Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3

Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3 is sponsored by Innovate UK. Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3. Innovate UK competition (ID: 2572).

Funding: £25 million (GBP). Apply via the Innovation Funding Service.

Competition overview - Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3 - Innovation Funding Service We will be carrying out essential maintenance between 4:00pm on Friday 2 October 2026 and 10:00am on Monday 5 October 2026. During this time, the service will be unavailable. Please save any work and complete any tasks before maintenance begins.

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Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3 UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million to support innovation in battery grade material technologies for electrification. This funding is from The Battery Innovation Programme.

Competition opens: Friday 11 September 2026 Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is delivering the Battery Innovation Programme on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST). The programme will invest up to £25 million in innovation projects. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received.

The aim of this competition is to: support collaborative R&D in strategically critical areas of the UK battery value chain strengthen UK capability in battery cell manufacturing, pack manufacturing including high performance cell technologies, automated manufacturing techniques, non-destructive testing, AI driven design and simulation of manufacturing processes strengthen UK supply chain security and build resilient, multi sector manufacturing capability support supply chain localisation to align with rules of origin requirements and UK’s strategic priorities This is to address key capability gaps limiting the UK’s ability to: scale UK battery cell manufacturing develop UK battery module and pack manufacturing capture greater economic value domestically Your project must demonstrate how the proposed innovation will do at least one of the following: enable improvements to manufacturing processes for large-scale battery cell production expand industrial development of battery module technologies develop high performance and efficient battery pack and battery management system (BMS) technologies reduce dependence on overseas cell and pack manufacturers and strengthen UK supply chain resilience demonstrate the results of AI supported design across cell and pack development support scale-up from laboratory to pilot and pre-commercial manufacturing within the UK This competition is split into two strands: Battery innovation concept development round 3 (this strand) Battery innovation feasibility studies round 3 It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your application to the correct strand for your project.

You will not be able to transfer your application, and it will not be sent for assessment if it is out of scope. In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects.

It may be the case that your project scores highly, but we are still unable to fund it. Our experience from similar competitions suggests that you could have 25% chance of success. We consider a range of factors when determining whether to provide funding to applicants.

This includes an assessment of prior conduct, such as any outstanding payments owed to Innovate UK or UKRI. Such factors may influence the funding decision, potentially resulting in a refusal of funding or an award subject to additional scrutiny. We also reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions.

This may be in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations or broader government funding decisions. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated in this Innovate UK competition brief . We cannot guarantee other government, or third party sites will always show the correct competition information.

Your project’s total eligible grant funding request must be between £500,000 and £4 million. Accessibility and Inclusion We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance. We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

have grant funding request of between £500,000 and £4 million last between 12 and 36 months not start before 1 May 2027 Any organisation receiving funding must carry out its project work in the UK, intend to exploit the results in the UK, and spend most of the funding within the UK. Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day.

You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date. You must only include eligible project costs in your application.

See our overview of eligible project costs . If your project’s grant funding request or duration falls outside of our eligibility criteria, you must provide justification by email to support@iuk. ukri.

org at least 10 working days before the competition closes. We will then decide whether to approve your request. If your project does not meet our criteria and you have not requested justification approval, your application will be made ineligible, and it will not be sent for assessment.

To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application. More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules .

Academic institutions cannot lead. To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered: public sector organisation research and technology organisation (RTO) Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once partners have accepted the invitation, they will be asked to login or to create an account in the IFS.

They are responsible for entering their own project costs in the application. To be an eligible collaboration: the lead and at least one other organisation must request funding you must explain why you’re collaborating and how the collaboration will work no single organisation can claim more than 70% of the total project costs Your project can include organisations who do not claim any funding for their work on the project.

Their costs will be covered from their own resources. These can include UK, EU and other non-UK organisations. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work from within their home countries and exploit the results outside the UK.

Where non-funded partners have been invited to the application on IFS, their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs. Subcontractors are allowed in this competition. Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in your application as to why you cannot use subcontractors from the UK. You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total project costs. A UK registered business can lead on one application and be included as a collaborator in any number of applications. An academic institution, research and technology organisation (RTO), charity, not for profit or public sector organisation can collaborate on any number of applications.

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions .

For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups . Use of animals in research and innovation Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation . Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process.

This information will be reviewed before an award is made. You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition. If you have previously submitted an application that reached our assessment stage, you can re-apply once more with the same proposal.

If there are minor differences to the proposal, but it is judged by us to be ‘not materially different’, the same rule applies. We will not award you funding if you have: failed to exploit a previously funded project an overdue independent accountant’s report failed to comply with grant terms and conditions Innovate UK may withhold a grant payment at any time if you have any outstanding sums due to us in relation to other projects.

Subsidy control (and State aid where applicable) This competition provides funding in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022 . Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty.

We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage. EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation. If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must not do anything which could cause a breach of Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom. This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries. This award is classified as a Subsidy which does not form part of your Minimal Financial Assistance or de minimis allowance.

