Project Activate to Deliver a New Generation of Active Suspension
We are pleased to announce that Domin has secured funding to support the development of what we believe will be the world’s most energy-efficient and lightweight active suspension system for next-generation vehicles: Project Activate.
Backed through the UK Government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK, Project Activate will demonstrate how UK engineering can unlock more efficient, scalable motion control technologies for the transition to zero-emission transport.
Led by Domin, the project is focused on delivering a step change in active suspension technology. Our goal is to create an energy-efficient, lightweight system that can scale for future net-zero vehicles. By reducing system mass and energy demand compared with existing active and semi-active suspension systems, Project Activate is designed to improve vehicle efficiency, extend vehicle range, and reduce lifecycle emissions, while also delivering meaningful gains in ride comfort and handling.
Project Activate brings together a broad scope of advanced engineering disciplines across hardware, software and system integration. The programme will combine advanced electronics, embedded software, lightweight system integration, metal 3D printing, and optimised control strategies within a highly integrated suspension architecture. The technology will then be integrated and validated on a demonstration vehicle, supported by digital twin modelling and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Beyond the technical development, the project is also an important opportunity to strengthen a world-leading UK active suspension capability and supply chain. Alongside the vehicle demonstrator, Project Activate is expected to stimulate further investment in research, development and manufacturing, while supporting high-value job creation and long-term growth across the automotive sector.
Marcus Pont, CEO of Domin, said:
“At Domin, our mission is to transform motion control, creating systems that last longer, achieve more and use less, for people everywhere. Project Activate is a clear step forward in that mission, enabling breakthrough energy efficiency and lightweight vehicle dynamics. We’re excited to be working through the DRIVE35 programme to help deliver smarter, more efficient vehicles through world-class UK engineering.”
Simon Jones, CTO of Domin, added:
“For us, Project Activate is about rethinking what active suspension can be. By combining advanced software, novel control strategies, lightweight design, and our experience in metal 3D printing, we are developing a system that enables vehicles to do more with less. That means better performance, lower energy demand, and a clearer path to scalable adoption in future vehicles.”
Delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK, the DRIVE35 programme forms part of the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan. The programme underlines the Government’s commitment to a zero-emission future, with £4 billion of grant funding available through to 2035 to support automotive R&D, scale-up, and industrial transformation.
