Faraday Challenge: Innovation – R&D

Electric vehicle being charged Faraday Battery Challenge Innovation Feasibility
Innovate UK – Faraday Challenge: Innovation – Research & Development

Competition opened on 25th July 2017
Apply before midday on 14th September 2017

As part of the Government’s Faraday Challenge Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Innovate UK is to invest up to £30 million in innovation projects. This is to support the UK to lead the world in the design, development and manufacture of future batteries for vehicle electrification.

Innovate UK will fund projects that focus on identified technical or commercial challenges in battery innovation, development and manufacture through UK supply chains. These should lead to battery technologies that can be exploited at scale by the automotive sector in the UK and globally. Specifically, they are looking to build and create future electric vehicle battery supply chains in the UK.

Projects should range in size from total eligible costs of £1 million to £15 million. Projects should last up to 3 years and all projects must be a collaboration between at least 2 partners.

To be eligible you must:

– be a UK-based business or research and technology organisation working within the limits provided in the general guidance for applicants
– carry out your project work, and intend to exploit the results, in the UK
– work in collaboration with other grant claiming partners (businesses, research organisations and/or third sector)

Funding & Project Types:

– projects must clearly show how their technology is drawing from fundamental research and can be scaled up, and therefore how the project builds a future UK supply chain for automotive traction battery applications
– all projects must be collaborative and involve at least one SME
– this competition is the first portion of innovation funding as part of the clean and flexible energy or ‘Faraday’ Challenge
– projects must support the overall goal of the UK to becoming a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles

Projects can focus on industrial research or experimental development.

For industrial research, you could get:

– up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
– up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
– up to 50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get:

– up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
– up to 35% if you are a medium-sized business
– up to 25% if you are a large business

R&D Funding Group can advise if your business is eligible to apply for this competition and help you win funding. To find out more, please contact Stephen Dyson on 020 3603 2096 or email sdyson@rdfunding.co.uk