Up to £25 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. This is subject to us receiving a sufficient number of high quality applications. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

We reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions under exceptional circumstances, for example, in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations, or broader government funding decisions. If your organisation’s work on the project is commercial or economic, your funding request must not exceed the limits below.

These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically but for the purpose of this project will be undertaking commercial or economic activity. The balance between your total eligible project costs and the amount of grant awarded must be funded by the organisation receiving the grant.

For industrial research projects, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of: up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation up to 50% if you are a large organisation For more information on company sizes, refer to the company accounts guidance .

If you are applying for an award funded under State aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 . Innovate UK may revoke our decision to provide funding without notice if government commitment for this initiative is withdrawn. The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs.

If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them.

Of that 30% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to: 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not for profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are an academic institution Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding Research organisations must use the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) method as the Je-S form has now been decommissioned.

We pay 100% of the 80% Full Economic Cost (FEC). On IFS only enter the 80% being claimed. To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics .

The aim of this competition is to: support collaborative R&D in strategically critical areas of the UK battery value chain strengthen UK capability in battery cell manufacturing, pack manufacturing including high performance cell technologies, automated manufacturing techniques, non-destructive testing, AI driven design and simulation of manufacturing processes strengthen UK supply chain security and build resilient, multi-sector manufacturing capability support supply chain localisation to align with rules of origin requirements and UK’s strategic priorities This is to address key capability gaps limiting the UK’s ability to: scale UK battery cell manufacturing develop UK battery module and pack manufacturing capture greater economic value domestically Your project must demonstrate how the proposed innovation will do at least one of the following: enable improvements to manufacturing processes for large-scale battery cell production expand industrial development of battery module technologies develop high performance and efficient battery pack and battery management system (BMS) technologies reduce dependence on overseas cell and pack manufacturers and strengthen UK supply chain resilience demonstrate the results of AI supported design across cell and pack development support scale-up from laboratory to pilot and pre-commercial manufacturing within the UK Your project must demonstrate a credible pathway and deliver value-add to the UK, for example: scale-up and manufacturing deployment for battery cells in the UK creation or expansion of UK cell manufacturing technologies development or expansion of UK high performance cell and module technologies creation of high performance battery packs and battery management systems creation or expansion of industrial capability, facilities or production capacity across the battery value chain strengthening UK supply chain resilience across both cell manufacturing and pack manufacturing delivery of long term economic and environmental benefits, aligned with net zero objectives Your R&D activities can include, but are not limited to: improved efficiency and CO2 reduction or offset from battery cell manufacturing processes automated cell manufacturing technologies development of dry coating methods end of line testing technologies development of modular and replicable module and cell systems next generation AI supported BMS systems efficient module and pack joining methods utilisation of lightweight materials in battery packs digital tools to accelerate experiment design Your project must clearly state which group your application aligns with: Innovations that strengthen UK competitiveness in cell manufacturing We encourage projects that: enable scale-up from laboratory to gigafactory levels to expand UK large scale cell manufacturing capacity integrate digital tools, in-line diagnostics, and digital twins to optimize efficiency and reduce scrap reduce energy demand, waste, and environmental impacts across cell production support the industrialisation of new cell chemistries and formats, pouch, cylindrical, prismatic integrate design for manufacturing approaches to improve yield and reliability advance electrode fabrication, cell assembly, and formation processes produce high performance stacking and winding patterns increase the speed of tab and enclosure joining improve solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer consistency at high production rates develop novel ageing and testing capabilities to reduce conditioning time develop tools, equipment, and automation solutions for production efficiency deploy digital tools such as AI to improve cell development time Innovations that strengthen UK competitiveness in module manufacturing We encourage projects that: advance cell to module interconnect fabrication, structural bonding, and module housing assembly produce high performance busbar configurations for example automated laser welding patterns increase the speed and precision of cell positioning, clamping, and electrical joining improve the consistency of thermal interface material (TIM) application at high production rates develop novel end of line (EOL) electrical testing and insulation monitoring 3.

Pack Manufacturing and Battery Management Systems (BMS) Innovations that strengthen UK competitiveness in pack manufacturing We encourage projects that: innovate in pack design, structural systems, or fast assembly techniques improve safety systems, early warning diagnostics and fault tolerant designs develop advanced BMS functionality, state of health or state of charge algorithms create thermal management innovations including new materials, architectures or control systems apply simulation, digital twins or data driven optimisation for real world performance enable circularity ready or end of life friendly design implement digital tools such as AI to improve performance and safety support application specific optimisation for automotive, aerospace, maritime, rail, defence or stationary storage Your project can target performance requirements for at least one of the listed sectors and can support emerging use cases or cross sector applicability including: automotive sector including on and off-highway vehicles, motorsports and niche automotive battery energy storage systems defence, the innovation must be dual use with clear relevance beyond defence application You must clearly demonstrate your understanding of the target sector and industry and market demand covering UK, Europe and global in your application.

We want to fund a variety of projects across different technologies, costs, markets and technological maturities. All project costs will be assessed to ensure strong value for money. Applicants requesting higher levels of funding should expect proportionate scrutiny and must provide clear justification for their costs to demonstrate the efficient and effective use of public funds.

