TRB 2013 Summer Workshop on
Challenges and Opportunities in Road Vehicle Automation
Sponsorship Concepts
Goal: $50,000.
Sponsorships: Per TRB, sponsorships will be referred to as “Patrons”. It is considered an “Overhead”
charge for presenting a demonstration at the workshop.
Intended use of the funds: Offset costs of meals and other expenses to enable breakeven at a
modest registration level @ $300 and students @ $100. It is expected that all participants and speakers will
pay for their own registrations.
Patronage Levels:
Patronage Level
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Price
Target Tangible “Get”
$2,500.
10 Small logo; bottom
$5,000.
6 Medium logo; up
$10,000.
3 Large logo; top / Demo
$25,000.
1 XL logo; Front & Center / Demo
Prospects
Universities
Car Companies
Car Companies
Google
Prospects:
Car Companies with substantial research effort in the US
Patron/Target
Note
Nissan-Renault
Just opened a research
lab in California
BMW
NA HQ in NJ
Daimler
research Lab in Palo
Alto; NA HQ in NJ
VW-Audi (r)
Research effort in Palo
Alto
Toyota
Big presence in Torrance
Ca
Volvo
Need a presence in US;
& continue to promote
its "Safety" brand
Cadillac-GM
Close interaction with
CMU
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
Luca Delgrossi
Jon Capp
Ford
Princeton
connection??
Jeff Greenberg
Parts Suppliers
Patron/Target
Continental
Bosch
Delphi
Denso
Note
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
Partnership w/BMW
on driver assistance
Insurance Companies
Patron/Target
Progressive
Geico
Farmers
State Farm
All-State
Travelers
Note
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
SnapShot
Chris Hayes
Communication Companies
Patron/Target
Verizon
AT&T
QualComm
Note
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
Big player in V2V
Component Suppliers
Patron/Target
NavTeQ
Note
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
Radar
manufacturers
Lidar manufacturers
Torc
Michael Fleming
Universities; Investment Companies; Venture Capital
Patron/Target
Stanford
CMU
Virginia Tech
Michigan
Princeton
Sierra Ventures
Note
Target Person Target email Conf. Contact
Interested
Greg Fitch
Interested
Alain Kornhauser
Basic Value to the Patron: Your investment will enable the scientific discussion amongst leading
experts on how to best use technology to enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of surface
transportation.
Elements of the Pitch: (Ideas taken from the RfI
Establish a leadership role in the identification, categorization, and prioritization of the key research
challenges associated with the design, development, certification and market success of technologies that
enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of surface transportation
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Identify and begin quantifying anticipated societal costs and benefits
Learn about current and planned research activities among private and public research groups
Gain insight into commercial trends and market developments
Understand opportunities that may be created for private and venture capital investments to accelerate
the development and adoption of the technologies.
Assist in the reformulation of national, state and metropolitan research and development plans that
reflect the time-sensitive aspects of evolving automation capabilities and market demand.
Identify appropriate areas for policy formation that can help to accelerate beneficial developments,
reduce or eliminate public exposure to risk, and enhance the market success and adoption by consumers
of these technologies.
The Pitch:
Comment: Below is good start, but maybe the pitch should have the following outline:
1. Why the topic is important now; The Problem and the opportunity and what the conference will do
A growing realization that technology may well be able to effectively help driver avoid accidents. The
initial demonstrations by google and traditional car manufacturers that sensors and technology can… as well
as positive elements from research efforts in Europe and japan. Last summer’s conference we restarted US
interests in theis area, this summer’s conference will kick it into high gear. This is THE opportunity for you to
make sure it the gear is the right gear.
2. What is in it for you:
Sponsorship will allow you to… (actively demonstrate your leadership and have a voice???
3. Why your patronage will help.
Hello xxxx,
As you may know, the Transportation Research Board will be holding its second annual workshop on road
vehicle automation this July at Stanford University. This meeting is known as the premier multidisciplinary
research and policy conference on automated vehicles and will draw an international crowd of experts.
Because (insert company) is a leader in automated vehicle technology, we sincerely hope that you can attend.
I am contacting you because we are desperately seeking funding to lower the workshop registration costs for
attendees and students. By becoming a “patron”, (insert company) would be highly recognized for enabling
the scientific discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing automated vehicles. Additional, “(company
name) may also benefit from:
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
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Learning about current and planned research activities;
Gaining insight on commercial trends and market developments;
Developing insight on new business opportunities;
Helping the reformulation of national, state and local R&D plans and policies
Overall, the workshop is well suited to discuss the time-sensitive aspects of the evolving automation capabilities and
market demands.
Our target goal is to raise $50,000. (company name) can help us reach this goal by donating at any one of the following
five levels.
Patronage Level
Bronze
Silver
Price
Exposure
$2,500. Small logo; bottom
$5,000. Medium logo; up
Opportunity to
Demo Product
Gold
Platinum
$10,000. Large logo; top
$25,000. XL logo; Front & Center
Yes
Yes
The workshop will present an excellent opportunity for (company name) to strengthen its identity as a leader
in automated vehicle technologies. We greatly hope that the above funding structure allows (company name)
to become a patron and benefit from the ideas generated over the course of the meeting. Do you believe that
this is an opportunity (company name) would like to pursue?


If Yes: Great, I can send this information to you.
If No: OK. However, would there possibly be interest if a lower patronage level was available?
o If Yes: Great, I can send this information to you.
o If No: Ok, Thank you for your time today.
Also:
This is what the Website http://www.vehicleautomation.org/program%20 says about the workshop:
The Transportation Research Board’s second annual Workshop on Road Vehicle Automation, the premier multidisciplinary research
and policy conference in the field, will take place at Stanford University on July 16 - 19, 2013. TRB is the nation’s preeminent forum
for transportation research. Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions.
This four-day conference focuses on challenges and opportunities related to the increasing automation of motor
vehicles as well as the environments in which they operate. Last year’s workshop brought together key government,
industry, and academic experts from around the world to identify research needs in seven areas. This year’s participants
will build on that work by identifying additional needs and by initiating and advancing research in disciplines ranging
from engineering to law to planning.
Scheduled highlights include demonstrations of automated vehicle prototypes and research systems plus opportunities
for direct feedback on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s plan for automation research and California's
development of automated driving regulations.
Daylong breakouts are planned for:
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Testing and certification
Infrastructure and operations
Human factors and human-machine interaction
Energy and environment
Mobility, accessibility, and equity
Public transportation and service models
Trucking and logistics
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Cybersecurity
Information architecture and communication
Liability, risk, and insurance
Data ownership, protection, access, and discovery
Registration will be available beginning in April.