Businesses can apply for a share of £15 million to catalyse the green economic recovery in transport, energy and industrial sectors
The UK government has announced it is seeking to put green technologies at the heart of economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The manufacturing of power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) required across sectors present a significant global growth opportunity for UK companies. Further, zero emission vehicle technologies are a key part of the country’s efforts to meet its carbon reduction targets.
The government has launched the £80 million Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge to help businesses to meet this need.
The Challenge will accelerate the UK’s ability to deliver; next generation electric vehicles, hybrid aircraft, energy generation, smart grids, robotics & industrial drives, consumer products, low-carbon off-highway vehicles for construction and agriculture, low-carbon maritime and rail supporting the realisation of Net Zero targets through clean innovation.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £15 million co-funded from Driving the Electric Revolution and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to support business-led research that will develop supply chains and manufacturing capability for PEMD technologies across all sectors and support the development of new technologies that enable zero-emission vehicles. The funding competition has two strands:
- Strand 1: Projects must develop PEMD supply chain improvements
- Strand 2: work must target zero or very low emissions
Dr Will Drury, Challenge Director for Driving the Electric Revolution said: “This competition is an exciting opportunity for UK businesses to engage with Driving the Electric Revolution, collaborate and innovate delivering clean growth of the UK Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) supply chains.
“The projects that we fund will catalyse the development of manufacturing capability and resilient supply chains for PEMD activities: the building blocks for all sectors undergoing electrification. Driving the Electric Revolution will facilitate the economic growth opportunities from the shift to Net Zero carbon emissions and ensure the UK is placed to deliver and grow the sovereign supply chains of the future.”
Strand one has up to £5 million available to support business-led projects that aim to improve the UK supply chain for power electronics, machines, and drives.
Strand two has up to £10 million available to support feasibility studies and research and development projects looking to develop technologies for zero emission vehicles or that target emissions significantly lower than 75g of CO2 per km. Projects developing electric vehicle charging are also eligible for support
