen research, solar energy, battery storage and new mobility technologies.

The visit reinforced the importance of innovation, collaboration, skills and commercialisation to the future competitiveness of Leicester, Leicestershire and the wider region.

LBV would like to thank Jack Bartlett, Lindsey Randell and the wider MIRA team for their time, hospitality and for providing such a valuable insight into one of the region’s most important innovation assets.