We call this a portfolio approach . Your project can focus on one or more of the following: pack manufacturing and battery management systems (BMS) We will fund industrial research projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research .

Projects we will not fund We are not funding projects that are: not aligned with the Industrial Strategy for personal mobility and consumer electronics early stage discovery research primary focused on battery second life use focused on material extraction and refining We cannot fund projects that are: dependent on export performance: giving a subsidy to an organisation on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of its products to another country dependent on domestic inputs usage: giving a subsidy to an organisation on the condition that it uses a set percentage of UK components in their product Online briefing event: register to attend Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event.

You must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start.

Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure: that all the information provided in the application is correct your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria all sections of the application are marked as complete that all partners have completed all assigned sections and accepted the terms and conditions (T&Cs) You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline.

You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline. The application is split into three sections: Accessibility and Inclusion We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance. We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). This section provides background for your application and is not scored.

Decide which organisations will work with you on your project and invite people from those organisations to help complete the application. Give your project’s title, start date and duration. Select the type of research you will undertake.

Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application. Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description.

This can happen before you start your project. Your answer can be up to 400 words long. Describe where your technology primary fits in the development group in the scope section, for example 1, 2 or 3.

Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be eligible for funding. Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

The assessors will score all your answers apart from questions 1 to 7 and 17 to 21. You will receive feedback for each scored question. Find out more about how our assessors assess and how we select applications for funding .

You must answer all questions. You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. Any website addresses or URLs included, will not be viewed or opened.

Question 1. Applicant location (not scored) You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation and any partners or subcontractors working on your project. We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

Question 2. Animal testing (not scored) Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing? You must select one option: We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance . Question 3. Permits and licences (not scored) Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date. You must select one option: In the process of being applied for Question 4. International collaboration (not scored) Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement. You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in. You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this. Your answer can be up to 100 words long Question 5. Export licence (not scored) You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance .

You must select one option: Question 6.

Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored) You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles , including: a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions. Your answer can be up to 400 words long Question 7.

Funded project context (not scored) For each organisation, briefly summarise and explain: prior grant funding work you or consortium members that led to this application, and any Battery Innovation Programme or other government funding applications for this or similar technology in the past five years, whether successful or not the amount of funding received for those projects the key successes or exploitations resulting from those projects whether you have applied for other sources of grant funding for this project whether you have applied for other projects whose outcomes could influence the exploitation of this proposal whether you are currently awaiting the outcome of any other grant applications Your answer can be up to 600 words long .

Question 8. Need or challenge What is the business need, technological challenge, or market opportunity behind your innovation?

the main motivation for the project the business need, technological challenge or market opportunity whether you have identified any similar innovation and its current limitations, including those close to market or in development any work you have already done to respond to this need, for example, if the project focuses on developing an existing capability or building a new one the wider economic, social, environmental, cultural or political challenges which are influential in creating the opportunity, such as incoming regulations Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 9. Approach and innovation What is the primary focus of this project in the scope technology groups? State 1, 2 or 3 within your answer.

What approach will you take and where will the focus of the innovation be?

your technology and innovation and how this will align with technology group 1, 2 or 3 the objectives of your project how you will respond to the need, challenge or opportunity identified how you will improve on the nearest current state of the art that you have identified whether the innovation will focus on existing technologies in new areas, the development of new technologies for existing areas, or a totally disruptive approach the freedom you have to operate the technological and manufacturing maturity at the start of the project and achieved by the end of the project the expected advancements in the performance metrics of the battery technology how the battery technology will meet the performance requirements of the target applications and, where appropriate, what the synergies are with the needs of other sectors how this project fits with your current product, service lines or offerings how it will make you more competitive the nature of the outputs you expect from the project, for example reports, demonstrator, know how, new process, product or service design, and how these will help you to target the need, challenge or opportunity identified Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

You can submit one appendix to support your answer. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB.

It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom. Question 10. Team and resources Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

the roles, skills and experience of all members of the project team that are relevant to the approach you will be taking the resources, equipment and facilities needed for the project and how you will access them the details of any vital external parties, including subcontractors, who you will need to work with to successfully carry out the project the current relationships between project partners and how these will change as a result of the project any roles you will need to recruit for and how you plan to mitigate against any delays in recruitment Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix, with a short summary of the main people working on the project to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 11. Market awareness What does the market or markets you are targeting look like?

the target markets for the project outcomes and any other potential markets, either domestic, international or both the size of the target markets for the project outcomes, backed up by references where available the structure and dynamics of the target markets, including customer segmentation, together with predicted growth rates within clear timeframes the target markets’ main supply or value chains and business models, and any barriers to entry that exist the current UK position in targeting these markets the size and main features of any other markets not already listed If your project is highly innovative, where the market may be unexplored, describe or explain: what the market’s size might be how your project will try to explore the market’s potential Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 12. Commercialisation roadmap and risk management How will you take your product or process from this project to market? What are the principal